Johnnie Taylor's Disco Lady (The Making Of The First Platinum Single)
In 1976, the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America), launched a very rare and precious metal called, " Platinum'. This became a milestone as a new form of identification for records that sold over the one million mark. Disco Lady would make music history, becoming the first single to be certified platinum, selling over one million copies. Johnnie Taylor signed with Columbia Records in 1975, after his 9-year association with the Stax label, filed for bankruptcy.
Harvey Scales, a former singer with His group, the 7 Sounds (who regional hit on the Magic Touch label entitled, " Get Down" in the summer of 1967), presented a demo marked, " Disco Baby" to Detroit producer, Don Davis. Don wrote and produced many of Johnnie Taylor's hits at Stax from 1967-1975. The demo track featured music from members of George Clinton's Parliament- Funkadelic clan. Bernie Worrell on keyboards, Ramon "Tiki" Fulwood on drums, and Bootsy Collins on bass. After hearing the hot track, Don began immediately incorporate the lyrics. His inspiration was drawn from an African dancer he had seen on a trip he took to Spain. The dancer would get out on the middle of the floor and the whole place mesmerize with her moves. The crowd would make room.
While writing the lyrics, another inspiration came to mind of an classic Curtis Mayfield
1961 composition hit, " Gypsy Woman". In the song, a dancer would hypnotize everyone with her gyrations around the campfire, including Curtis. Don would later add horns arranged by legendary Motown producer, David Van DePitte, who in 1971, produced Marvin Gaye's landmark LP, "What's Going On". A session group called, Brandy, along with Telma Hopkins, from Tony Orlando & Dawn, added the background vocals. Telma was a studio session vocalist in Detroit, with a group called the Debornaires in the 60's and throughout the 70's. They back up such artists as, Spyder Turner On his 1967 B side hit classic Stand By Me, " You're Good Enough For Me", Jerry-O's "Karate Boogaloo", Issac Hayes' " Theme From Shaft", and session background work for all of the aritists featured on Holland-Dozier-Holland's Hot Wax/ Invictus label.
In 1976, the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America), launched a very rare and precious metal called, " Platinum'. This became a milestone as a new form of identification for records that sold over the one million mark. Disco Lady would make music history, becoming the first single to be certified platinum, selling over one million copies. Johnnie Taylor signed with Columbia Records in 1975, after his 9-year association with the Stax label, filed for bankruptcy.
Harvey Scales, a former singer with His group, the 7 Sounds (who regional hit on the Magic Touch label entitled, " Get Down" in the summer of 1967), presented a demo marked, " Disco Baby" to Detroit producer, Don Davis. Don wrote and produced many of Johnnie Taylor's hits at Stax from 1967-1975. The demo track featured music from members of George Clinton's Parliament- Funkadelic clan. Bernie Worrell on keyboards, Ramon "Tiki" Fulwood on drums, and Bootsy Collins on bass. After hearing the hot track, Don began immediately incorporate the lyrics. His inspiration was drawn from an African dancer he had seen on a trip he took to Spain. The dancer would get out on the middle of the floor and the whole place mesmerize with her moves. The crowd would make room.
While writing the lyrics, another inspiration came to mind of an classic Curtis Mayfield
1961 composition hit, " Gypsy Woman". In the song, a dancer would hypnotize everyone with her gyrations around the campfire, including Curtis. Don would later add horns arranged by legendary Motown producer, David Van DePitte, who in 1971, produced Marvin Gaye's landmark LP, "What's Going On". A session group called, Brandy, along with Telma Hopkins, from Tony Orlando & Dawn, added the background vocals. Telma was a studio session vocalist in Detroit, with a group called the Debornaires in the 60's and throughout the 70's. They back up such artists as, Spyder Turner On his 1967 B side hit classic Stand By Me, " You're Good Enough For Me", Jerry-O's "Karate Boogaloo", Issac Hayes' " Theme From Shaft", and session background work for all of the aritists featured on Holland-Dozier-Holland's Hot Wax/ Invictus label.
