Disco is a type of music who's popularity peaked during the mid 1970's to early 80's. It wasn't just music though, it made it's mark in history with the disco decade of the 1970's. Disco was more of a lifestyle than just music that people listened to. The term "DISCO" was loved by many in the seventies, it was a reference to a style of music that was played in the night clubs. They, in turn became known affectionately as "DISCOS", as in "I'm going to the DISCO" It was there that we heard "DISCO Music".It really came about during the 1960's with the start of dance clubs by African Americans and the gay community in places like New York City and Philadelphia. Their dance clubs was a reaction by these groups against the domination of rock music and the withdrawal away from dance music. The music eventually spread to other popular groups during this time. So, what was a simple start of dance clubs turned into what we now know as disco. One of the first clubs to open was The Loft, a private members-only dance club, set up by DJ David Mancucso in his own home in New York City in 1970. Many of the first disco songs were released in 1973, such as Manu Dibango's 1973 "Soul Makossa." The first article about disco was written in September 1973 by Vince Aletti for Rolling Stone Magazine. In 1974, New York City's WPIX-FM premiered the first disco radio show. According to music writer Piero Scaruffi, "the disco phenomenon spread quickly because the collective ecstasy of disco was cathartic and regenerative and lead to freedom of expression." Disco was the last mass popular music movement that was driven by the baby boom generation. Well-known late 1970s disco performers included Donna Summer, Amanda Lear, The Bee Gees,
KC and the Sunshine Band, Chic, and The Jacksons. Summer became the first well-known and most popular disco artist, giving her the title "The Queen of Disco." The disco sound was also shaped by Tom Moulton who wanted to extend the enjoyment of the music, so he created the "Remix," which has influenced many other later genres such as techno, and pop. DJs and remixers would often remix original songs using reel-to-reel tape machines. Their remixed versions would add in percussion breaks, new sections, and new sounds. Historical Context
The 1970's had a powerful impact on the course of twentieth century American history. It was a time when the American people lost confidence of their government and their leaders. The Vietnam War dragged into the 1970's and came to an end in 1975. With antiwar protests and the strive for peace just before this, it had somewhat of an impact on the disco decade of the 1970's. Disco was sort of like the child born after the antiwar and peace era. Once the war finally ended, peope still had peace and free spirits, which welcomed disco. People were happy and ready to move on from the war, bringing the up beat life of disco. Also, during this decade was the energy crisis, one of the worst recessions in history since the Great Depression. People could escape from the crisis by going to the disco. The 1970's were known as the "me" decade in the United States. Americans were mainly passive and self-absorbed. There was much backlash against the government and social issues. The federal government was seen as untrustworthy. The social and political liberalism that had control over the country in the 1960's was powered mainly by many people's beliefs that an American Presence in the Vietnam war wasn't right and deathly. Along with antiwar protests, there were other causes like Civil Rights, The Women's Movement, and many people finding reasons to have their voices heard in society. After the war, many of these issues still remained important, but many supporters seemed to be giving up. Veterans returned home emotionally broken not only because of their awful experiences in Vietnam, but they didn't receive a warm welcome from the anti-war protesters. Some former left-wing radicals by this time softened their liberal views and turned toward the more conservative, family oriented values. The decade of the 1970's was one of transition more then anything else. On a softer note, the 1970's are remembered for creating the shortest-lived music, dress fad, and dance in American society. While many wouldn't give up Rock n' Roll, a trendier time came alive with platform shoes, glittery dresses, and wide-lapel polyester suits and dancing all night to the highly rhythmic, drum-and-bass-centred sounds of disco. When Saturday Night Fever hit the movie theaters in 1977, disco's popularity grew tremendously, and John Travolta's signature one arm up, one arm down finger pointing became the fastest copied dance move of "fever fans" across the country. The film was marketed specifically to broaden disco's popularity beyond its beginning gay and black audience.
Disco's popularity led many non-disco artists to record disco songs at the peak of its popularity. Many of these songs were not "pure" disco, but were instead rock or pop songs with disco influence or "disco sound" to them. Notable examples include Blondie's "Heart of Glass," an Rolling Stones' "Miss You" Disco Culture
Even though many people remember disco positively, it wasn't really the best place to be. The disco sound and style has its roots in the late 1960s. New York City blacks, gays, heterosexuals, women and Hispanics adopted several traits from the hippies and psychedelic people. These traits were overwhelming sound, free-form dancing, "trippy" lighting, colorful costumes, and hallucinogens. By the late 1970s most major U.S. cities had thriving disco club scenes, but the largest scenes were in San Francisco, Miami, and most importantl New York City. At the height of the disco era, McFaddin Ventures were operating many successful and profitable nightclubs. In the late 1970s, Studio 54
was arguably the most well known nightclub in the world. This club played a major role in the growth of disco music and nightclub culture in general. Much of the dancing in the clubs consisted of the now famous dances known as "touch dancing", "the hustle", and the "Cha Cha". 
