суббота, 19 мая 2007 г.

La Bionda - 1980 - I Wanna Be Your Love


La Bionda – 1980 - I Wanna Be Your Love

Tracklisting:

01 - I Wanna Be Your Lover
02 - Johnie Don't Go Away
03 - Action
04 - A Moment Of Sunshine
05 - Night Flight
06 - You're So Fine
07 - One Thing's For Sure
08 - Cyclone Rock
09 - Don't Cry Now
10 - I Love You (Bonus)
11 - 1-2-3-4 Gimme Some More (Bonus)

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La Bionda - 1979 - High Energy


La Bionda – 1979 - High Energy

Tracklisting:

A1 High Energy (7:20)
A2 I Got Your Number (6:40)
A3 Tune It Up (3:33)
B1 Disco Roller (6:53)
B2 Listen To My Heart (5:07)
B3 Save Your Energy (6:12)

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La Bionda - 1978 - Bandido

La Bionda – 1978 - Bandido
Tracklisting:

01 - Deserts Of Mars
02 - Welcome Home
03 - Moonlight Palais
04 - Baby Make Love
05 - Bandido
06 - Black And White
07 - Never Gonna Let You Go
08 - Will She Or Won`t She

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La Bionda - 1978 - La Bionda


La Bionda – 1978 - La Bionda

Tracklisting:

A1 One For You, One For Me (6:56) Piano - Geoff Stradling
A2 Hey Woman (5:02)
A3 There For Me (3:22) Bass - Gary Todd (2) Piano, Electric Piano - Geoff Stradling
B1 Sandstorm (10:06) Cymbal - Giulia Horvath
B2 Song For Smokey And The Bandit (3:55)

Bandido (Bonus - Single Version)
One For You, One For Me (Bonus)
There's No Other Way (Bonus)

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La Bionda - English

La Bionda

Formed 1978, Italy
Disbanded 1982
Members
Carmelo La Bionda (lead vocals, keyboards)
Michelangelo La Bionda (keyboards)
Related Artists Righeira
Also Known As D.D. Sound
Genres set pop, disco, italo disco

Italian brothers Angelo & Carmelo La Bionda had already had Southern European hits with their two D.D. Sound albums in 1977, recorded in Munich. In 1978, they decided to give themselves full credit and record an album as La Bionda. Basically recorded with the same crew of musicians and backing singers, the first La Bionda single "One For You, One For Me" was released in May 1978 to become a summer smash hit of the year. With its simple but irresistible nursery rhyme chorus, the song topped the Italian charts and also became a #2 hit in Germany (although only a minor #54 hit in the UK). The 5-track album was a German #10 LP when licensed to Ariola and also yielded a club hit with the 10-minutes "Sandstorm".

The brothers spent the rest of 1978 recording the third D. D. Sound album Café while simultaneously recording the second La Bionda album Bandido, released in December, accompanied by the lead single "Baby Make Love" which couldn't repeat the success of "One For You, One For Me", it peaked at the German #18 while becoming a Swiss #7 hit. Just like the first album, Bandido was an equally strong Munich-disco production with the brothers' catchy melodies and lyricist Richard W. Palmer James' clever lyrics - in May, the title track was released as the second single, a special remix was done for the 12" release.

For their third album release High Energy, La Bionda were aware of the change in the disco scene and followed in the footsteps of Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff", adding a more rock-oriented sound to their record, but neither "Disco Roller (C'mon And Rock'n Roll)" nor "I Got Your Number" did well outside Italy.

The end of 1980 saw the brothers release the quirky synth-pop tune "I Wanna Be Your Lover", the title track off their fourth La Bionda album which was much more plain pop tunes rather than dance tracks, and the public interest was waning. They recorded a song for an Italian TV programme, 1982's "Boxes", but then retired from the limelight to produce other artists. In 1983, they scored another big summer hit with Righeira's "Vamos A La Playa". Carmelo La Bionda released the solo single "I Love You", 1985.

The late 90s saw Toblerone chocolate revive "One For You, One For Me" for one of their commercials, and various compilation CDs have also been released. The brothers released the CD-single "Eeah Da Da" in 1997.

La Bionda - Russian

La Bionda

Братья La Bionda, Carmelo и Michelangelo, уроженцы Сицилии, были первыми итальянцами, добившимися успеха в производстве танцевальной музыки с двумя проектами: "La Bionda" (охватывающем различные музыкальные стили) и "D.D.Sound" (диско-группа).

Кармело Ла Бионда (Carmelo La Bionda) родился 2 февраля 1949 года, в Италии (Ramacca, Catania). Там же, 25 августа 1952 года, родился его брат Микелеанжело (Michelangelo La Bionda). С юных лет братья были неравнодушны к музыке, как и большинство итальянцев. Получив музыкальное образование, Кармело и Анжело стали пробовать себя в сочинительстве. И не без успеха. Их первый альбом "Fratelli La Bionda Srl" вышел в 1973 году, продюсерами и авторами музыки были братья La Bionda, а тексты написал Bruno Lauzi. Альбом получился преимущественно акустическим с элементами "прогрессивной" музыки и других стилей. Чуть позже они начали записывать фрагменты в стиле "диско", сочетая их с ритм-энд-блюзом и латиноамериканской музыкой.

Вскоре молодых людей заприметили воротилы итальянского шоу-бизнеса и, в частности, небезызвестный композитор, продюсер и аранжировщик Charly Ricanek. С благословления Чарли, братья и запустили свой первый проект Disco Delivery Sound (D.D. Sound) и в течении 1977 - 1978 годов записали под этим названием два хитовых альбома и с полдюжины синглов.Первая же записанная ими инструментальная композиция - "Disco bass" - стала крутиться на всех дискотеках Италии, а также стала заставкой спортивной телевизионной передачи "Domenica Sportiva". Еще большего успеха достигла написанная в то же время "1,2,3,4... Gimme Some More".

