When the Bee Gees went from a slow style of music to disco, I had to say that was unexpected disco. Since then, there have been a lot more unexpected disco experiences, more than you can believe!
I wasn’t surprised when Queen got into it. My dad’s favorite performers always got into it, like Al Martino And then Frank Sinatra. But who expected Ethel Merman??
Karen Carpenter released a solo album when her brother was in drug rehab. In order to get his blessings, she was not to do disco! I guess she didn’t listen. I shouldn’t have been surprised when Helen Redding released a disco song in 1976, but I was!
What about the soft rock sound of Seals and Crofts going disco in 1978? You’re The Love made it to number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was their last top 40 hit.
How about Kiss getting in the mix in 1978? Other rock band surprises were The Rolling Stones with Miss You, Emotional Rescue and then Hot Stuff. Many fans were disappointed by the band’s departure from rock and roll. The Kinks released I Wish I Could Fly Like Superman in response to their label Arista for a club-friendly sound. But totally unexpected was the Grateful Dead with Shakedown Street. Again, their label was Arista.
Their Deadhead fans called this song Dead Disco.
We shouldn’t be surprised at Paul McCartney by showing his music diversity with Goodnight Tonight. You’d think the Beach Boy’s surfer sound would be safe until they released the LA or Light Album in 1979. In 1980 J.Geils Band hit number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 with Come Back. One critic called it a Eurodisco experiment. This was one experiment I personally liked!
An unexpected joint venture was with Barbara Streisand with Disco Queen Donna Summer.
You know things went a little too carried away when Donna Summer joined forces with Rosie O’Donnell on her talk show!
Did I surprise you with the number of unexpected disco artists through the years? Did I forget anyone? Let me know in the comments below!