Disco fashions were very trendy in the late 1970s. Popele often wore expensive and extravagant fashions for nights out at their local disco, such as sheer, flowing Halston dresses for women and shiny polyester Qiana shirts for men with pointy collars, open at the chest, often worn with double-knit polyester shirt jackets with matching trousers known as the leisure suit. Necklaces and medallions were a common fashion accessory, as well as platform shoes. Downside of Disco
In addition to the dance and fashion of the disco club scene, there was also a growing drug culture that was apart of disco, particularly for drugs that would enhance the experience of dancing to the loud music and the flashing lights, such as cocaine. The huge quantities of drugs taken at discos produced the next cultural phenomenon of the disco era: promiscuous actions and public sex. While the dance floor was the main area of seduction, actual sex usually took place in the other part of the disco building, such as bathroom stalls, exit stairwells, and so on. Famous disco bars included the Manhattan's Studio 54. Even though disco music did have a lot of success and popularity, an anti-disco movement broke out in America. Many rock musicians were against disco and disapproved of it. Slogans came out like "disco sucks" and "death to disco" Supposedly on July 12, 1979 was "the day disco died" because of an anti-disco demonstration that was held in Chicago. This Delcine of disco really affected the radio stations.
Thay avoided playing songs by black artists, to not allow their station to be labeled disco. A bad economy, previous political failure because of liberal views, and burnout brought on by the people who were looking for pleasure led to the fall of disco. A "Sign of the Times" and Impact
The disco decade of the 1970's was a good way to see it as a "sign of the times" When anyone thinks of a decade, you can usually label it in a few words. Like the 80's was old school rap and neon colors, while the 20's was jazz and flappers. Well, when you look at the 70's, it's easy to label too, hippies and disco. Disco really was a huge factor of this decade and sort of took over the decade. After the Civil Rights movement that took place during the 60's, our nation was hoping for the end to racial discrimination and secret segregation. The disco club scene was evidence of this. Disco brought the races closer together. For the first time there were truly integrated places where blacks and whites mingled freely, or on their own will. Disco was in fact, maybe one of the first forms of voluntary integration that America had seen since the Civil Rights decade. Disco also showed a sign of the times by how people acted. Disco was all about freedom of expression and free spirits. After the war, people were very "me"oriented, having trouble trusting the government for scandals that took place such as The Watergate Scandal. When people in society were all about themselves, they wanted to express themselves, and many did through the lifestyle of disco. The start of the 70's decade was much different than previous decades. People sort of went "wild" after the war ended, and this really reflected American society and the culture at this time. It impacted society because everyone followed it and changed. The whole decade was a huge "changing" decade. I'm sure the start of disco and the clubs being integrated voluntarily impacted a lot of other places and people to change their racist views. Just the dance clubs by themselves, however were significant to the time and impacted change. These disco clubs were one of the first ways for people to really express themselves and just "dance the night away." They loved going to them for a place to escape. The Disco wasn't a small thing. Everyone was dancing, wearing the platform shoes, and spent their Saturday nights at the disco. Disco was the definition of the 1970's. It might have only lasted that long, but it was extremely popular and cannot be forgotten to this day.
Today
As the Disco era came to a close in the late 70's, Rave culture began to see significant growth. Rave culture incorporated Disco culture's same love of dance music, drug exploration, and sexual promiscuity. There are still raves and night clubs today. DJ's at clubs came from Disco. The disco sound had a strong influence on early hip hop. Most of the early rap/hip-hop songs were created by old existing disco songs. Nu-disco is a 21st century dance music genre associated with the renewed interest in 1970s and early 1980s disco.
My Opinion
When I first started researching this topic, I thought it'd be really cool, but it wasn't as great as I imagined it to be. It's almost like disco was overrated. It only last for one decade and soon things turned into "disco sucks" I think when most people, who didn't live during this decade, think of disco they imagine the famous costumes and the famous dance moves, but when you go into further detail like I did, it wasn't as "big" as I thought it was. It still had a tremendous impact on society in the 1970's and it even impacts today, but I don't have that much imteret in it after this project. Disco is almost a joke to me. I still agree that it was a big music movement and Disco will always represent the 1970's.
