MORODER (he wrote)

I've previously posted I FEEL MOOG (check it HERE), so as an adjunct, I've been running all these classic Moroder sounds around my head.....those 8/16 step sequences on those gorgeous Moog Modulars.....Ofcourse, I Feel Love is the most well known, but around the same time Moroder was slowly squeezing those massive modules into everything he was doing....it wasn't obvious in Summers epic Love To Love You Baby, but the Munich Machine boys...both Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte, were already the kings of Disco.

Come 77, Donna Summers Once Upon A Time album, the future and what was about to change the world was unleashed on Side 2 of this Double Album, a trilogy of songs....Now I Need You, Working The Midnight Shift and Queen For A Day.  Summer, Moroder and Bellotte were so prolific throughout 76/77 and 78, things weren't necessarily being released in the order they were being recorded...so chronologically...it's a bit all over the place...but that doesn't matter...because the sounds are more important.

Moroder released a solo album in 77 called From Here To Eternity, this is the ultimate Moroder sequenced album......  I first heard this album whilst helping out with the Mike Vernon Record Show...a mobile disco outfit I helped with from 82 to 86......Mike always used to play this album after we had set up as a form of Muzak...I couldn't get enough of it and when he finally gave up DJ'ing I blagged his copy off him)...it really still gets a hell of a lot of play up here in ElectroTowers!!              

Ofcourse..I Feel Love blew all this other stuff away......but the point I'm going to make here is the influence Moroder was having.......he's a humble man....even to this day and hearing the voiceover on Daft Punk's Girogio by Moroder proves that. 

Moroder has worked with plenty of artists, but it's the period of 77 to 80 that i'm concentrating on here...the time with that classic Moroder sequenced sound.........Having got bored of the Rock Format and obviously influenced by the I Feel Love sound...  brothers Ron and Russell Mael aka Sparks teamed up with Moroder to produce the album No.1 In Heaven.

The album spawned 4 singles...not bad going for a 6 track album......in my opinion this album is the ultimate Moroder collaboration album with other artists........extended album versions of the most beautiful New Wave Electro Disco lushness..(yeah, you can tell this album is very high up in my all fave list)........this still kicks.........Sparks went on to work with Telex...so that says something....No.1 is unique...Sparks are unique...in the fact that in trying to utilise that classic Moroder sound....they are the only band to use Moroder more than once for a single (post Summer and in this obvious sequenced scenario obviously)

1980 and New wave supergroup Blondie call Moroder in, who subsequently undertakes the Score for American Gigolo and numerous versions of Call Me.  It is the only track that in it's original form that Moroder produced for Blondie...yeah, he remixed Good Boys, but that doesn't count.  But the surprising thing is that Heart of Glass came the year before (79) and was definitely influenced by Moroder ......HoG was produced by Mike Chapman.  Post Call Me came Atomic also produced by Chapman, but also Moroderesque.

So, the next band to employ the Moroder sound was Japan and yet again, out of a trology of similar sounding tracks, the only one to utilise Moroder was 79's Life in Tokyo.....  subsequent singles employing that sequencer sound were Quiet Life and European Son.....both produced by John Punter...ofcourse, all three singles got re-released a few times over a short period to ensure the success of Japan.

Moroder is still in his prime as a Disco producer......Giorgio by Moroder by Daft Punk and 2015's Deja Vu album are all up to date.

Here's a mix for you all..... a bit rushed with very basic equipment....so enjoy (it's not perfect)

Expect another post on that ElectroDisco Sound...or at least a mix

Ironically, just as I release this Blog post I see that Electronic Sound are dedicating their next episode/release to Moroder...I suggest you buy it.

Oh and don't forget the drummers in this music.....click track and metronome tight...

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Look what Ring Modulator did for Kin;Aesthetic Recordings Filtered Listening, check it out here:

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