Donna Summers circa 1978 in New York City.
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Disco is a music genre and a subculture born out of a dance floor and pioneered by Black musicians, DJs and producers in the 1970s and early 1980s. The word disco comes from the Italian discoteca, meaning “record collection, record library,” and was popularized by the French discothèque, a “nightclub with recorded music for dancing” in the 1950s.
Born out of a response to shifting political, social and sexual revolutions, disco culture and the corresponding underground scene became central to queer and trans liberation movements and post-Civil-Rights racial integration.
The disco genre is unique combining elements of soul, funk, gospel and electronic music to make for uptempo danceable rhythms characterized by a song length that extends beyond the traditional 3-to-4-minute timestamp.
Top Disco Songs
Disco songs like Van McCoy’s “The Hustle” and Donna Summer’s “Bad Girls” were played by iconic DJ Larry Levan at the historic Paradise Garage — what some considered to be “the prototype of the modern dance club.”
“DJ Larry Levan would play until 10 o’clock in the morning. He could actually feel the pulse of the club. I remember one night, for over 30 minutes all he played was “toot toot, hey, beep beep” [from Donna Summer’s Bad Girls].”
From popular artists The Village People, Donna Summer and the Bee Gees, disco is synonymous with the 1970s sound which blended through to the early 1980s and into early music from Michael Jackson, Rick James and The Sugar Hill Gang. With a never-ending list of disco songs, the following selection curates timeless jams from Indeep’s classic, “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life,” The Crusaders’ memorable “Street Life” and Patrice Rushen’s “Forget Me Nots.”
30. “Love Thang” by First Choice (1979)
First Choice, a girl group from Philadelphia, where much of disco in the United States took off, is an under-the-radar trio of singers and performers whose many timeless hits became samples for house music of the 1990s. “Love Thang” is a slow and syncopated disco song with a drum pattern, bass line and vocal arrangement to make anyone dance for hours.
29. “Bad Girls” by Donna Summer (1979)
Popularized by the catchy “toot toot, hey, beep beep” sound-byte, Donna Summer’s “Bad Girls” song is an energetic ode to ladies of the night. An upbeat dance song, Summer’s “Bad Girls” weaves orchestral sounds, athletic whistles and funky guitar riffs seamlessly.
28. “The Hustle” by Van McCoy (1975)
“The Hustle” was both a song and a dance that hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 1975. The simplicity of Van McCoy’s “Hustle” makes disco accessible, memorable and fun. “Do the Hustle” lyrics are easy to sing along to and dance with, awarding this song a top slot in the best disco songs of all time.
27. “Le Freak” by Chic (1978)
The 1970s had a lot of songs with the word “freak” in it; the decade was experimental, fun and unusual, much like the word itself, and Chic’s “Le Freak” was no different. The song was written on New Year’s Eve 1977 by guitarist Nile Rodgers when he and his and bassist, Bernard Edwards, were refused entrance to the iconic Studio 54 nightclub, where they had been invited by Grace Jones.
26. “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life” by Indeep (1982)
Although Indeep’s “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life,” was released in 1982, its disco influences run deep, etching the song’s influence into dance music culture marked as a “post-disco” song by many. A story of music changing a perspective overnight is relatable and synonymous with the experience of DJ culture and disco.
25. “Night Fever” by The Bee Gees (1977)
Saturday Night Fever, the popular 1977 dance drama movie starring John Travolta brought the dance floor to the mainstream and highlighted its role in shifting culture. “Night Fever” appeared in the soundtrack, putting The Bee Gees on the map and paving a space for disco music in the mainstream.
24. “Love To Love You” by Donna Summer (1975)
Born out of her time living in Europe, Donna Summer’s “Love To Love You” became a genre-defining song and style for smooth disco and her unique niche. The song was named by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll in 1995.
23. “Dance Wit Me” by Rick James (1982)
While many think of Rick James as a king of funk and soul, his early tunes like “Dance Wit Me” sounded more like disco than any other genre. With a super funky bass lines, slapping disco-esque drums and background sounds synonymous with the genre, “Dance Wit Me” should not be forgotten as a disco-inspired classic.
22. “I Feel Love” by Donna Summer (1977)
The floaty components of Donna Summer’s 1977 hit “I Feel Love” make you feel as though you’re on a dance-floor with only the speakers. The synthesized beat contrasted with Summer’s angelic vocals have a transformative effect only love can.
21. “Got To Be Real” by Cheryl Lynn (1978)
Arguably one of the catchiest songs of its time, “Got To Be Real” made waves as the soundtrack to Paris Is Burning, the iconic film about ballroom dance culture centered on the experiences of New York City’s Black, Latino, gay and transgender communities.
20. “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor (1978)
A song about pushing through life’s ups and downs, “I Will Survive,” is the anthem of strength. Gloria Gaynor’s timeless classic will forever be an ode to picking oneself up after a breakup and moving on stronger.
