No. 043 · New York Disco

Where to start with New York Disco

New York Disco is a music scene from New York City, USA, 1970–1983. Its principal artists include David Mancuso, Larry Levan, Nile Rodgers and Chic. This issue covers 7 essential albums and 13 dated events.

Start here

  1. 1

    C'est Chic

    Chic · 1978
    Original release: Atlantic · SD 19209 · 12″ Vinyl · US 1978

    "Le Freak" is here: written after Rodgers and Edwards were turned away from Studio 54's door, and the biggest single Chic ever made.

  2. 2

    I Feel Love (single)

    Donna Summer · 1977
    Original release: Casablanca Record and FilmWorks · NBD 20104 · 12″ Vinyl · US 1977

    Giorgio Moroder's Moog pulse under Donna Summer's voice, the sound that pointed disco toward post-disco and house.

  3. 3

    Live at the Paradise Garage

    Larry Levan · 2000
    Original release: Strut · STRUTCD 006 · CD · UK 2000

    A 1979 set from Larry Levan's booth, one of the few surviving records of what the Garage actually sounded like.

Go deeper

  1. 4

    Risqué

    Chic · 1979
    Original release: Atlantic · SD 16003 · 12″ Vinyl · US 1979

    Risqué's opening track, "Good Times," gave early hip-hop its first hit groove: the Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight" was built on a replayed version of its bassline, and Grandmaster Flash cut…

  2. 5

    We Are Family

    Sister Sledge · 1979

    Written and produced by Rodgers and Edwards for Sister Sledge in 1979, this record showed the reach of what had become known as the Chic Organization: songwriting and production sharp…

  3. 6

    Chic

    Chic · 1977
    Original release: Atlantic · SD 19153 · 12″ Vinyl · US 1977

    Chic's self-titled 1977 debut, anchored by "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)," laid out the band's approach in full: minimal, disciplined, almost rock-band tight compared to the lusher disco productions around them.

For the obsessed

  1. 7

    Diana

    Diana Ross · 1980
    Original release: Motown · 5155 · 12″ Vinyl · US 1980

    Produced by Rodgers and Edwards with the Chic rhythm section behind her, Diana Ross's 1980 album sold more than ten million copies worldwide and produced "Upside Down" and "I'm Coming…

The stories behind every record are in New York Disco, a members' issue.

Notes: original release details come from MusicBrainz. Each line is from the issue.