Следующим этапом карьеры Кармело и Анжело стал проект La Bionda. Под этой маркой братья выпустили в свет четыре долгоиграющих пластинки: "La Bionda" (1978), "Bandido" (1979), "High Energy" (1979) и "I Wanna Be Your Lover" (1980). Соавтором почти всех песен Ла Бионда был гитарист Ричард Палмер-Джеймс (Richard W. Palmer-James), а в записи альбомов принимали участие такие личности, как гитарист Мэтс Бьёрклунд (Mats Bjorklund), барабанщик Мартин Харрисон (Martin Harrison), бас-гитарист Гари Унвин (Gary Unwin, чьё имя напрямую связано с ещё одним громким проектом в мире "диско" - Dee D. Jackson) и некоторые другие.

В 1982-м проект La Bionda был свёрнут, и Кармело заявил о себе, как о талантливом продюсере. В частности, его имя стоит на дебютном диске группы Righeira (помните её убойный хит "Vamos a La Playa"?) и на диске "Imperception" группы Rockets (которая, надеюсь, в представлении не нуждается).

Микеланжело же подался в кинематограф. Благо, впервые братья поработали для кино ещё в 1981 году. С той поры Кармело и Анжело написали музыку к девяти фильмам. Параллельно с работой в кино, братья выступали аранжировщиками и продюсерами у доброго десятка начинающих итальянских исполнителей, а в 1998-м выпустили на CD сборник своих лучших вещей. В настоящее время братья La Bionda продолжают заниматься продюсированием и записью музыки на своей студии"Logic Studios" в Милане.

Дискография:

LA BIONDA:

1973 Fratelli La Bionda Srl
1975 Tutto va bene
1978 La Bionda
1979 Bandido
1979 High Energy
1980 I Wanna Be Your Lover

D.D. SOUND:

1977 Burning Love
1977 1.2.3.4… Gimme some more
1978 Cafe
1979 Hootchie Cootchie
1981 Wake Up In The Night/The Night They Invented The Disco (single)

Love Unlimited Orchestra presents Webster Lewis - Welcome Aboard




Love Unlimited Orchestra presents Webster Lewis - Welcome Aboard

Label: CBS
Catalog#: CBS 85174
Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: Netherlands
Released: 1981
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Disco
Credits: Arranged By - Jack Perry
Co-producer, Arranged By - Webster Lewis
Engineer - Frank Kejmar
Producer, Arranged By - Barry White

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 320 kbps, stereo

Tracklisting:

A1 Welcome Aboard
A2 Dreams
A3 Night Life In The City
A4 Lift Your Voice And Say (United We Can Live In Peace Today)
A5 Welcome Aboard (Reprise)
B1 Easin'
B2 Antigua Blue
B3 Wind
B4 Strange
B5 My Fantasies

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пятница, 18 мая 2007 г.

Stephanie Mills


Stephanie Mills

Born March 22, 1957
Origin Brooklyn, New York USA
Genre(s) R&B, Soul Music, Gospel
Occupation(s) singer
Years active 1968-present
Label(s) 20th Century, Casablanca, MCA, GospoCentric, LightYear

Come back album

Stephanie Mills
Born for This!

Audio CD (August 3, 2004)
Original Release Date: August 3, 2004
Label: Lightyear
ASIN: B0002IQIVU
Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 320kbps, stereo

Track Listings

1. Can't Let Him Go
2. Never Knew Love
3. Healing Time
4. Love of My Life
5. Free
6. For U
7. You Still Mean So Much
8. Something in the Way
9. Baby Love
10. Born for This

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четверг, 17 мая 2007 г.

Stephanie Mills


Stephanie Mills
Stephanie

Original Release Date: 1981
Genre: Disco
Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 192kbps, stereo

Track Listings

1. Winner
2. Two Hearts
3. Don't Stop Doin' What 'Cha Do
4. Top of My List
5. I Believe in Love Songs
6. Night Games
7. My Love's Been Good to You
8. Magic

Discography:

Moving In The Right Direction (1974)
For The First Time (1975)
Whatcha Gonna Do...With My Lovin'? (1979)
Sweet Sensation (1980)
Stephanie (1981)
Tantalizingly Hot (1982)
Merciless (1983)
Love Has Lifted Me (1983)
I've Got The Cure (1984)
Stephanie Mills (1985)
If I Were Your Woman (1987)
Home (1989)
Christmas (1991)
Something Real (1992)
Personal Inspirations (1994)
Born For This! (2004)

Ссылка в названии альбома
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The Best Disco With Non-Stop Sound Effects




Artist - VA

Album - The Best Disco With Non-Stop Sound Effects
Genre - Disco
Формат - MP3+CUE
Quality - 320 kbps/Stereo/SHQ
Size - 182 MB
Year - 1980

Tracklisting:

01. Babe - The Drunken Sailor
02. Theo Vaness - Bad Bad Boys
03. Ottawan - You're OK
04. T.H.P. - Good To Me
05. Doris D. & The Pins - Shine Up
06. Ala Carte - Ring Me, Honey
07. Metthusalem - The Black Hole
08. Gery & Gery - Body To Body
09. Gilla - Tomcat
10. Pussycat - Rio
11. Neoton Family - Lobo, Az Idegen
12. Black Jack - Y-O-U
13. Pan'n'Pat - It's All The Music
14. Giants - Hollywood Queen
15. Back In Time - Proposition
16. Snoopy - Shame And Scandal In The Family
17. Dolly Dots - STOP

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Roni Griffith


Roni Griffith

Roni Griffith took off for New York City in her late teens to pursue a career in modeling. Within three years she had landed a National Clairol Commercial and was also signed as a Disco Recording Artist with Vanguard Records. It was not long before one of her songs "The Best Part Of Breaking Up" had hit the Billboard Disco charts at #2 and another single had gone Platinum and Gold in Canada.

