There is a built-in rock snobbism that dismisses all things Disco.
This blinkered view-point is typified by T-shirts emblazoned with "Disco sucks!" This astute observation is usually accompaniede by a feathered felt C.N.E. hat with "Rush" or "Styx" scribbled in sparkle paint on it. An optional jean jacket usually sets off the die-hard and heavy rocker`s outlook with the ball-point appliqued message: "Blue Oyster Cult is God".
Disco is a thing misunderstood.
Disco is more than those bleating Australian goats, the Bee Gees, and John travolta`s polyester pants. and it`s more than a robotic rhythm backdrop for spasmodically jerking automatons. Disco is not Devo, but like all musical styles, most is junk and sinks quickly. The best always floats to the top.
One name synonymous with the cream of Disco is Giorgio Moroder, an italian producer working out of studios in Munich, London, New york, and Los Angeles. Moroder wrote and produced, with his partner Pete Bellotte, Donna Summer`s six platinum albums.
Moroder is a veritable hit factory, manufactoring chart smashes by the Munich Machine, the Three Degrees, and the new come-back album by Sparks.
New Music caught up with Moroder in Los Angeles where he was putting the finishing touches on the next Donna Summer disc.
"Once you think you`re finished, you go back and listen again. post-production is becoming more and more important. With thirty-two tracks you control every instrument. You can erase it, re-do it, or add something else entirely. Basically, i make three separate mixes of a song. one for the album, a shorter version for radio, and a longer one for discotheques."
Giorgio Moroder is the prime motivator of Euro-Disco. it differs from the American street-wise jive funk of the Ohio Players or Earth, Wind, and Fire. Euro-Disco verges on another European dance craze, the polka, and often has a relentless rhythm section that is all electronic bass and synthesized drums. Non-Giorgio produced proponents of Euro-disco include Abba, Boney M, and Kraftwerk.
The height of Euro-Disco is Moroder`s and Summer`s reworking of MacArthur Park. Donna doesn`t stray too far from Richard Harris` original vocal blueprint, but Giorgio really excells. His sweeping orchestrations lift MacArthur Park above just another cover version of disco into a work as effective on the ears as on the feet.
Moroder has fronted a production company working out of Munich`s Musicland studio for almost a decade. his first hit was Son Of My Father, a self-sung pop number that made the Canadian charts in 1969. some years later in a recording studio, he singled out a black American session singer and turned her into the Queen of Disco. But it wasn`t quite as easy as it sounds.
Giorgio had released two singles by Summer which, although substantial chart toppers in Europe, didn`t really happen. Taking a cue from the 60's sex scandal record, ..... continue on page two

Complete article appear on The New Music - April 1979