The Roots of Disco- FINAL UPDATE 
BEFORE DISCO EXPLODED, THE ELEMENTS WERE COMING TOGETHER TO USHER IN AN EXCITING NEW SOUND…

THE ROOTS OF

DISCO

Drawing from the rhythms of Motown; the seminal funk of Sly & The Family Stone and James Brown; the lush productions of Barry White, Isaac Hayes and Philadelphia International ‘s Gamble & Huff; all of these genres spawned disco.

Here are 50 songs that were among the early influences on The Disco Sound… Check back each week as 5 new songs will be added (in alphabetical order):

 BAND OF GOLD

Freda Payne (1970)
 BEGGIN'

Timebox (1968)
 BROTHER'S GONNA WORK IT OUT

Willie Hutch (1973)
CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF YOUR LOVE, BABE

Barry White (1974)
CLOUD NINE

Edwin Starr (1971)
DO IT (TIL YOUR SATISFIED)

B.T. Express (1974)

DON'T LEAVE ME THIS WAY

Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes (1975)

DOWN TO LOVE TOWN

The Originals (1976)
DREAMING A DREAM

Crown Heights Affair (1975)
FOOT STOMPIN' MUSIC

Hamilton Bohannon (1975)
FOREVER CAME TODAY

The Jackson 5 (1975)
FREE MAN

South Shore Commission (1975)
GET READY

Rare Earth (1970)
GET UP (I FEEL LIKE BEING A) SEX MACHINE

James Brown (1970)
HEY GIRL COME AND GET IT

The Stylistics (1974)
HIJACK

Herbie Mann (1975)
I'LL BE HOLDING ON

Big Al Dowling (1974)
I'M DOIN' FINE NOW

New York City (1973)
KEEP ON TRUCKIN' (Part 1)

Eddie Kendricks (1973)
KUNG FU FIGHTING

Carl Douglas (1974)
LAW OF THE LAND 

The Temptations (1973)
LIFE'S NO FUN LIVING IN THE GHETTO

Willie Hutch (1975)
THE LOVE I LOST

Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes (1973)
LOVE IS THE MESSAGE

MFSB featuring The Three Degrees (1974)
LOVE TRAIN

The O'Jays (1973)
THE LOVE YOU SAVE

The Jackson 5 (1970)
MACHINE GUN

The Commodores (1974)
MASTERPIECE

The Temptations (1973)
MIGHTY HIGH

Mighty Clouds Of Joy (1976)
MIGHTY MIGHTY

Earth, Wind & Fire (1974)
MOVIN'

Brass Construction (1976)
NEVER, NEVER GONNA GIVE YA UP

Barry White (1973)
THE PLAYER

First Choice (1974)
PSYCHEDELIC SHACK

The Temptations (1970)
ROCK YOUR BABY (Parts 1 & 2)

George McCrae (1974)
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED (OR TAKE YOUR LOVE BACK)
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes (1974)
SHAME, SHAME, SHAME
Shirley (And Company) (1975)
SHE'S A WINNER
The Intruders (1972)
SHINING STAR
Earth, Wind & Fire (1975)
SING A SONG
Earth, Wind & Fire (1975)
SOUL MAKOSSA
Manu Dibango (1973)
STICK-UP 
The Honey Cone (1971)
SUN GODDESS
Ramsey Lewis & Earth, Wind & Fire (1975)
TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT
Jimmy Ruffin (1974)
THAT LADY
Isley Brothers (1973)
THEME FROM 'SHAFT'
Isaac Hayes (1971)
WHEN THE FUEL RUNS OUT 
Executive Suite (1974)
WHERE ARE ALL MY FRIENDS
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes (1974)
YOU SEE THE TROUBLE WITH ME
Barry White (1976)
YOU'RE THE FIRST, THE LAST, MY EVERYTHING
Barry White (1974)