Releases:

Mondo Man (12") Vanguard 1980
Desire (12") Metronome Musik GmbH 1981
Desire / I Want Your Lovin' (12") Vanguard 1981
(The Best Part Of) Breakin' Up (12") Vanguard 1982
(The Best Part Of) Breakin' Up (12") Vanguard 1982
(The Best Part Of) Breakin' Up (12") Vanguard 1982
(The Best Part Of) Breakin' Up (12") Making Waves 1982
(The Best Part Of) Breakin' Up / Spys (7") Vanguard 1982
(The Best Part Of) Breakin' Up / Spys (7") Vanguard 1982
(The Best Part Of) Breakin' Up / Voodoo Man (12") Metronome Musik GmbH 1982
Desire (LP) Metronome Musik GmbH 1982
Desire / I Want Your Lovin' (7") Vanguard 1982
Desire / I Want Your Lovin' (7") Metronome Musik GmbH 1982
Desire / Love Is The Drug (12") Vanguard 1982
Love Is The Drug / That's Rock And Roll (12") Vanguard 1982
Roni Griffith (LP) Vanguard 1982
Roni Griffith (LP) Hispavox 1982
Roni Griffith (LP) Vanguard 1982
Roni Griffith (LP) Vanguard 1982
Breaking My Heart (12") Vanguard 1983
Breaking My Heart (12") Vanguard 1983
Dancing Machine (12") Vanguard 1984
(The Best Part Of) Breakin' Up (12") High Fashion Music 1985
(The Best Part Of) Breakin' Up (12") "O" Records 1989

Desire-The Best Roni Griffith

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 192kbps, stereo

01 Love Is The Drug
02 Breakin- Up (The Best Part Of)
03 That's Rock And Roll
04 Desire
05 Voodoo Man
06 Spys
07 Heart On The Line
08 Take Me Out
09 Mondo Man
10 Hot Lover
11 I Want Your Lovin
12 Breaking My Heart

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вторник, 15 мая 2007 г.

Meco - Star Wars And Other Galactic Funk


Meco - Star Wars And Other Galactic Funk

Label: Hip-O Records
Catalog#: HIPD-40171
Format: CD
Country: US
Released: 18 May 1999
Genre: Electronic
Style: Disco
Credits: Producer - Harold Wheeler , Meco* , Tony Bongiovi

Audio CD (May 18, 1999)
Original Release Date: 1977
Label: Hip-O Records
ASIN: B00000J2TO
Genre: Disco
Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 320kbps, stereo

Tracklisting:

1 Star Wars (15:49)
2 Other Galactic Funk (12:31)
3 Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band (7" Edit) (3:32)
4 Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band (12" Disco Mix) (7:34)

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From http://www.geocities.com/mecofan/

This was the first and most successful work of MECO: the disco version of John Williams' score for Star Wars. The magic hand behind the arrangements was Harold Wheeler and the production was by Meco Monardo, Harold Wheeler and Tony Bongiovi.

Side A of this LP is a non-stop 15:46 minutes disco version of the original music, full of funk rhythm (specially evident in the bass and rhythm guitar), great wind and string orchestration, and special sound effects generated by Suzanne Ciani (now a successful composer of instrumental music) who did a great job mimicking the original effects from the movie (including the R2-D2 beeping, the fighter engines roaring, and the blasters, taking full advantage of stereo effects). The music follows the movie storyline by selecting adequate music passages from the original score that can be perfectly identified. However, the arrangement is not a simple medley of the themes but involves a very creative work. The themes included are: Title Theme, Imperial Attack, The Desert and the Robot Auction, The Princess Appears, The Land of the Sand People, Princess Leia's Theme, Cantina Band, The Last Battle, and The Throne Room and End Title.

This composition started as an idea by Meco Monardo who was impressed by the movie (he claims to have seen it five times in two days). At first, his idea was rejected by Casablanca Records, but the huge success of the movie made them to reconsider their decision. Meco was joined up at Millennium (the New York label of Casablanca) by Tony Bongiovi in the production and Harold Wheeler was hired for the music arrangement. They did the job in just three weeks. Harold played keyboards and Meco played trombone (he appears in the credits using the nickname "Dom"). There is another anecdote about the credits of this and all the following records by Meco: many of the musician's names are not of musicians and although they belong to real people, the original names have been modified so they are unrecognizable. Meco has a great sense of humor!

Side B is an original composition mainly based on drums, bass and a brass section. Despite its name (Other Galactic Funk) it has nothing to do with anything remotely related to outer-space. It is also a non-stop track of 12:28 minutes that you'll only enjoy if you like 70's funk (not disco) and long drum exercises. In the 1997 compilation CD "The Best of Meco", the enclosed booklet indicates that it was an arrangement of the recording of five high school kids that Meco spotted in Central Park playing drums. The Rolling Stone magazine called it "creative". Whatever the case, it's rather obvious that it was just something to fill the side B of the record (don't get offended by this remark if you like Other Galactic Funk, I like it too!).

Meco - Plays Music From 'The Empire Strikes Back'


Meco - Plays Music From 'The Empire Strikes Back'

Label: RSO Records, Inc.
Catalog#: RO-1-3086
Format: Vinyl, 10"
Country: US
Released: 1980
Genre: Electronic
Style: Disco
Credits: Co-producer - Lance Quinn , Tony Bongiovi
Drums - Steve Gadd

Original Release Date: 1980
Label: RSO
ASIN: RO-1-3086
Genre: Disco
Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 192kbps, stereo

1980 US 4-track white title label promotional 10" vinyl record, featuring tracks from the film, including The Battle In The Snow and The Force Theme, custom stickered, gold promotional stamped picture sleeve.

Tracklisting:

A1 Darth Vader / Yoda's Theme
A2 The Battle In The Snow
A3 The Force Theme
B1 The Asteroid Field / Finale

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From http://www.geocities.com/mecofan/

The second part (of fifth, if you believe George Lucas) of the Star Wars saga couldn't be complete without MECO producing a version of John Williams' score. This time things were slightly different however. Harold Wheeler didn't participate in this record, and Lance Quinn took up his place in the producers team with Meco and Tony Bongiovi. Lance had participated as guitarist in the previous albums by MECO, and this time he and Meco were in charge of the music arrangements, with Meco responsible for horns and strings. Like in Moondancer, Meco played keyboards in the orchestra.

