Disco Dream
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"Disco Dream" was a track released in 1981 by early Sugar Hill Records rap group The Mean Machine. It is the only single the group ever recorded, released on a 12" 33 RPM vinyl single (Sugar Hill serial number SH-564, also inscribed "VID-212-A19"). The track is significant for being the first rap song recorded which contained both English and Spanish, sometimes referred to as Spanglish.
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[edit] Track Listing
- A1. Vocal (6:30)
- B2. Instrumental (6:30)
[edit] Recording/Credits
Recording was done at Sweet Mountain Studios in Englewood, New Jersey. The song was recorded to the tune of Grace Jones' song Pull Up to the Bumper with music provided by Sugar Hill's house band, including percussionist Ed "Duke Bootee" Fletcher[1] and bassist Doug Wimbish. Doug mentioned in an interview that "I think Chris Lord-Alge was on the boards for that one" implying that Lord-Alge mixed the track.[2] Engineering credits go to Steve Jerome. On the single, production credits go to "Sylvia, Inc. and Jigsaw Prod. Inc." The credits on the single include "S. Robinson, J. Chase, S. Santiago, D. Rivera Jr., J. McLean, J. Semprit". The first is producer/Sugar Hill founder Sylvia Robinson, the last four are members of the group, and J. Chase was probably a producer (the name is listed as a producer on several other Sugar Hill singles[3]). A keyboardist is also obviously present on the track; while no credit is given to one, the group says "Cool Cliff" in unison before a keyboard flare.
In conversations with former Mean Machine member Daniel Rivera Jr. (aka Mr. Schick), he has mentioned that the group felt that the style of the music put to the song was not the kind they would have preferred.
[edit] Other Releases
The song has appeared in edited form (running time 4:28) on several Sugar Hill Records compilations. Many lyrics have been removed from the song, "including one inviting all listeners, straight "or even gay," to party to their music."[4]
