Unfortunately
he also produced some utterly terrible trash. Throughout his career Moroder has
exhibited a horrible habit, insisting on stepping out from behind the
mixing desk to inflict his own solo efforts on an unsuspecting public. He may
have an impeccable pedigree in disco circles, but the great man is no stranger to releasing
rubbish. His first album, 1970’s That’s
Bubble Gum – That’s Giorgio is stuffed with appalling cover versions 'sung' in broken English, such
as the two Creedence Clearwater Revival tracks
here, Proud Mary and Bad Moon Rising. Just dreadful.
But it didn't stop there. Oh no.
In 1978, at the height of the disco era - and at the height of his success - Moroder issued a dire discofied version of the Procol Harum classic A Whiter Shade of Pale. The track, from the album Knights in White Satin, is credited to the Munich Machine Featuring Chris Bennett but it’s actually a studio project from Moroder and his co-conspirator, British songwriter/producer Pete Bellotte utilising many of the musicians they had used on their various sessions. Vocalist Chris Bennett, now a respected jazz musician (born Christine Bennett in Illinois in August 1948) was a backing singer and pianist who had appeared on recordings by Tina Turner, The Manhattan Transfer and Donna Summer. She was later nominated for a Grammy for The Theme from Midnight Express.
In 1978, at the height of the disco era - and at the height of his success - Moroder issued a dire discofied version of the Procol Harum classic A Whiter Shade of Pale. The track, from the album Knights in White Satin, is credited to the Munich Machine Featuring Chris Bennett but it’s actually a studio project from Moroder and his co-conspirator, British songwriter/producer Pete Bellotte utilising many of the musicians they had used on their various sessions. Vocalist Chris Bennett, now a respected jazz musician (born Christine Bennett in Illinois in August 1948) was a backing singer and pianist who had appeared on recordings by Tina Turner, The Manhattan Transfer and Donna Summer. She was later nominated for a Grammy for The Theme from Midnight Express.
Horrifyingly
this piece of rubbish was a minor hit in Britain in 1978, reaching the dizzying
heights of 42 during its’ four-week run.
‘How
long can disco on?’, Harry Nilsson
once asked. Too long if you ask me, especially if it coughs up crap like this.
Enjoy!
You call "A Whiter Shade of Pale" a complete mess? Are you mad?!
ReplyDeleteIt's one of Moroder's best and a brilliant album, epic electronics mixed with traditional instruments and orchestra, not even one track of the album is bad.
The Munich Machine-Project was the best at the time, feel ashamed for creating such a bad article!
I am ashamed. I am a bad man
Delete5/30/14
ReplyDeleteRobGems.ca Wrote:
I never seen this 1970 album pictured here in the U.S. Giorgio's first success in the US came two years later with the minor Top 50 single "Son Of My Father", which is his best song. Compared to that classic, the stuff you put up here on the blog sound dated & mechanical. What must have sounded hip in 1970 sounds like a WTF period-piece relic in 2014. But then, have you heard "Underdog", his flip side to "Son Of My Father?" Sounds like Giorgio had attempted the "Sgt. Pepper" sound five years too late after it happened.
Moroder's original version of Son Of My Father is virtually unknown here in the UK, but a cover version by Chicory Tip was Number One for four weeks in 1972
ReplyDeleteI generally regard Giorgio Moroder as a god...but not everything the man put out was alchemical gold! I rather like the Procol Harum cover because I've got a thing for cheesy disco covers, and the Munich Machine album really *does* have some impressive tracks on it. But, man, those early "soul" albums? Even Moroder himself admits they were unadulterated crap. But they DID earn him the cash and contacts to finally get a hold of some synths are really discover his calling.
ReplyDelete