Disco Meets Classic Rock, Pop, and Soul (Sampler)

As a follow-up to my "Disco Meets Classical Music" Sampler, here is a compilation featuring disco remakes of classic rock, pop, and soul songs.
The recordings here range from the successful ("Never Can Say Goodbye," "MacArthur Park," "Knock On Wood") to the less well-known to the more obscure.

Disc 1:

1. Do Wah Diddy Diddy (À La Carte, 1980 [3:41])

- Original recording by the Exciters (1963); Hit version by Manfred Mann (1964, #1 US, #1 UK).
- Also covered by Dutch disco girl group Dolly Dots in 1982.

2. If You Could Read My Mind (Viola Wills, 1980 [5:27])

- Originally recorded by singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot in 1971 (#1 Canadian Country Chart, #5 US, #30 UK).
- Viola Wills' version peaked at #2 on the US Disco Chart.

3. Never Can Say Goodbye (Gloria Gaynor, 1975, Moimix Version [8:38])

- Hit version by the Jackson 5 (1970, #2 US, #1 US Soul).
- Gloria Gaynor's version hit #9 US, #2 UK.
- This particular mix came from the Moimix blog.

4. Knock On Wood (Amii Stewart, 1978, Liebrand 12" Version [6:53])

- Original recording by Eddie Floyd (1966, #28 US, #1 US Soul).
- Amii Stewart's version reached #1 US & #6 UK in 1979, then a remixed version reached #7 UK in 1985.

5. Can't Take My Eyes Off You (Boys Town Gang, 1981 [9:32])

- Hit version by Frankie Valli (1967, #2 US).
- The Boys Town Gang's Hi-NRG version hit #1 in Holland in 1982.

6. (The Best Part Of) Breakin' Up (Roni Griffith, 1982 [5:44])

- Originally recorded by the Ronettes (1964, #39 US); The Symbols' 1968 version hit #25 UK.
- Roni Griffith's Hi-NRG version hit #2 on the US Dance Charts in 1982.
- This song was used as the basis of the Folgers slogan "The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup."

7. MacArthur Park (Donna Summer, 1979, Promotional Single Version [6:28])

- Jimmy Webb song, originally recorded by Richard Harris (1968, #2 US).
- Donna Summer's version hit #1 US.

8. One Way Ticket (Eruption, 1978, 12" Version [5:41])

- Originally recorded by Neil Sedaka in 1961.

9. The Letter (Deborah Washington, 1978 [4:53])

- Hit version by Box Tops (1967, #1 US, #5 UK).
- Disco covers include Deborah Washington (1978, #13 US Disco), Queen Samantha (1978), Amii Stewart (1979), and Dionne Warwick (1979).

10. Ain't No Mountain High Enough (Inner Life, 1981, Larry Levan Remix [10:27])

- Hit versions by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (1967, #19 US, #3 US Soul) and Diana Ross (1970, #1 US).

11. Bridge Over Troubled Water (Linda Clifford, 1979 [10:17])

- Originally recorded by Simon & Garfunkel (1970, #1 US, #1 UK).
- Linda Clifford's version hit #11 US Disco, #41 US, #28 UK.

Disc 2:

1. Medley: Working My Way Back To You/Forgive Me Girl (The Spinners, 1979 [6:05])

- Hit version of "Working My Way Back To You" by the Four Seasons (1966, #9 US).
- The Spinners' version of "Working MWBTY" hit #2 US, #1 UK (as a medley with "Forgive Me Girl," written by Michael Zager).

2. Band Of Gold (Sylvester, 1983 [3:50])

- Hit version by Freda Payne (1970, #3 US, #1 UK)

3. (In-A-)Gadda-Da-Vida (Boney M., 1980, 12" Version [8:57])

- Originally recorded by Iron Butterfly (1968 Album: #4 US; Single: #30 US).
- Disco covers include Disco Circus (1978), Hot R.S. (1978), and Boney M. (1980, #11 Germany).

