Can't Make It Up...

Friends!

In the endless sea of the internet disco world in which I spend so much time swimming/drowning, etc., I have stumbled upon what I think can only be described as an absurd treasure.

Yes, you have guessed it! Despite the relative arbitrariness of this blog's name (other than stemming from my love of Cosby-esque sweaters), I recently discovered that my blog's eponymous human, Mr. Bill Cosby himself, released a comedy disco album in 1977 entitled Disco Bill.

While it might not be comedy-disco's Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, I think it could at least be the (perhaps fortunately) forgotten genre's The Joshua Tree.

.......Anyways, complete with some presumably 'funktastic' album art, the album is kind of amusing and worth a listen if you have a lot of free time.  But to save you some time, here's what I think is the best track.

Bill Cosby — "What Ya Think 'Bout Lickin' My Chicken?"

Get out there and dance to this sucker!!

...Oh, boy.

Viva Italo!

Hey there sailors...

I've been failing in the posting department lately, but alas, no excuses.

As I mentioned in my first post, Hercules and Love Affair came to London for one performance at Debut, at which they appropriately 'debut'ed a bunch of material from their upcoming release "Blue Songs."  In an attempt to avoid re-opening still tender wounds, I will only say that I missed the show by mere minutes.........

But I can't complain too much seeing as I spent the entire week before the show in Italy with the lovely Deprecious, exploring the land which has seen Rome rise and fall, given us the art and ideas of the Renaissance, fine wines and cuisine, and most significantly birthed a brief moment in the 1980s that left a mark on dance music forever that we have come to know as Italo Disco.

Characterized by synth-driven dance rhythms and over the top vocals that reek of Italian cheese, Italo took disco where need it needed to go after it lost popularity in the late 70s.

Kano, an Italo group formed in 1979, is a supreme example of the type of music being cranked out during this period.  Famous for their hit "I'm Ready," they released a fair amount of quirky tunes to which many folks around the world have danced the night away, including the fabulous "Now Baby Now."

Kano — "Now Baby Now (Kotey Edit)"

And in self-pity for missing the Hercules and Love Affair Show, I'll also post this track that Andy Butler created with Jason Kendig as the first release of their new record label "MR.INTL." I think it's pretty cool, a kind of techno/deep house thing going on, with a nifty vocal sample to boot.

Andrew Butler and Jason Kendig — "And I'm (So in Love With You)"

Helluva Week

Oy vey.

I've been tired for literally a week. With the exception of the few glorious hours that I've actually been asleep.

Anyways... music! I've been extremely excited about this tune for the past few days, amidst my sleepy haze.  A classic underground groover from West End Records, with some outrageous synth work and a vocal performance that reminds us all why disco is the genre that puts us in our place.

I think if you don't like this song you need to take a step back and really look at yourself.  Reconsider some life choices and begin making changes that have long been necessary.  How could you have ended up here?

Shirley Lites — Heat You Up (Melt You Down)