19. “Street Life” by The Crusaders (1979)
Known for their jazz stylings, The Crusaders’ downtempo disco “Street Life” put smooth disco on the map. The song appeared in Burt Reynolds’ crime drama, Sharky’s Machine, and a sped-up version was featured in Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown.
18. “Good Times” By Chic (1979)
A feel-good song across generations. “Good Times” is the summer song of forever. Known as one of hip hop’s most sampled songs, Chic’s “Good Times” appears in songs by LL Cool J, Beastie Boys and Will Smith.
17. “Baby Be Mine” by Michael Jackson (1982)
Early in Jackson’s music, the sounds of nu-disco can be heard and “Baby Be Mine” is one of those songs. A ballad to love wrapped in disco timing and grooves, this song has Quincy Jones written all over it.
16. Rapper’s Delight by Sugar Hill Gang (1980)
The reason you know this song is because of an interpolation of Chic’s “Good Times.” It was all fun and games until Chic’s Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards threatened to sue Sugar Hill Records for copyright infringement, finally reaching a settlement that credited the original artists.
15. “Rock With You” by Michael Jackson (1979)
“Rock with You” comes as a disco-funk song. Easy to listen to, danceable and carefree, much like Jackson’s early music and the music of the late 1970s and early 1980s
14. “Stomp!” by The Brothers Johnson (1980)
Produced by the inimitable Quincy Jones, “Stomp!” comes in with high energy, groovy bass lines and catchy vocals. The cross-genre song gained momentum on both R&B and Dance charts.
13. “You Make Me Feel” by Sylvester (1978)
An under-the-radar disco artist, Sylvester was an iconic singer who pioneered self-love through music. “You Make Me Feel” is an LGBTQIA anthem and a timeless classic.
12. “Ring My Bell’ by Anita Ward (1979)
A flirty ode, “Ring My Bell” is synonymous with the lighthearted spirit of disco and the old school mode of communication–the telephone! The song also got Ward a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 1980.
11. “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge (1979)
“We Are Family” might be one of the most classic songs about community. Used in countless soundtracks, on wedding dance floors and college campus’ Sister Sledge’s sound stands the test of time.
10. “Disco Inferno” by The Trammps (1976)
The fire of the dancefloor comes through in “Disco Inferno” – a feeling the subscutlure provided time and time again. Watch the video to see how the music moves an entire stage.
9. “I’m Coming Out” Diana Ross (1980)
A song about being yourself, disco did that for many who embraced its purpose and community. Diana Ross, a queen of soul, pioneered disco with this song and dozens more, making Ross a face of disco.
8. “Boogie Oogie Oggie” by A Taste of Honey (1978)
Having fun was disco’s main talking point. If you listen to any disco song, you feel authentically free. Taste of Honey’s brand of disco was laid back, groovy, sensual and energetic.
7. “Off The Wall” by Michael Jackson (1979)
Another hit by Jackson, “Off The Wall” begs to be disco and it is. Even though mainstream music pinned Jackson as a pop icon, his music was heavily influenced by disco sounds and energy.
6. “Staying Alive” by The Bee Gees (1977)
Maybe the most well-known mainstream disco song? The Bee Gees trio, one of the few white disco groups, made waves with their popular sound and “Staying Alive” is a timeless gem that everyone will sing for decades to come.
5. “Boogie Nights” by Heat Wave (1976)
With a heavy nod to jazz at the start of the song, “Boogie Nights” breaks out in funky disco immediately implanting the the lyrics into the cultural zeitgeist and brainwaves.
4. “Forget Me Nots” Patrice Rushen (1982)
This disco funk classic is synonymous with the 1997 blockbuster movie, Men in Black, featuring Will Smith and used as a way to tell the story of memory erasing. A memorable song, Patrice Rushen’s voice powers through as one of the stars of her time.
3. “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now” by McFadden & Whitehead (1986)
R&B singers Gene McFadden and John Whitehead came together to record the disco classic in 1986. “’Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now’ is about succeeding despite having faced previous disadvantages. It was widely interpreted to be about the experience of the African American community, and after attaining popularity, became referred to as ‘the new black national anthem,’” John A. Jackson wrote in A House on Fire: The Rise and Fall of Philadelphia Soul.
2. “Give Me The Night” by George Benson (1980)
A feel-good song of the century, George Benson really knew how to make a song sound whole – and so did Quincy Jones, who produced “Give Me The Night.” The song came out at the start of a new decade where disco influences were still heavy and R&B was taking course.
1. “Street Player” by Chicago (1979)
A big band sound, Chicago’s “Street Player” takes elements of soul and funk, tying it together with a disco bow. The song tells the story of the lively street life — a road less traveled.
Bottom Line
Disco isn’t a straight line and that’s why it’s beautiful. Combining the sounds of jazz, soul, gospel, electronic, dance, R&B and funk, disco is the ultimate feel-good music, guaranteed to life the spirits. This song list encompasses only a fraction of what’s out there, creating a realm of discovery for all.
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