Top Three Casablanca Records Disco Tracks of the Mid-70s

     Founded by record label executive, Neil Bogart, Casablanca Records (1973) became one of the most successful disco labels, signing artists such as Donna Summer, The Village People, Cher and more. So, it’s no surprise that the musical journey about the label and a producer who defined a generation is coming to the big screen on March 31, in the new motion picture, Spinning Gold. The soundtrack to film features the cast (Wiz Khalifa, Jason Derulo, Pink Sweat$, Tayla Parx, Ledisi, Jeremy Jordan) covering classics like “Bad Girls,” “Ain’t No Sunshine,” “Midnight Train to Georgia” and more.

 Here are our three favorite Casablanca Records 70s tracks and their stories.

1. Donna Summer - "I Feel Love": Inspired by Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg’s “Je t’aime… Moi non plus”, Donna Summer and her producer Giorgio Moroder, worked together to create the legendary song “Love to Love You/I Feel Love.” Neil Bogart immediately fell in love with the track, playing it at a house party where his friends were instantly entranced by its synth-infused melodies. Originally produced into a 3 minute track, the song’s “galloping bassline” combined with Donna’s sultry voice demanded to be enjoyed for much longer, resulting in Moroder extending it into a seventeen minute long experience. 

2. Lipps Inc. - "Funkytown": Produced by Steven Greenberg and sung by Cynthia Johnson, FunkyTown is a pure disco funk track that quickly reached top spots universally. FunkyTown is one of the most famous songs to ever come out from Minneapolis, selling millions of copies and hitting number 1 on the US singles chart in 1980 and amassing two renown music videos. 

3. The Village People - "Y.M.C.A": Founded by Jacques Morali, Henri Belolo, and lead singer Victor Willis, The Village People is a disco band renowned for their eye-catching costumes, captivating melodies, and suggestive lyrics. The band’s name pays tribute to Greenwich Village in New York City, which had a significant gay population at the time. The Village People rapidly gained popularity and went mainstream, achieving international acclaim with dance and disco hits such as "Macho Man," "In the Navy," "Go West," and their most significant hit, "Y.M.C.A.” Released in 1978, the song reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, selling 12 million copies worldwide and becoming the group’s biggest hit.