4. Runaway (Eruption, 1981, Maxi Version [6:52])

- Hit version by Del Shannon (1961, #1 US, #1 UK).

5. Standing In The Shadows Of Love (Fever, 1978 [7:09])

- Hit version by the Four Tops (1967, #6 US).
- Disco covers include Deborah Washington (1978) and Fever (1978).

6. Light My Fire/137 Disco Heaven (Amii Stewart, 1978 [8:26])

- Hit version by the Doors (1967, #1 US).
- Disco covers of "Light My Fire" include Carol Douglas (1977), Lipstique (1977), Baccara (1978), Amii Stewart (1978), Victoria Abril (1979).

7. Baby I Need Your Loving (Gayle Adams, 1982 [5:08])

- Hit versions by the Four Tops (1964, #11 US) and Johnny Rivers (1967, #3 US).

8. La Vie En Rose (Grace Jones, 1977, 12" Promo Tom Moulton Mix [7:28])

- Signature song of Édith Piaf (1947, #23 US).
- Grace Jones's version charted in the top 5 in France and Italy.

9. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (Santa Esmeralda, 1977 [16:10])

- Hit version by the Animals (1965, #15 US, #3 UK).
- Santa Esmeralda's version hit #1 US Club Play in a Remixed Version; The single version hit #15 US.

10. Caribbean Disco Show (Lobo, 1981, Part 1 [11:09])

- Features upbeat covers of Calypso classics famously recorded by Harry Belafonte, such as "Day-O (Banana Boat Song)," which was a #5 US hit in 1957.

Get Disc 1 here and Disc 2 here.
Enjoy!
And, as always, any comments are much appreciated. :)

Disco Meets Classical Music (Sampler)

First of all, I'd like to inform everyone that in a matter of two days, I received two DMCA copyright claims (the first for the 'Cher Sings Bob Dylan' collection and the second for the 'Footloose' soundtrack). I had never before received anything like this, so I was quite worried by them, and I know of course that I was in the wrong for the posts. I re-uploaded the Cher album not long before receiving the 'Footloose' claim, and I ultimately decided to delete the 'Footloose' blog post and file.
This raises the question of exactly where to go from here. When I started, I told myself I'd only continue as long as I enjoyed posting stuff and as long as I felt I had something worthwhile to offer. I still feel I do, so for the time being, I will continue blogging (perhaps a little more cautiously, though).
I'd hate to be a nag, but I have only received a single comment on my music posts after over 1150 (anonymous) downloads. Of course, I don't do it for the praise but it'd be nice to feel some appreciation, especially since I now feel like I am taking greater risks with each post. Some thanks would go a long way toward giving me a stronger drive to continue.
Finally, I'm going to have to give a little thought to the Dylan series I had been working on. I was very excitedly putting together a Byrds album and a various artists compilation of Dylan covers, but now I'm not sure whether I will post them, seeing as my first complaint was over the Dylan covers by Cher. We'll see. Perhaps I will use a different file hosting for certain files.
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Anyway, sorry for the wall of text. For today's post, I have a compilation of disco adaptations of classical instrumentals. The songs here range from the well-known, like Walter Murphy's US #1 hit "A Fifth of Beethoven," to the relatively obscure, like the Philarmonics' "Piano Concerto."
Two of the songs here were featured in the soundtrack of "Saturday Night Fever" (which you can find here).
The final two songs are from the first "Hooked On Classics" album, which was released in 1981 to much success, reaching #4 on the US charts. The arrangements - featuring rather generic disco beats - remind me of the "Stars on 45" medleys, and I'm not the biggest fans of the "Hooked On Classics" album, but I've included them for historical reasons and because they are nice curiosities.
The sound quality here ranges from clear CD audio to crackly Vinyl audio. The songs from Vinyl are from around the internet.
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Here is the track listing:

1. A Fifth Of Beethoven (Walter Murphy)

- Based on "Symphony No. 5 In C Minor Op 67" (Beethoven)