The result of substituting Harold Wheeler by guitarist Lance at the arrangements, was a complete change of sound. MECO didn't sound like MECO anymore and fans like me felt a bit "betrayed" at that time. Lance's arrangements hadn't that orchestral sound. In fact, it wasn't disco and it sounded more like a rock band disguised as an orchestra. However, although I still prefer Harold 's arrangements, I must say that this is a record that has improved with time.

This album only featured music from the movie, this time divided into four parts: Empire Strikes Back (medley): Darth Vader/Yoda's theme, The battle in the snow, The Force theme, and The Asteroid Field/Finale. The sound effects were the real stuff this time, and were provided by Lucasfilm. In fact, Lucasfilm was careful by keeping a grip around MECO in this release and the Christmas album (see below), that were produced by RSO Records. It seems that they didn't want to be left behind as happened with MECO's Star Wars.

In "The Best of MECO" you can find the first theme (that was released as a single, which reached #18 in the charts) and the last one from this album that has not been re-released. A shame, specially for The battle in the Snow theme, which would deserve better.

Meco - Christmas In The Stars: Star Wars Christmas Album


Meco - Christmas In The Stars: Star Wars Christmas Album

Label: RSO Records, Inc.
Catalog#: RS-1-3093
Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: US
Released: 1980
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop, Disco
Credits: Arranged By - Harold Wheeler , Meco Monardo
Backing Vocals - Annette Saunders , Arlene Martell , Bill Marine , Fred Stark , Janet Burnham , Lennie Roberts , Marlene VerPlanck , Phil McAlpine , Rod McBrien , Ron Marshall And The Bridgewater Raritan High School West Advanced Choir
Bass - Jay Leonhart
Cello - Avron Coleman , Homer Mensch , Jesse Levy , John Beal , Seymour Barab
Drums - Alan Schwartzberg* , Jimmy Young
Engineer - Clay Hutchinson , Jason Corsaro , Piers Plaskett , Scott Litt
French Horn - Jim Buffington , John Clark (2) , Peter Gordon
Guitar - Don Arnone
Harp - Margaret Ross
Keyboards - Derek Smith , Harold Wheeler , Pat Rebillot
Lead Vocals - C-3PO , John Bongiovi , Maury Yeston , Rod McBrien
Mastered By - Greg Calbi
Mixed By - Scott Litt
Other [Sound Effects] - Ben Burtt
Percussion - Dave Carey , George Devins , Maury Yeston , Tony Bingo
Producer - Meco Monardo
Producer, Arranged By, Guitar - Lance Quinn
Producer, Mixed By - Tony Bongiovi
Reeds - Al Regni , Anne Sheedy , Eddie Daniels , George Marge , John Campo , Phil Bodner , Romeo Penque
Trombone - Dave Taylor (2) , Paul Faulise , Tony Studd , Wayne Andre
Trumpet - Bob Millikin , Danny Cahn , John Gatchell
Viola - Harold Coletta , Harry Zaratzian , Olivia Koppell , Richard Maximoff
Violin - Aaron Rosand , Gerald Tarack , Guy Lumia , Harry Cykman , Joseph Malignaggi , Lewis Eley , Marvin Morgenstern , Matthew Raimondi , Paul Gershman , Sanford Allen , Tony Posk

Original Release Date: 1980

Label: RSO RecordsGenre: Disco
Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 192kbps, stereo

Tracklisting:

A1 Christmas In The Stars (3:19)
A2 Bells, Bells, Bells (3:13)
A3 The Odds Against Christmas (3:03)
A4 What Can You Get A Wookiee For Christmas (When He Already Owns A Comb?) (3:23)
A5 R2D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas (3:14)
Vocals - Arthur Boller , Donald Oriolo, Jr.* , Dori Greenberg , Ivy Alexenburg , Jake Yeston , Jessica Taylor , Marney Alexenburg , Ricky Haayen , Roddy McBrien , Russell Poses , Scot Randell , Stacy Greenberg
B1 Sleigh Ride (3:36)
B2 Merry, Merry Christmas (2:38)
B3 A Christmas Sighting ('Twas The Night Before Christmas) (4:07)
B4 The Meaning Of Christmas

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From http://www.geocities.com/mecofan/

The same team of producers of Empire Strikes back is responsible for this unusual album. The only (big) difference is that Harold Wheeler was in the arrangements, with Lance and Meco.

This was a weird experiment. It features Christmas songs inspired in some of the characters from Star Wars. So you find C-3PO and R2-D2 performing several songs joined up by all sorts of aliens (even Chewbacca!). This concept by Meco Monardo doesn't make any sense, but the result is fun to listen to. Some of the songs aren't that good but the average level of the album is OK. It is obvious the hand of Harold Wheeler everywhere, whose orchestral arrangements are just great. A shame they were used in songs that don't deserve it.

The songs included are: Christmas in the stars; Bells, bells, bells; The odds against Christmas; What can you get a wookiee for Christmas (when he already owns a comb?); R2-D2 we wish you a merry Christmas; Sleigh Ride; Merry, merry Christmas; A Christmas sighting ('Twas the night before Christmas), and The meaning of Christmas. The single "What Can you get a Wookie for Chrismas" reached #69 in the lists.

For this album, Lucasfilm not only allowed the use of special effects, but also the "voice" of R2-D2 and the presence of Anthony Daniels, leading vocals as C-3PO. But there's more: the album cover is by Ralph McQuarrie, the designer who made most of the artwork for the Star Wars trilogy, and in the leading vocals was also John Bongiovi, who would later be known as Jon Bon Jovi .

This LP was re-released on CD in 1996 and it is still available. A "delight" for collectors of rare Star Wars or Bon Jovi items.

