Episode 30: Disko Hits and Misses (Thanksgiving 1974)

This week we have a special episode and a special guest. Back in the ‘70s the way we consumed music was different and sometimes limiting. Today you can just stream those songs you think are fire, and whatever your music taste is, you can do it till your satisfied. Back in the day however, you probably couldn’t afford to buy all the individual records or albums containing your favorite songs. If you wanted to get dancing and rock your baby, you may have had to buy one of those knockoff albums and that was just a shame, shame, shame. Hopefully none of your guests wanted to rock the boat, or worse yet engage in some sort of kung fu fighting about the whole thing. If there was a fight, hopefully everyone could pick up the pieces and channel that energy to dance the kung fu instead. This week we review the 1975 budget knockoff album Disko Hits from Pickwick Records featuring The Disko Band. We will compare and contrast the hit versions of the songs with their Disko Band cover versions. There are some hits, but a fair amount of misses as well. We are virtually traveling back to Thanksgiving 1974 for this one. Not sure if we should be thankful for this album.
Disko Hits! By The Disko Band: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DADQEuKACU
Data Sources: Billboard Magazine, where the charts came from and on what the countdown was based.
Websites: allmusic.com, songfacts.com Wikipedia.com (because Mark’s lazy)
Books: “Ranking the 70’s” by Dann Isbell, and Bill Carroll
Pickwick Records: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickwick_Records
Disko Hits Liner Notes:
Fire: “The Ohio Players are burning up the charts with this smash. The Disko Band performs it here.”
Dance the Kung Fu: “Never missing a punch, Carl Douglas just had to show you how it was done.”
Pick Up the Pieces: “The Average White Band put their rythmn (sic) and blues style to this hit. Now listen to the performance of the Disko Band on this album.”
Do It (Til You’re Satisfied): “The B.T. Express weren’t satisfied until they were number one. Listen to the hit.”
Rock the Boat: “The Hues (sic) Corporation rocked the charts with this hit performed here by the Disko Band”
Shame, Shame, Shame: “This song, made a hit by Shirley and Company, is performed here by The Disko Band.”
Kung Fu Fighting: Carl Douglas started a new craze with his big hit. The Disko Band will show you why.”
Get Dancing: “Disco Tex and the Sex-0-lettes got dancing and recorded this hit. Not to be outdone, The Disko Band recorded it for this album.”
Rock Your Baby: “George McCrae’s smash hit of the summer of ’74 now played by The Disko Band.”