An In Depth Analysis Of Dance Music In New York City Underground Clubs 1969-1987

Dance music has always been an integral part of New York City's vibrant underground scene. From the late 1960s to the early 1980s, the city's clubs were pulsating with energy, as DJs spun records that brought people to their feet and got them shaking their bodies to the beats. In this article, we will take a deep dive into the history of dance music in New York City and explore the evolution of its underground club scene from 1969 to 1987.

The Birth of New York City's Underground Dance Music Scene

The roots of New York City's underground dance music scene can be traced back to the late 1960s, when clubs like The Loft and The Sanctuary started hosting private parties in unconventional spaces. These venues became a haven for those seeking an alternative to the mainstream disco scene, which was dominated by commercial and pop-oriented music.

The DJs of these underground clubs played a diverse range of genres, including funk, soul, disco, and early electronic music. They sought out rare and obscure records, often importing them from Europe, to create a unique and cutting-edge sound that set them apart from the mainstream.

Turn Up The Bass: An In-Depth Analysis of Dance Music in New York City's Underground Clubs 1969-1987

by Bjorn Klein(Kindle Edition)

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	6058 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	273 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

The Rise of Disco

In the early 1970s, disco began to take center stage in the New York City underground club scene. Legendary clubs like Studio 54 and Paradise Garage became synonymous with the disco movement and attracted celebrities, artists, and the city's LGBTQ+ community.

The rise of disco marked a significant shift in the dance music landscape. DJs started incorporating more electronic elements into their sets, using synthesizers and drum machines to create hypnotic and infectious beats. The 4/4 rhythm became a staple of disco music, providing a steady groove that kept dancers moving all night long.

Disco also gave birth to the concept of the remix, with DJs like Tom Moulton and Walter Gibbons extending and rearranging songs to create extended dance versions. These remixes became highly sought after and helped fuel the popularity of disco in New York City and beyond.

The Underground Club Scene Comes Alive

By the late 1970s, the underground club scene in New York City had reached its peak. Clubs like Danceteria, The Roxy, and The Palladium became iconic venues, where DJs pushed the boundaries of dance music and brought together diverse communities of music lovers.

During this time, a new wave of music called punk also made its mark in the underground club scene. Bands like Blondie, Talking Heads, and The Ramones performed at these clubs, alongside DJs who played a mix of disco, funk, and early hip-hop. The fusion of different genres created a vibrant and experimental atmosphere that defined the underground club scene of the era.

The Legacy of New York City's Underground Dance Music Scene

The influence of New York City's underground dance music scene from 1969 to 1987 cannot be overstated. The DJs and clubs of that era paved the way for future generations of electronic music, inspiring artists and producers around the world.

Today, New York City continues to be a hub for underground dance music, with clubs like Output, TBA Brooklyn, and Good Room carrying the torch. These venues provide a platform for local and international DJs to showcase their talent and keep the spirit of the city's underground club scene alive.

New York City's underground club scene from 1969 to 1987 was a breeding ground for creativity and innovation in dance music. DJs and clubs broke boundaries, experimented with different genres, and created a unique sound that defined the era. Their influence can still be felt today, as the city remains a hotbed for underground music culture. So next time you step onto a dance floor in New York City, remember the rich history of the underground clubs that paved the way for the music you are enjoying.

Turn Up The Bass: An In-Depth Analysis of Dance Music in New York City's Underground Clubs 1969-1987

by Bjorn Klein(Kindle Edition)

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	6058 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	273 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

It's all about the beat in Bjorn Klein's newest book about music history's most exciting era of underground dance music culture. Klein digs deep into the sexy code of the DJ's music, and expertly demystifies the sound of New York City's most notorious underground clubs in the 1970s. As strings and synthesizers whirl around frantically, as the bass guitar sends out funky waves of electrifying vibrations and as the beat of the bass drum spurs you on relentlessly, you step by step gain a more profound understanding of the elements of early dance floor music.

Today we take remixing, DJ culture and dance club culture for granted. They have become an inextricable part of the modern urban scene and music's mainstream pop-culture. However, it was only a few decades ago when early DJs broke new territory with what they were doing. Hidden away in obscure underground clubs in New York City back in the late 1960s/early 1970s, dancefloor music and the DJ were regarded nothing more but strange novelties belonging to a thriving subculture that was yet too small to be noticed.

Turn Up The Bass is a book about this new genre of dance floor music that emerged from the DJs' turntable experimentations in underground clubs in New York City between the late 1960s and early 1980s. Exhaustively researched, the author walks us through the pioneering days of a fresh, new musical style. In the first part of the book, Klein examines the complex interaction of music, dancers and DJ, sheds light on how technical developments and new DJing techniques influenced the formation of a new, distinct style, and how the art of remixing, new recording formats and the establishment of record pools all of a sudden turned the DJ into one of the most important figures in the music industry, who had the power to shape the musical taste of millions.

In the second part of Turn Up The Bass, Klein breaks down the sound of New York City's dance clubs into every single element and thus allows us a glimpse into how the DJ makes our bodies move. What musical characteristics define underground dance music recordings? What are the musical roots of underground dance music recordings? What instruments are used? How are they used? What is the formal musical structure of dance floor songs? How do dance floor songs of that time work with the concepts of tension-release and musical spacing? More than 50 transcribed examples of music and references to corresponding audio tracks make it easy for the reader to follow Klein's astute observations. An essential read for students and lovers of popular music.