Meco - The Best Of Meco


Meco - The Best Of Meco

Label: Mercury (US)
Catalog#: 314 553 255-2
Format: CD
Country: US
Released: 1997
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Pop Rock, Disco
Credits: Bass - Anthony Jackson , Marcus Miller , Will Lee
Drums - Steve Gadd
Engineer - Bob Clearmountain , Neil Dorfsman
Producer - Harold Wheeler (tracks: 1, 3 to 10, 12 to 14) , Meco Monardo , Tony Bongiovi (tracks: 1 to 10, 12, 14)
Trombone - Tom Malone
Trumpet - Jon Faddis , Randy Brecker

Audio CD (February 4, 1997)
Original Release Date: February 4, 1997
Label: Polygram Records
ASIN: B000001EZW
Genre: Disco
Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 320kbps, stereo

Tracklisting:

1 Star Wars Theme / Catina Band (3:44)
2 Empire Strikes Back (Medley) (4:03) Producer - Lance Quinn
3 Theme From Close Encounters (3:00)
4 Themes From The Wizard Of Oz (2:56)
Voice - Diva Gray , Ellen Bernfield , Janet Burnham , Lani Groves
5 Star Trek Medley, Pt. 1 (3:26)
6 Topsy (3:33)
7 Meco's Theme / 3 W. 57 (5:32)
8 Moondancer (4:09) Vocals - Diva Gray , Gordon Grody , Lani Groves
9 Spooky (3:23) Lead Vocals - Gordon Grody
10 Love Theme From Superman (Can You Read My Mind?) (3:13)
Voice - Diva Gray , Ellen Bernfield , Janet Burnham , Lani Groves
11 Werewolf (Loose In London) (3:47) Producer - Lance Quinn
12 Star Wars (LP Version) (15:46)
Synthesizer [Special Sound Effects, Electronic Music Effects] - Suzanne Ciani
13 Other Galactic Funk (12:28)
14 The Asteroid Field / Finale (20th Anniversary Edit) (5:26)

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From http://www.geocities.com/mecofan/

This CD is something that arrived like a wonderful present for all MECO fans. It's probably the only place where you can now find MECO's music on CD. Part of it, at least.

This release includes the whole original Star Wars LP and single, and a selection of themes (mainly singles) from most of MECO's records. Enclosed there is a 10 pages booklet with a short history of Meco Monardo with special emphasis on the release of Star Wars and its impact on the 70's music. It also counts with 3 pictures of Meco and his team. The tracks list is this: Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band, Empire Strikes Back Medley (Darth Vader/Yoda's theme), Theme from Close Encounters, Themes from The Wizard of Oz, Star Trek Medley pt. 1, Topsy, Meco's Theme/3W.57, Moondancer, Spooky, Love Theme from Superman (Can you read my mind?), Werewolf (Loose in London), Star Wars LP, Other Galactic Funk, The Asteroid Field/Finale.

Meco

Meco
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Meco (born Domenico Monardo, 29 November 1939 in Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.) is a record producer and musician. He is perhaps best known for his 1977 disco version of the Star Wars theme from his album Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk; both the single and album were certified platinum in the U.S. This song is popularly misattributed to "Weird Al" Yankovic on various file sharing networks.

Other disco hits include "Themes from The Wizard of Oz: Over the Rainbow/We're Off to See the Wizard" (1978), "Star Trek Medley" (1979) and "Love Theme from Superman" (1979).

Meco Monardo
http://www.discomuseum.com/Meco.html


Meco Monardo was born in 1939 in Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania. His father played the trombone and taught young Meco how to play. He was proficient enough to join the high school band while he was still in sixth grade. In high school he formed his own Dixieland band, and after graduating in 1957, won a scholarship to the Eastman School Of Music in Rochester, New York. He attended West Point, where he played in the Cadet Band, and learned about arranging from an Army sergeant. Returning to civilian life, Meco while living in New York City, was introduced to Kai Winding by a friend and former classmate, Chuck Mangione.

Despite a strong dislike for "pop" music, "I was doing all these dumb ditty bop records that never came out" claims Meco. Still Meco worked from 1965 to 1974 as a studio player, and also landed a number of arranging gigs, most notably on Tommy James' "Crystal Blue Persuasion." He also earned a nice living arranging commercials, like a Coca Cola spot for Neil Diamond.

Meco's breakthrough arrived in 1974 when he co-produced the Gloria Gaynor smash "Never Can Say Goodbye," followed by the Carol Douglas masterpiece "Doctor's Orders." Having aligned himself with Broadway arranger Harold Wheeler and producer Tony Bongiovi, Meco was now on his way to producing several early disco hits.

On May 25, 1977, Meco joined the people at a New York City theatre who were lined up to see the opening day screening of a new film starring Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford. Like millions of other fans seeing George Lucas' "Star Wars" for the first time, Meco thought the film was a tour de force. He loved the music-although he didn't think the main title theme, as performed by John Williams and The London Symphony Orchestra, was commercial enough to be a Top 40 single.

Also like millions of others, Meco went back to see the film-11 times in all! By his last visit, he had conceived of a 15-minute disco treatment of several themes in the movie, including the music played by the Cantina Band in the bar on Tatooine. He also planned to include R2-D2 sound effects. He called Jimmy Ienner at Millennium Records and Neil Bogart at Casablanca Records and explained his idea. Based on the tremendous success of "Star Wars," Bogart and Ienner agreed to Meco's idea without hearing any of the music.

Meco hired (unheard of for a pop production) 75 musicians to play on the track, and played trombone and keyboard himself.The complete composition was released as part of an album, "Star Wars And Other Galactic Funk," and on a 12" single. The original main title theme by The London Symphony Orchestra was released by 20th Century Records and entered the Hot 100 on July 9, 1977, less than two months after the film opened. Monardo was wrong about it's commerciality; it raced up to number 10 on the charts. But Meco's version, "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band," which debuted on the chart on August 6, 1977, raced past it to go to number one the week of October 1, 1977 where it stayed for two weeks.

In the winter of 1977, the same team (Monardo-Bongiovi-Wheeler) that produced "Star Wars," released "Encounters Of Every Kind." It is conceived as a musical time trip from 1 million years ago up to 1979. It is a non-stop medley of nine separate songs, each representing a moment in history, with the last song being a disco version of John Williams' "Theme From Close Encounters." There was a promotional-only 12" single release of "The Theme From 'Close Encounters'."

