Podcast Summary
The birth of Hi NRG disco in San Francisco: Hi NRG disco in San Francisco marked a shift towards electronic sounds in disco music, influencing the later development of house and techno.
The San Francisco disco scene in the late 70s and early 80s produced a unique subgenre of disco music called Hi NRG (High Energy), which was a pioneer in incorporating electronic instruments into disco music. This diverged from other strands of disco, such as post-disco that leaned into R&B territory, and disco's evolution into house and techno in Chicago, Detroit, and New York. BlindBuy, the podcast host, is a fan of disco and has explored its history in several podcasts. He recommends listeners to check out his BBC series "Blind by Undershteis" and his book of short stories "Boulevard Wren." Hi NRG is significant because it marked a shift towards electronic sounds in disco music, which would later influence the development of house and techno.
High energy disco's roots in San Francisco's LGBTQ community: The LGBTQ community in San Francisco shaped high energy disco, a unique subgenre of disco music, which influenced future genres like house and techno, but the AIDS epidemic claimed many key figures and led to its decline.
High energy disco, an Italian-American subgenre of disco music, was deeply rooted in and shaped by the LGBTQ community of San Francisco. This genre, which emerged in the 1970s and early 1980s, was a unique expression of gay culture and thrived in the city's vibrant queer scene. However, the AIDS epidemic tragically claimed the lives of many key figures in the high energy disco scene and led to the genre's decline. This tragic event was a significant mutation in the evolution of music, as the conversation and innovations of this community left an indelible mark on the musical landscape, influencing future genres like house and techno. It's important to remember that the underground nature of the LGBTQ community during this time shaped the unique cultural roles and rules that led to the creation of the disco scene in San Francisco.
San Francisco: Birthplace of LGBTQ+ and Disco Culture: Historical events led young rebels to San Francisco, fostering a vibrant LGBTQ+ and disco scene with influential figures like The Cockettes and artists Sylvester and Patrick Cowley.
The San Francisco Bay Area emerged as a hub for the LGBTQ+ community and disco music scene due to historical events like the World War 2 military discharges and the counterculture revolution in the late 1960s. During this period, young people, often referred to as hippies, rebelled against societal norms and moved to San Francisco in search of freedom and self-expression. The Cockettes, a queer theatrical group, originated in the hippie-centric Haight Ashbury district and played a significant role in shaping the city's arts and culture scene. Sylvester and Patrick Cowley, two influential disco artists, were part of this vibrant community and contributed to the genre's high-energy sound. The unique combination of historical circumstances, artistic expression, and cultural rebellion made San Francisco a pivotal figure in both the LGBTQ+ rights movement and disco music history.
A pioneering queer commune in San Francisco: The Cockettes, led by Hibiscus, were a psychedelic drag theater group who challenged societal norms and paved the way for future queer and avant-garde movements, with members like Sylvester influencing music and film.
During the late 1960s in San Francisco, a commune called the Cockettes emerged as a pioneering force in queer culture and psychedelic performance art. Founded by drag performer Hibiscus, the Cockettes were a psychedelic drag theater group who challenged societal norms through ironic parodies of American musical theater and open queer expression. Members of the Cockettes, such as Hibiscus, Divine, and Sylvester, went on to have significant impacts on various art forms, including film and music. Sylvester, an African American member from Los Angeles, was particularly influential in the development of disco music due to his roots in gospel singing and experimentation with psychedelic substances within the Cockettes. The Cockettes' groundbreaking work in the realms of gender, musical theater, and art paved the way for future queer and avant-garde movements.
Sylvester's Collaboration with Patrick Cowley Pioneered Electronic Disco Music: Sylvester and Patrick Cowley revolutionized disco music by incorporating synthesizers, creating high-energy tracks like 'Dance Disco Heat' before it was common practice on the East Coast.
Patrick Cowley, a lesser-known collaborator of Sylvester, played a pivotal role in the evolution of disco music by incorporating electronic instruments into disco tracks years before it became a common practice on the East Coast. Sylvester's openness to using synthesizers in disco music was likely influenced by his involvement with the psychedelic Cockettes and the free-spirited, anything-goes climate of San Francisco in the late 1970s. Despite the risk of being labeled as novelty music due to the unpopularity of synthesizers at the time, Sylvester and Cowley's collaboration resulted in high-energy disco tracks like "Dance Disco Heat," which featured a fast tempo and heavy use of electronic synthesizers. This unique sound was largely exclusive to the gay audience in San Francisco until the album's breakout success with the hit single "You Make Me Feel Mighty Real."
The role of drugs and gospel music in disco's fast tempo: During the mid to late 1970s, disco's fast tempo in San Francisco's gay clubs was influenced by drugs like Angel Dust and Poppers, but gospel music's fast tempo and Sylvester's gospel background may also have contributed.
The fast tempo and high energy in disco music during the mid to late 1970s in San Francisco's gay clubs can be attributed to the use of certain drugs, particularly Angel Dust and Poppers. These substances gave users a strong head rush and made them want to dance. However, the theory that gospel music's fast tempo influenced disco music is also plausible, as gospel choirs sing and clap at a rapid pace. Sylvester, a widely celebrated disco artist, had a gospel background, which could have contributed to the genre's tempo. Patrick Cowley, a less recognized figure, played a significant role in disco music's electronic element. He was a pioneer in synthesizer technology and worked extensively with Sylvester. Cowley's innovative use of synthesizers contributed to the unique sound of disco music during that era. Despite his importance, Cowley is not as celebrated as other disco artists, and there are few documentaries about him. To support the production of this podcast, consider becoming a patron at patreon.com/theblindbypodcast.
