As for this one, there are a few possible confusions, and just tons more to say.

MPB, to your aptly asked “So wouldn’t this general disco you talk about really reflect who we are and have been for the past 50 years or so?” my answer is a hearty YES, but with the addition that we also have to make room for Rock. Have to explain why disco is the ultimate in the homogenized and universal, whereas Rock tends to buck against that…and tends to be less the music of the masses and more the music of the upper-middle classes.

The thing I’d say about technology in general, synths, computers, drum mahcines, etc., is that they can be employed soulfully, with certain Stevie Wonder recordings standing as early proof of this. But the “collage art” paradigm offered by some of the DJs and producers out there does decrease musical value, and the best DJs know this, and use their sampling and other skills to imitate and or compensate for the intricacies and possibilities of the live band.

EVEN IF we could eventually program computers to improvise as well as humans (this assumes AI is possible), we’d still need to deploy them live, reading the audience reaction, etc. It just remains the case that even our best DJs/collage artists today, armed with advanced synthesizing, a century’s archive of sounds to sample from, and four full decades of refining their art, wouldn’t swing-wise and dance-wise have prayer if pitted against one of James Brown’s or Duke Ellington’s bands. To the extent we can have bands that good again, and I think the truth is we can get pretty close if the gigs become economically viable, this will become even more obvious. Or, what you will see the best DJs do is become some combination of mix-master and band-leader. But the pattern of the “In My Room” mastermind producer bringing his canned product, as amazingly Brian Wilson-esque in the funky sense as it may be, and then plopping it down for the dancers, I think we really know that is not ideal.

I want to second Mr.Cain’s remarks about your “Almost Famous “analysis.

But as for this article, I can’t help but get a little lost.

How exactly is Janice Marie Johnson the real face of disco? What are your own thoughts on funk (did I miss that entry?)

If the use of synthesizers and computer technology is the biggest problem: What of it’s practicality for a composer to write what they want? Does it not democratize music so that anyone can be an arranger/composer despite their circumstances?

Without community identities, don’t people need a music to dance to? Wouldn’t disco embody the type of beat anybody can dance to/share/ understand? Is there another type of dance music that allows people to dance alone as individuals? (I’m not sure that’s a good thing, but referring back to point one- no cultures to create and foster say, Céilidh dancing.) So wouldn’t this general disco you talk about really reflect who we are and have been for the past 50 years or so?

And how could you go without mentioning Soul Dracula?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9lOEngxKfE&feature=related

And since Last Days of Disco is a better film . . .