By 1978 Meco and his partners (Bongiovi-Wheeler) were in full swing. Their release of "The Wizard Of Oz" was a musical masterpiece. Once again in medley form, the album borrowed the complete Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg score and dressed it with Meco's plethora of sound effects. 2 promotional-only 12" singles were released."The Wizard Of Oz (Medley)" on gold vinyl and "The Wizard Of Oz (Edit)" on black vinyl. The LP was also on either colored vinyl.
With the release of the blockbuster movie "Superman" the Meco team was once again provided with material. For their 1979 release "Superman And Other Galactic Heroes" one 12" single was released, "The Themes From Superman." The album featured liner notes by John Williams and the voices of Diva Gray, Ellen Bernfield and Lani Groves.

With disco music in high gear and without a current movie to provide material Meco switched gears and recorded an all disco album for his next release. 1979's "Moondancer" was well received and brilliantly produced. There were 2-12" singles released from this album. The title track, "Moondancer" first and then "Devil Delight" both in D.J. friendly remixed form.
1980's "Meco Plays Music From The Empire Strikes Back" was different in several ways. First Harold Wheeler was replaced by Lance Quinn, who was a guitarist on the previous Meco releases, giving the arrangements a totally different sound. Secondly the sound was rock-oriented instead of disco sounding. Thirdly it was released on RSO Records instead of Millennium/Casablanca Records and last, but not the least, it was endorsed by George Lucas. Lucasfilm also provided the very real sound effects. The success of the album please George Lucas to the point that he participated, once again, in Meco's next release. Meco was inspired to create "Christmas In The Stars (The Star Wars Christmas Album)." Once again on RSO Records, this time Harold Wheeler was back with his arrangements. Lucas' contributions were the use of special effects, but also the "voice" of R2-D2 and the presence of Anthony Daniels, leading vocals as C-3PO. The album cover is by Ralph McQuarrie, the designer who made most of the artwork for the "Star Wars" trilogy, and the surprise vocals are by John Bongiovi, who had not yet achieved fame as Jon Bon Jovi

Definetly Meco's most prolific year was 1980. In additon to the above releases he also released a 7" single-only of "Love Theme From Shogun (Mariko)" and "The Main Theme of Shogun" on RSO Records. Then it was back to Casablanca Records for the album "Music From Star Trek and Music From The Black Hole." As a change, this LP featured music not from one movie but from two: the first "Star Trek" episode for the big screeen and "The Black Hole," an unsuccessful sci-fi production by Disney. The album produced a 12" single remix of "The Theme From The Black Hole". And the year finished out with the Casablanca release "Across The Galaxy," a best-of compilation featuring excerpts from his previous masterpieces.

Meco had a great opportunity in 1981 to develop new ideas when Polygram Pictures asked Meco to produce an album based on the original soundtrack of John Landis' "An American Werewolf in London." Meco Monardo and Lance Quinn produced the album for Casablanca Records. The music arrangements were by William Motzing, Meco and Lance.

Another 7" single-only release was Meco's "The Raider's March" and "Cairo Nights" obviously inspired by the release of "The Raiders Of the Lost Ark." This was produced by Meco Monardo and Lance Quinn with the music arrangements by Williams Motzing. The last release for 1981 was the 12" single of "Summer of '81" by The Cantina Band. Cashing in on the popular "Stars On 45" craze this was a medley of Beach Boy classics produced by Meco Monardo, Lance Quinn and Billy Civitella.

1982 saw Meco continue on the popular medley bandwagon with the release of "Pop Goes The Movies" featuring 28 classic movie songs and themes. A commercial 12" single was released as an edited medley. Meco Monardo, Tony Bongiovi and Lance Quinn produced this for Arista Records. This same year, Meco Monardo, Dan Levine, Lance Quinn and Tony Bongiovi produced for Arista Records another album. "Swingtime's Greatest Hits" was his hommage to the music of the 1930's and 1940's that he loved so well. Again Arista released a 12" single in medley form. This was also the year Meco co-produced the first solo album for Kenny G.

1983's "Ewok Celebration" was to be Meco's last movie-based album. The album features other film and television themes as well as sax and lyricon solos by Kenny G. The "Ewok Celebration Theme" is nicely arranged and includes a great rap by C-3PO (performed by Duke Bootee). There is a 12" single release of the title cut with dub and club versions.

By 1985 Meco was reduced to releasing "Hooked On Instrumentals" for the K-Tel label as part of their "Hooked-On" series. As Meco says "When disco was new, it was fresh and exciting because it was different. But pretty soon it became too cookie-cutter and wore itself out". Meco left the music business temporarily in 1985 and after three years "doing nothing but playing golf" started to work as a commodities broker in Florida.

More recently he had conversations to prepare the movie soundtrack for a big-screen version of the TV series "Hawaii 5-0." He has also co-produced a record in 1999 for Yamira where Lance Quinn and Harold Wheeler also participated as arrangers. The return of the "Star Wars" saga to the big screen and the great support provided by the MECO fans from around the world convinced Meco to return in 2000 with "The Complete Star Wars Collection." The CD features new remixes of all the music performed by Meco inspired on the original "Star Wars" trilogy as well as three bonus tracks inspired by "The Phantom Menace." The remixes keep the flavor of the original recordings adding a few enhancements, like new openings/endings, sound effects and voiceovers. With his hands firmly back in the music business Meco has promised "to be there" for the next Star Wars films.

