Thursday, October 18, 2012
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Friday, October 12, 2012
Monday, October 8, 2012
Donna's Endless Summer "Homecoming Concert" 1995
Is 2013 Disco’s Year? Donna Summer, Chic On Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Ballot
Though artists like The Bee Gees, The O’Jays and ABBA, who have been influenced by disco, have made their way into the Hall of Fame no straight ahead disco acts have ever been inducted. But that may change this year.
Summer is known as the Queen of Disco thanks to her songs like “Love To Love You Baby,” “Hot Stuff” and “Last Dance.” The singer, who passed away in May, had nineteen #1 Dance hits between ’75 and 2008, second only to Madonna.
With records like that to her name, it’s surprising that Summer hasn’t already been inducted into the Hall. Elton John also questioned this fact in an interview with E! News earlier this year.
“Her records sound as good today as they ever did,” John said. “That she has never been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a total disgrace, especially when I see the second-rate talent that has been inducted.”
In hopes to maybe stop fan favorites from being overlooked, this year the Hall of Fame is letting music lovers have a small say in who gets in.
From now until December 5, fans can vote at the Hall Of Fame’s website for the nominees they’d like to see inducted. The top five acts will comprise a “fan’s ballot” that will count as one of the more than 600 ballots that determine the Class of 2013. The results will be announced in mid-December.
Chic is also a favorite with music fans, making their mark with ”Le Freak” and “Good Times.” Though they were considered a “disco band” early on, the New York-based ensemble ended up pushing the boundaries of the genre, adding elements of soul and funk to their sound. Later on they even influenced early hip-hop artists like the Sugar Hill Gang and recorded beats for P Diddy.
Although rock fans have a complicated history with disco, Chic’s Nile Rodgers and Summer have managed to straddle the two music worlds. Rodgers has produced albums for rock and roll icons like Mick Jagger and David Bowie while Summer’s 1982’s self-titled U.S. debut was produced by Quincy Jones and featured Bruce Springsteen, Roy Bittan and many American rockers.
Other artists on the ballot this year include Rush, Deep Purple, Heart, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Randy Newman and The Marvelettes. Check out the full list of nominees here.
The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held April 18, 2013 at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles (the first time it’s being held in L.A. since 1993), and it will air at a later date on HBO.
– Brian Ives, CBS Local
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Friday, October 5, 2012
Say Something Nice - Glenn Rivera ReStructure Mix - Donna Summer
Donna Summer's "Once Upon A Time" is the disco message from 1977 which made critics and the music industry take notice. A double album set with a production along the lines of a non-stop disco opera. Produced by Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte and arrangements, keyboards, percussion and also backing vocals from Bob Esty.
"Say Something Nice" is the closing track from side A - which fits in this Cinderella-like take of a siblings and a evil step-mother who can never give credit to a princess in waiting. It is one of the most incredibly layered from the album and blends the funky-disco flavor with an orchestral accompaniment that lifts the message and Donna's vocals higher and higher. You may find your hips moving again!
I have taken the album version and mixed up an new ReStructure Mix to bring the song out again - with an intro using a few words from gossip shows that never seem..."to say something nice!"
Dedicated to Mr. Bob Esty! Music is a better world with your baton leading this disco symphony - thank you.
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