Disco Dream
Encyclopedia
Disco Dream was a single released in 1981 by early rap group The Mean Machine
through Sugar Hill Records
. It is the only single the group recorded on that label, 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
. The group recorded a single on the Honey Hush label in 1986.
. 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 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. 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). 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.
compilations. Many lyrics have been removed from the song, "including one inviting all listeners, straight "or even gay," to party to their music."
The Mean Machine (Rap group)
The Mean Machine was a rap group composed of Puerto Ricans who rapped in both English and Spanish. They are known for the single Disco Dream, released as a 12" 33 RPM single in 1981 on the Sugar Hill Records label. In 1986, They recorded a single called "At The Party" on the Honey Hush label...
through Sugar Hill Records
Sugar Hill Records (rap)
Sugar Hill Records was the name of a rap music record label that was founded in 1979 by husband and wife Joe and Sylvia Robinson with Milton Malden and financial funding of Morris Levy, the owner of Roulette Records.-History:...
. It is the only single the group recorded on that label, 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
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, sometimes referred to as Spanglish
Spanglish
.Spanglish refers to the blend of Spanish and English, in the speech of people who speak parts of two languages, or whose normal language is different from that of the country where they live. The Hispanic population of the United States and the British population in Argentina use varieties of...
. The group recorded a single on the Honey Hush label in 1986.
Recording/Credits
Recording was done at Sweet Mountain Studios in Englewood, New JerseyEnglewood, New Jersey
Englewood is a city located in Bergen County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 27,147.Englewood was incorporated as a city by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1899, from portions of Ridgefield Township and the remaining portions of...
. The song was recorded to the tune of Grace Jones
Grace Jones
Grace Jones is a Jamaican-American singer, model and actress.Jones secured a record deal with Island Records in 1977, which resulted in a string of dance-club hits. In the late 1970s, she adapted the emerging electronic music style and adopted a severe, androgynous look with square-cut hair and...
' song Pull Up to the Bumper
Pull Up to the Bumper
"Pull Up to the Bumper" was the second single released by Grace Jones from her critically acclaimed 1981 album Nightclubbing and has since come to be one of Jones' signature tunes. The song was co-written by Jones herself, Sly Dunbar, Dana Mano and Robbie Shakespeare.Upon its release, the song...
with music provided by Sugar Hill
Sugar Hill Records (rap)
Sugar Hill Records was the name of a rap music record label that was founded in 1979 by husband and wife Joe and Sylvia Robinson with Milton Malden and financial funding of Morris Levy, the owner of Roulette Records.-History:...
's house band, including percussionist Ed "Duke Bootee
Duke Bootee
Duke Bootee was an early hip hop and rap producer, who produced some of the most early and important rap records His perhaps most well-known single was "The Message". Produced for Sugar Hill Records, this record featured legendary rapper Melle Mel and Duke Bootee...
" Fletcher and bassist Doug Wimbish
Doug Wimbish
Doug Wimbish is a bass player, primarily known for his studio work for the rap/hip hop label Sugarhill Records and his membership of the funk metal band Living Colour. He has played for a vast range of artists, including Jeff Beck, Mick Jagger, Madonna, George Clinton, Paula Cole, Bomb the Bass,...
. Doug mentioned in an interview that "I think Chris Lord-Alge
Chris Lord-Alge
Chris Lord-Alge is a mixer who has worked on various albums. He is the brother of Tom Lord-Alge, another audio engineer. Chris Lord-Alge is known for his extreme use of dynamic range compression in both hardware and software plug-in versions....
was on the boards for that one" implying that Lord-Alge
Chris Lord-Alge
Chris Lord-Alge is a mixer who has worked on various albums. He is the brother of Tom Lord-Alge, another audio engineer. Chris Lord-Alge is known for his extreme use of dynamic range compression in both hardware and software plug-in versions....
mixed the track. 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
Sugar Hill Records (rap)
Sugar Hill Records was the name of a rap music record label that was founded in 1979 by husband and wife Joe and Sylvia Robinson with Milton Malden and financial funding of Morris Levy, the owner of Roulette Records.-History:...
founder Sylvia Robinson
Sylvia Robinson
Sylvia Robinson was an American singer, musician, record producer, and record label executive, most notably known for her work as founder/CEO of the hip hop label Sugar Hill Records. She is credited as the driving force behind two landmark singles in the genre...
, 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
Sugar Hill Records (rap)
Sugar Hill Records was the name of a rap music record label that was founded in 1979 by husband and wife Joe and Sylvia Robinson with Milton Malden and financial funding of Morris Levy, the owner of Roulette Records.-History:...
singles). 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.
Other releases
The song has appeared in edited form (running time 4:28) on several Sugar Hill RecordsSugar Hill Records (rap)
Sugar Hill Records was the name of a rap music record label that was founded in 1979 by husband and wife Joe and Sylvia Robinson with Milton Malden and financial funding of Morris Levy, the owner of Roulette Records.-History:...
compilations. Many lyrics have been removed from the song, "including one inviting all listeners, straight "or even gay," to party to their music."