Releases:
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Meco+Monardo?anv=Meco

Encounters Of Every Kind (LP) Millennium 1977
Encounters Of Every Kind (LP) RCA Victor 1977
Music Inspired By 'Star Wars' And Other Galactic Funk (LP) RCA 1977
Music Inspired By 'Star Wars' And Other Galactic Funk (LP) Millennium, Melodi Plak 1977
Star Wars And Other Galactic Funk (LP) Millennium 1977
Star Wars Theme / Cantina Band (7") RCA Victor 1977
Star Wars Theme / Cantina Band (7") Millennium 1977
Star Wars Title Theme (7") RCA Limited Australia and New Zealand 1977
Theme From Close Encounters (12") Millennium 1977
Theme From Close Encounters (7") RCA Victor 1977
The Wizard Of Oz (LP) Millennium 1978
The Wizard Of Oz (LP) RCA Victor 1978
Topsy (7") RCA Victor 1978
Devil Delight (12", Promo) Casablanca Records 1979
Moondancer (LP, Promo) Casablanca Records 1979
Moondancer (12", Promo) Casablanca Records 1979
Moondancer (LP) Quality Records / Quality Music & Video 1979
Superman And Other Galactic Heroes (LP) Casablanca Records 1979
Themes From Superman (12", Promo) Casablanca Records 1979
Christmas In The Stars: Star Wars Christmas Album (LP) RSO Records, Inc. 1980
Empire Strikes Back (Medley) (7") RSO Records, Inc. 1980
Music From Star Trek And The Black Hole (LP) Casablanca Records 1980
Plays Music From 'The Empire Strikes Back' (10") RSO Records, Inc. 1980
What Can You Get A Wookiee For Christmas (When He Already Owns A Comb?) (7") RSO Records, Inc. 1980
Impressions Of An American Werewolf In London (LP) Phonogram GmbH 1981
Pop Goes The Movies (LP) Festival Records Retail Marketing Ltd. 1982
Pop Goes The Movies (Part I) / Pop Goes The Movies (Part II) (7") Arista 1982
Ewok Celebration (12") Festival Records 1983
Ewok Celebration (7") Arista 1983
Ewok Celebration (LP) Arista 1983
Ewok Celebration (12", Promo) Arista 1983
Ewok Celebration (12") Ariola Eurodisc S.A. 1983
Ewok Celebration / Lapti Nek (7") Arista 1983
Star Wars Theme / Cantina Band / Theme From Close Encounters (CD, Maxi) Unidisc 1992
Christmas In The Stars: Star Wars Christmas Album (CD) Rhino Entertainment Company 1996
The Best Of Meco (CD) Mercury (US) 1997
Star Wars And Other Galactic Funk (CD) Hip-O Records 1999
Dance Your Asteroids Off: The Complete Star Wars Collection (CD) Mecoman Music 2000

Dee D. Jackson - Cosmic Curves


Dee D. Jackson - Cosmic Curves

Label: Jupiter Records
Catalog#: 26 451 XOT
Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: Germany
Released: 1978
Genre: Electronic
Style: Dub, Synth-pop, Disco
Credits: Producer - Gary Unwin , Patty Unwin
Notes: Produced by Gary and Patti Unwin.
Arranged by Gary Unwin and Kristian Schultze.

Tracklisting:

A1 Automatic Lover (4:08)
A2 Red Flight (4:10)
A3 Galaxy Of Love (4:48)
A4 Meteor Man (4:47)
B1 Venus, The Godess Of Love (3:54)
B2 Galaxy Police (5:58)
B3 Cosmic Curves (4:42)
B4 Falling Into Space (4:40)

Ссылка в названии альбома
Link in the album name

Dee D. Jackson - Thunder & Lightning




Dee D. Jackson - Thunder & Lightning

Label: Jupiter Records
Catalog#: 202 089
Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: Germany
Released:
Genre: Electronic
Style: Disco
Credits: Producer - Gary Unwin

Tracklisting:

A1 S.O.S. (Love To The Rescue) (4:21)
A2 Which Way Is Up (4:26)
A3 Living In A Dream (4:56)
A4 Teach You How To Dance (5:31)
B1 Thunder & Lightning (4:21)
B2 Trail Blazer (3:44)
B3 Sky Walking (4:24)
B4 I'm Dying (3:49)
B5 Stop All This Madness (4:21)

Ссылка в названии альбома
Link in the album name

Dee D. Jackson - English

Dee D. Jackson

Real Name: Deirdre Elaine Cozier

Profile: Born Deirdre Elaine Cozier in Oxford, England July 15th, 1954, Dee D. Jackson started her career in the mid 70's in Munich, Germany as a science fiction short films producer, also working in music with Giorgio Moroder and Keith Forsey. She released her first single "Man of a Man" in 1978, followed by her biggest single ever - "Automatic Lover" (also 1978) which became a worldwide hit, reaching #4 on the british charts for more than 8 weeks, #1 in Brazil, Argentina, Italy, France, Spain, Turkey, Germany, Japan ...

In mid 1978, she released her first album "Cosmic Curves", followed by a second album "Thunder & Lightning" at the end of 1980, but other singles failed to get the same chart success as "Automatic Lover". The late 80s saw remixes of "Automatic Lover". Dee D married and had a son and now lives in Turin, Italy, reportedly running a record label D.D.E (Divine Dance Experience), where she produces Hip Hop, Garage and Trance artists...


Releases:

Info from - http://www.discogs.com/artist/Dee+D.+Jackson

La Bamba / S.O.S. (Love To The Rescue) (12") JDC Records INC.
S.O.S. (Love To The Rescue) / Which Way Is Up (7") Jupiter Records
Thunder & Lightning (LP) Jupiter Records
Automatic Lover (12") Inter Global Music 1977
Automatic Lover (7") Jupiter Records 1978
Automatic Lover (LP) Carrere 1978
Automatic Lover (12", Promo) AVI Records 1978
Automatic Lover / Didn't Think You'd Do It (7") Mercury (UK) 1978
Automatic Lover / Didn't Think You'd Do It (7") Durium Records 1978
Cosmic Curves (LP) Jupiter Records 1978
Cosmic Curves (LP) Mercury (US) 1978
Cosmic Curves (LP) Durium Records 1978
Meteor Man (7") Durium Records 1978
Meteor Man (7") Sauce International 1978
Meteor Man / Galaxy Police (7") Jupiter Records 1978
Fireball / Falling Into Space (7") Jupiter Records 1979
S.O.S. (Love To The Rescue) (12") Power Records (7) 1983
S.O.S. (Love To The Rescue) / La Bamba (12") Power Records (7) 1983
Moonlight Starlight (12") Ros Records 1984
S.O.S. Love To The Rescue (S.O.S. Amor Al Rescate) Megamix (12") Trebol 1984
Moonlight Starlight (12") TELDEC 1985
Automatic Lover (12") Power Records (7) 1986
Meteor Man / Automatic Lover (12") Jupiter Records 1995
Il Meglio (CD) D.V. More Record 1998
Cosmic Curves / Thunder & Lightning (CD) CD Maximum 2000

Dee D. Jackson - Russian

Dee D. Jackson
Использована информация с сайта www.disco70.narod.ru.