2. Magic Bird Of Fire (Salsoul Orchestra)

- Based on "Firebird Suite" (Stravinsky)

3. Night On Disco Mountain (David Shire)

- Based on "Night On Bald Mountain" (Mussorgsky)

4. Concierto De Aranjuez (Charo)

- Based on "Concierto De Aranjuez" (Joaquín Rodrigo)

5. Toccata And Funk In D Minor (Walter Murphy)

- Based on "Toccata & Fugue In D Minor" (J.S. Bach)

6. Classically Elise (Elise '77) (Dino Solera & The Munich Machine)

- Based on "Für Elise" (Beethoven)

7. The Blue Danube Hustle (Part 1) (Rice & Beans Orchestra)

- Based on "Blue Danube Waltz" (J. Strauss II)

8. Fanfare For The Common Man (Montana)

- Based on "Fanfare For The Common Man" (Copland)

9. Piano Concerto (The Philarmonics)

- Based on "Piano Concerto No. 1 In B Flat Minor Op 23" (Tchaikovsky)

10. Our Love Concerto (Rice & Beans Orchestra)

- Based on "Piano Concerto No. 1 In B Flat Minor Op 23" (Tchaikovsky)

11. Prince Igor (The Philarmonics)

- Based on "Prince Igor" (Borodin)

12. Afternoon Of A Faun (Walter Murphy)

- Based on "Prelude To The Afternoon Of A Faun" (Debussy)

13. 1812 Overture (The Philarmonics)

- Based on "1812 Overture" (Tchaikovsky)

14. Hooked On Classics (Part 1 & 2) (The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted By Louis Clark)

- Piano Concerto No. 1 In B Flat Minor Op 23 (Tchaikovsky)
- Flight Of The Bumblebee (Rimsky-Korsakov)
- Symphony No. 40 In G Minor (Mozart)
- Rhapsody In Blue (Gershwin)
- Karelia Suite Op 11 (Sibelius)
- Symphony No. 5 In C Minor Op 67 (Beethoven)
- Toccata In D Minor (J.S. Bach)
- Serenade No. 13 In G Major - 'Eine Kleine Nachtmusik' (Mozart)
- Symphony No. 9 In D Minor Op 125 (Beethoven)
- William Tell Overture (Rossini)
- Le Nozze Di Figaro (Mozart)
- Romeo & Juliet Fantasy Overture (Tchaikovsky)
- Trumpet Voluntary (Clarke)
- Hallelujah Chorus (Handel)
- Piano Concerto In A minor Op 16 (Grieg)
- March Of The Toreadors (Bizet)
- 1812 Overture (Tchaikovsky)

15. Hooked On Tchaikovsky (The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted By Louis Clark)

- Capriccio Italien (Tchaikovsky)
- Swan Lake (Tchaikovsky)
- Dance Of The Reed Flutes (Tchaikovsky)
- Romeo & Juliet Fantasy Overture (Tchaikovsky)
- Symphony No. 6 In B Minor Op 74 (Tchaikovsky)
- Trepak (Tchaikovsky)
- Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy (Tchaikovsky)
- March (Tchaikovsky)
- Chinese Dance (Tchaikovsky)
- Miniature Overture (Tchaikovsky)
- Piano Concerto No. 1 In B Flat Minor Op 23 (Tchaikovsky)
- Capriccio Italien (Tchaikovsky)
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Download in ZIP format here.
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Dino Solera's 1977 album "Classically" can be downloaded here. I did not upload it myself, and I do not know who did, so I unfortunately can't give credit where it's due.
The same story applies to the first "Hooked On Classics" album (here) and to Walter Murphy's 1976 album "A Fifth of Beethoven" (here).
I got the Philarmonics' album "The Masters In Philadelphia from the blog 70disconights a while back, but the DL link is no longer active.
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And, as an added bonus, here is a video of Vincent Montana, Jr. conducting a strings rehearsal of "Magic Bird of Fire" in 1990. Enjoy!