Uncovering Obscure Music with the Internet: The internet and dedication led a hip hop producer to discover Patrick Cowley, a pioneering figure in disco music whose work influenced hip hop decades later.
The internet, specifically YouTube, has revolutionized the way people discover and access rare and obscure music. This was particularly beneficial for hip hop producers like the speaker, who spent countless hours digging through vinyl records to find unique samples. The speaker's dedication led him to discover Patrick Cowley, a pioneering figure in disco music whose work predates techno, house, and down tempo hip hop by decades. Cowley's music was unlike anything else being produced at the time, making him a "mimetic mutation." Although most of his work remained obscure, the speaker's persistence paid off, and he was able to uncover a wealth of unique and influential tracks. This story highlights the importance of curiosity, dedication, and the power of the internet to uncover hidden gems in music history.
Patrick Cowley's Journey in Electronic Music and Gay Culture in San Francisco: Irish American gay man Patrick Cowley moved to San Francisco in the late 1960s to study electronic music and contribute to the gay club scene, leaving a unique mark on electronic music history
Patrick Cowley, an Irish American gay man born in the late 1950s, made significant contributions to electronic music despite facing challenges in his personal and societal context. Cowley moved to San Francisco in the late 1960s, drawn by the city's burgeoning gay scene and the opportunity to study electronic music at City College. Although electronic music was not yet mainstream, Cowley pursued it passionately, both as an avant-garde art form and as a means to create innovative sounds for the gay club scene. His work, which has only recently been rediscovered, showcases his unique vision and pushes the boundaries of what electronic music could be. Cowley's story highlights the intersection of electronic music, queer culture, and personal identity, making him a trailblazer in the history of electronic music.
Pioneering Electronic Music with Unique Approach: Patrick Cowley created innovative electronic music decades before it was popular, using rare equipment and a live-band feel, resulting in sounds reminiscent of trip hop.
Patrick Cowley was a visionary musician and producer who was creating unique, electronic music years before his time. He was known for his relentless work ethic, often working alone in his home studio with rare electronic equipment. One of his most distinctive tracks, "Somebody to Love Tonight," showcases his innovative approach to electronic music, featuring all electronic instruments and a soulful, live-band feel that was unheard of in the early 1970s. Cowley's process involved recording live musicians and painstakingly replacing each element with electronic instruments, resulting in a sound that was ahead of its time and reminiscent of trip hop from the 1990s. Unfortunately, much of Cowley's work went unrecognized during his lifetime as it was considered too far ahead of its time. Today, his music is being rediscovered and appreciated for its groundbreaking contributions to electronic music.
Patrick Cowley's Impact on Music through Gay Porn Films: Patrick Cowley revolutionized music by scoring silent gay porn films with his unique electronic sounds, predating techno music and influencing the high energy music scene, despite his untimely death from AIDS in 1982.
Patrick Cowley, an influential musician from the 1970s and 1980s, made a significant impact on music through his work on gay porn films. He scored silent gay porn films with his unique electronic sounds, which predates techno music by several years. His music, although primarily heard in gay discos and on porn films, laid the foundation for the high energy music scene. Tragically, Cowley was one of the first people to contract AIDS and died in 1982, leading to the demise of the high energy music scene. Despite the challenges in preserving his work, several collections of his music have been released, and his influence can still be heard in modern music.
Patrick Cowley's Impact on UK Music: Patrick Cowley's innovative use of electronic instruments and production techniques influenced UK acts like New Order, Bronsky Beat, and the Pet Shop Boys to create unique pop music rooted in the gay club scene, leading to hits like 'Love Comes Quickly'.
Patrick Cowley's high energy disco and electronic music had a significant impact on the UK music scene, particularly on acts like New Order, Bronsky Beat, and the Pet Shop Boys. Cowley's visionary use of electronic instruments and production techniques influenced these bands to create their own unique pop music, rooted in the gay club scene. The Pet Shop Boys, in particular, took Cowley's sound and combined it with their exceptional songwriting abilities to produce hits like "Love Comes Quickly." Cowley's music also influenced artists like Dead or Alive, Visage, and The Human League, who adopted high energy sounds in their music. Despite Cowley's music being largely underground and underground at the time, it has continued to influence artists and see release in recent years.
The high energy sound of disco was co-opted by mainstream pop music in the late 80s and early 90s: Disco's high energy sound, once a staple of the LGBTQ scene, was adopted by mainstream pop music producers, leading to the mainstream success of artists like Rick Astley and Kylie Minogue, but moving the genre away from its roots.
The high energy sound, which originated from the LGBTQ scene, was co-opted and appropriated by production teams like Stock Aiken and Waterman in the late eighties and early nineties, leading it to become mainstream pop music. This shift moved the high energy sound away from its LGBTQ roots and into the mainstream radio charts, producing hits like Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up," Kylie Minogue's early work, and Jason Donovan's music. If you're interested in discovering more about the history of disco and the roots of house music, check out the Rubber Bandits' podcast series on Spotify, which includes a playlist with over 6 hours of disco music from various artists. The speaker is passionate about music history and encourages listeners to explore the genre further. Additionally, the speaker took a moment to promote Whole Foods Market as the best destination for Mother's Day shopping, offering unbeatable savings on premium gifts, flowers, and desserts.