В конце 70-х в музыке стала активно эксплуатироваться космическая тематика. Одним из последователей "космического жанра" была группа "Space" и её основатель Дидье Маруани, Жан Мишель Жарр. В бывшем СССР в 1980 году появился ансамбль "Зодиак", также работавший в этом направлении. Примерно в то же время возник стиль "Space Rock", ярким представителем которого была знаменитая франко-итальянская группа "Rockets". А среди див европейской диско-сцены, пожалуй, больше всех тему космоса "отэксплуатировала" Ди Ди Джексон (Dee D. Jackson).

Ди Ди родилась в 1954 году в Оксфорде (Англия). Её родители были музыкантами, и ещё в детстве она выучилась играть на гитаре и пианино. В середине 70-х молодая Ди Ди переехала в Германию, где начала работать в качестве продьюсера короткометражной фантастики. Эта деятельность и подвигла её на покорение музыкального диско-олимпа. Благодаря контракту с германской звукозаписывающей компанией Jupiter Records в 1978 году выходит дебютный сингл певицы "Man of man", а следом за ним альбом под названием "Cosmic curves" (Космические кривые). Продьюсером альбома был Гэри Унвин (Gary Unwin), известный в те годы бас-гитарист и композитор, создатель так называемой "ритм-машины", в которую, помимо его самого, входили Mats Bjorklund, Keith Forsey и другие известные диско-музыканты, принимавшие участие в создании записей едва ли ни всех германских диско-исполнителей того времени (в том числе групп "Silver Convention", "Arabesque", "Boney'M", "Chilly" и певиц Donna Summer, Amanda Lear и др.). Альбом полностью был посвящен "космико-фантастической" тематике, и две его песни стали мега-хитами во всём мире. Наибольшее признание выпало на долю композиции под названием "Automatic lover" ("Автоматический любовник"), песни о любви робота к "галактической женщине".

После выхода этого сингла "роботомания" поразила чуть ли не весь мир. Модницы одевались "под Ди Ди", на всех дискотеках главным хитом стала "Automatic lover" (в Соединённом Королевстве эта песня 8 недель занимала лидирующие позиции в сводных чартах и в итоге была продана тиражом более 6 млн. экземпляров), а в далёкой Бразилии возникла своя Dee D. Jackson, полностью повторявшая свою европейскую коллегу. Ещё одна песня с первого альбома, "Meteor man" ("Человек-метеор"), имела большой успех в Европе, Японии и Латинской Америке, а в 1979 году вышел очередной сингл певицы под названием "Fireball" ("Огненный шар"), также получивший признание у европейской публики.

В 1980 году Ди Ди записала свою последнюю удачную композицию "S.O.S. (Love to the resque)", провалившуюся, однако, в Британии. После сингла последовал второй альбом певицы "Thunder & Lightning", который не уступал по популярности предыдущему и был также полностью посвящён космической тематике. После этого Ди Ди уехала из Германии и какое-то время жила в Америке и Италии, где выпустила такие синглы как "Talk to me" (1981), "Shotgun" (1982), "Moonlight Starlight" (1984) и "Heat of the night" (1985), но они прошли незамеченными для публики. Скорее всего это было связано с общим падением спроса на музыку стиля "диско", ибо в начале 80-х мир захватила очередная лихорадка под названием "новая волна". На несколько лет Ди Ди оставляет мир музыки, выходит замуж и занимается воспитанием ребенка.

Неожиданно в 1995 году выходит её новый, полноценный альбом "Blame it on the rain". Полное отсутствие рекламы и ротации на радиостанциях и телеканалах сделали своё дело, и очередная работа певицы вновь проходит абсолютно незамеченной, хотя качество записанного на альбоме музыкального материала было более, чем достойным. После этого певица решает организовать свой собственный лейбл "DDE (Divine Dance Experience) Records", на котором записываются молодые исполнители электронной, экспериментальной и транс-музыки.

В настоящее время Ди Ди Джексон живёт в Тюрине (Италия).


Releases:

Использована информация с сайта
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Dee+D.+Jackson

La Bamba / S.O.S. (Love To The Rescue) (12") JDC Records INC.
S.O.S. (Love To The Rescue) / Which Way Is Up (7") Jupiter Records
Thunder & Lightning (LP) Jupiter Records
Automatic Lover (12") Inter Global Music 1977
Automatic Lover (7") Jupiter Records 1978
Automatic Lover (LP) Carrere 1978
Automatic Lover (12", Promo) AVI Records 1978
Automatic Lover / Didn't Think You'd Do It (7") Mercury (UK) 1978
Automatic Lover / Didn't Think You'd Do It (7") Durium Records 1978
Cosmic Curves (LP) Jupiter Records 1978
Cosmic Curves (LP) Mercury (US) 1978
Cosmic Curves (LP) Durium Records 1978
Meteor Man (7") Durium Records 1978
Meteor Man (7") Sauce International 1978
Meteor Man / Galaxy Police (7") Jupiter Records 1978
Fireball / Falling Into Space (7") Jupiter Records 1979
S.O.S. (Love To The Rescue) (12") Power Records (7) 1983
S.O.S. (Love To The Rescue) / La Bamba (12") Power Records (7) 1983
Moonlight Starlight (12") Ros Records 1984
S.O.S. Love To The Rescue (S.O.S. Amor Al Rescate) Megamix (12") Trebol 1984
Moonlight Starlight (12") TELDEC 1985
Automatic Lover (12") Power Records (7) 1986
Meteor Man / Automatic Lover (12") Jupiter Records 1995
Il Meglio (CD) D.V. More Record 1998
Cosmic Curves / Thunder & Lightning (CD) CD Maximum 2000