What a blast from the past. And beautiful adverb implementation: "punishingly" my favorite. Yes, this dude's spiel was annoying. RIP to him and his routine. Side note: my wife does a hilarious Ethel Merman imitation, adapting it for unlikely fare such as Madonna's "Like a Virgin." She will be amused to learn of Ethel's disco excursion.
Great memories of Bill, Dan! Schtick or no schtick, you can't blame him for seeing the wave, finding a way to catch it, and riding it into shore! And, you're so spot on about the money-grubbers coming into disco, ruining what had been a thoroughly creative and inspirational force in the biz from about (as I've written before) '72-'76.
Same with punk: The initial wave on both shores was creative and urgent. Only when labels (Capitol and A&M come to mind) started (around '78) thinking they had to sign "their own" Ramones or Pistols did it start to dilute. Caps off to Seymour Stein for reaching beyond the obvious to sign genre-benders!
I was looking up some Saluga a few days ago....I'm sure because of his passing. I had forgotten he was in the Ace Trucking Company, and was astounded (when I saw clips) of how tall Fred Willard was...either that, or the other players (whatever happened to THEM?) were oddly short!
As for forgettable disco....I'll see your Merman, and raise you "Disco I Love Lucy" by the Wilton Place Street Band! I had one in red, heart-shaped vinyl. I think it was that same single. Again, well done!👍
Would love to hear the relative merits of Bill Saluga vs. those of Artie Metrano debated. Was there ever a disco recording of Artie Metrano's greatest hit, "Fine and Dandy?" (If not, someone really missed the boat.)
By 1978 everything was discofied. I remember a local furniture store advertisement which looked like it was taped on the American Bandstand set as a couple boogied with a 5 piece sectional in the background.
I always thought the Studio 54 vibe of not letting the average Joe inside contributed to the backlash.
This 60 Minutes segment from 1978 should have been titled DI$CO.
I enjoy your writings, glad to subscribe! By the way, Peter Brown, who was in that 60 Minutes report resurfaced a few years back with an a capella satire of cable news!
Indeed...he was one of the first “bedroom” music producers. As his dad was an electrical engineer he was able to get a professional studio tape recorder and produce the bulk of that LP at home. I have the copy of Rolling Stone from 1978 that includes an article where he mentions that was no real model on the LP cover, he actually created it out of cardboard and other materials!
What a blast from the past. And beautiful adverb implementation: "punishingly" my favorite. Yes, this dude's spiel was annoying. RIP to him and his routine. Side note: my wife does a hilarious Ethel Merman imitation, adapting it for unlikely fare such as Madonna's "Like a Virgin." She will be amused to learn of Ethel's disco excursion.
Hahaha - I’d love to hear that!
Great memories of Bill, Dan! Schtick or no schtick, you can't blame him for seeing the wave, finding a way to catch it, and riding it into shore! And, you're so spot on about the money-grubbers coming into disco, ruining what had been a thoroughly creative and inspirational force in the biz from about (as I've written before) '72-'76.
Same with punk: The initial wave on both shores was creative and urgent. Only when labels (Capitol and A&M come to mind) started (around '78) thinking they had to sign "their own" Ramones or Pistols did it start to dilute. Caps off to Seymour Stein for reaching beyond the obvious to sign genre-benders!
I was looking up some Saluga a few days ago....I'm sure because of his passing. I had forgotten he was in the Ace Trucking Company, and was astounded (when I saw clips) of how tall Fred Willard was...either that, or the other players (whatever happened to THEM?) were oddly short!
As for forgettable disco....I'll see your Merman, and raise you "Disco I Love Lucy" by the Wilton Place Street Band! I had one in red, heart-shaped vinyl. I think it was that same single. Again, well done!👍
Oh man - I’d forgotten about “Disco Lucy”… or maybe I’d blocked out the memory, haha!
"punishingly dumb..." mos bril!
Would love to hear the relative merits of Bill Saluga vs. those of Artie Metrano debated. Was there ever a disco recording of Artie Metrano's greatest hit, "Fine and Dandy?" (If not, someone really missed the boat.)
I confess that I have no idea who Artie Metrano is!
Just a few years before disco he was ubiquitous in a similar fashion.
https://youtu.be/_-SNrvHdZJE?si=yJwIFW3Gd9qkG22C
Wow — I don't remember this guy at all!
By 1978 everything was discofied. I remember a local furniture store advertisement which looked like it was taped on the American Bandstand set as a couple boogied with a 5 piece sectional in the background.
I always thought the Studio 54 vibe of not letting the average Joe inside contributed to the backlash.
This 60 Minutes segment from 1978 should have been titled DI$CO.
https://youtu.be/r3hy5BxDwkg?si=wRqj2dN9XgEJab8R
Wow, great find! Thanks for that (and for subscribing, btw)!
And you're totally right about the elitism of places like 54 adding fuel to the backlash.
I enjoy your writings, glad to subscribe! By the way, Peter Brown, who was in that 60 Minutes report resurfaced a few years back with an a capella satire of cable news!
https://youtu.be/dg32UVD6XVQ?si=Me-EwY3drkUDghz_
His Fantasy Love Affair LP is a total jam!
Indeed...he was one of the first “bedroom” music producers. As his dad was an electrical engineer he was able to get a professional studio tape recorder and produce the bulk of that LP at home. I have the copy of Rolling Stone from 1978 that includes an article where he mentions that was no real model on the LP cover, he actually created it out of cardboard and other materials!
Man, everyone boarded the disco train then!
Hahaha, right?
The Disney and Sesame Street versions were better.