What resonates most here is the framing of “I Feel Love” not simply as a great record, but as a turning point where music stops looking backward and begins imagining forward. Very few songs redraw the map like that.
I’m especially drawn to the tension you capture between ridicule and conviction. So much of what later becomes foundational first appears disposable or artificial. Time has a way of revealing which sounds were novelty—and which were prophecy.
Seen from today, this isn’t just disco history. It’s the moment circuitry, voice, and intention fused into the architecture of modern sound. And we’re still living inside that future.
Absolutely, Howard. And I’d add one more thing: the unplanned nature of those pivots. As I argue in the piece, I’m convinced that I Feel Love was bound to happen — and that it was always going to come from a European production team, most likely Giorgio Moroder. At the same time, you can clearly see how much of the song was shaped by happy accidents. It’s exactly these kinds of stories that make researching and writing these posts so rewarding. Thanks so much for reading, sharing, and reacting!
This was brilliant, Pe! I loved finding out more about Donna, an artist I of course knew about but, criminally so, not enough. I remember how much I enjoyed listening to, and discussing with you, the record by hers that you selected for your Vital Records appearance.
Masterful writing, as always. What you said about not backing down in the face of adversity really resonated with me.
Amazing post. Your knowledge, appreciation, but more importantly, LOVE for Disco and boogie fuel these wonderful posts. I have shared before that, as a young boy in the '70s, I dismissed the genre. Mainly because I liked my crunching rock guitars. However, as a teen who discovered funk (via Funkadelic's guitars!), my appreciation for Disco has grown considerably over the years/decades. Mainly through the funky disco albums of late Undisputed Truth, the Kay Gees, and other funky gems. But still, I keep returning to your lengthy, detailed, and lovingly composed exposes to learn more. Thank you for what you do!
On Donna, I know the big hits, but the only album of hers I own is 'Love To Love You Baby'. So, I appreciated this deeper dive.
Thanks so much for the kind words, Michael — they really mean a lot to me. One of the unexpected rewards of researching and writing these pieces is how clearly the connections between disco and other genres come into focus. I’m always amazed by how many artists, scenes, and ideas fed into what was a relatively short yet incredibly rich period in music history. Reactions like yours genuinely help keep me going. And with such a long list of songs and artists still to (un)cover, I’ll be around for quite a while 😁
A compelling piece from start to finish! I am amazed that you can read all that and not stumble once or have any awkward pauses. It’s a testament to your writing that I was sucked in even though a lot of the Sergio and Donna history I already knew. Can’t remember where exactly, probably one of many books, but also the Donna Summer documentary and I feel like maybe a Giorgio Moroder doc? Is there one?
I do have to edit every episode — mainly because I’m trying to tame my terrible Antwerp/Flemish accent. Dutch/Flemish is a Germanic language, so we do share a few things with English, but some words are definitely more challenging for us to pronounce 😁
I also don’t exactly hold back on word choice when I’m writing, which can make the read-out version a bit more challenging at times.
There are separate docs on Summer and Moroder. Giorgio, in particular, seems very accessible for interviews. I think he genuinely enjoys his cult status — and always looks slightly surprised by it. After episode two, you’ll understand the why a bit more 😁
Anyway, thanks so much for the beautiful compliment, Steve. Have a great weekend!
Great post Pe, as always! I'm not sure where I was when I first heard "I Feel Love" but I remember it becoming a big radio hit and I bought the single almost immediately. I was not familiar with Kraftwerk at the time so Summer's record was unlike anything I'd heard before. My husband thinks the song "Spit" by Gelli Haha (which made my Top Ten of 2025) sounds a bit like it. If nothing else it owes something to Moroder and Summer!
The reason it sounds a bit like I Feel Love is the gated reverb used on the synths. I Feel Love was the first track to introduce that effect, and it’s been widely used ever since. If you listen closely to the original mix of I Feel Love, you’ll notice that one side of the stereo carries the “dry” bass, while the other is almost entirely reverb.
That’s one of the key reasons we still think of I Feel Love as music from the future.
Thanks so much for reading and reacting — wishing you and your husband a lovely weekend!
Loved watching this! "I Feel Love" truly is *the* defining dance song — like, anytime I hear even the little synth whirr at the very start the precedes the actual synth riff dropping, it's go time. And when I listened to Beyoncé's 'Renaissance' for the first time and heard the blatant "I Feel Love" sample at the start of closer "Summer Renaissance," I felt an immediate burst of joy. Can't wait for part two!
Obsessed pver the Moroder Love to Love You Baby bassline since 76 when they played it in full on AM at the end of the dial! Unheard of back then when even the biggest rock tracks had slimmer versions for airplay. Even made a disco jazz version in the late 80's with Weater Report 2nd bassist Victo Bailey but nothing prepared anybody for the extended mix. I was disheartened when a club DJ told me they couldn't play more than 2 minutes of a 'song" which lead to whatever EDM is today. Hands in the air by models pretending to spin wvatcwe used to be called pre-mixes. Just released my version on Soundcloud.com/stevegabe Live! From the Vault #15 but nobody cares so as the great M said "I dont care. Do you?"
Listening to your version right now, Steve 😁 Great one.
I really started paying closer attention to the different elements of that song after hearing the almost 20-minute mix Tom Moulton made of the track 😁 You can truly hear how all the parts come together — he even incorporated Giorgio’s voice from one of the takes.
Hearing Love To Love You Baby like that is the perfect way to show that disco wasn’t “machine music,” but often the result of incredibly hard and creative work by musicians and producers.
Thanks so much for reading and reacting, Steve. Have a great weekend!
I have been a unapologetic disco queen since 11 year old me danced to "Last Dance" with my first crush in our annual dance recital. Disco was a part of my children's soundtrack; my son boasts he's probably the only Gen Zer to know all the words to "No More Tears", since I used to make them duet it with me, lol. Thanks for this jolt of nostalgia- can't wait for part 2!
Haha… music really is such a powerful conduit for memories, kelleyfewer! You and your son will remember that moment for the rest of your lives — and every time you hear the song again, those good times will come rushing back.
I love this story! There’s plenty of disco in my newsletter (every other episode), so you’re absolutely in the right place.
Thanks so much for reading and reacting. I’ll be dropping part two on Sunday. Have a great weekend! 💛
Wow, what a trip back in time! My little brother and his friends ridiculed me regularly about my disco music. They all wore “Disco Sucks”tees. Eventually, they’d be on the dance floor with me at parties.
I loved Donna Summer more than any other disco artist. I was hooked long before I Feel Love. A Love Trilogy and Four Seasons Of Love sucked me right in, and I still listen to them today. Thank you for another masterclass—I’m so looking forward to Part 2!
Thank you, Marta. Every one of those “Disco Sucks” T-shirt–wearing guys will run to the dancefloor the moment they hear one of the classic disco tracks. It’s God’s punishment for their behaviour back then 😂😂
And yes — as you already noticed in part one, I’ve always been a big Donna fan too. So that’s definitely something we have in common. My favourite album of hers (and the one I still play very often) is Once Upon a Time.
Say what you want about Donna, but the music is timeless.
Thanks so much for reading and reacting, Marta. I’ll be dropping part two on Sunday! Have a great weekend!
Awesome backstory on Moroder and Summer, where they came from and how they happened to end up in Germany together. Really looking forward to part 2!
What resonates most here is the framing of “I Feel Love” not simply as a great record, but as a turning point where music stops looking backward and begins imagining forward. Very few songs redraw the map like that.
I’m especially drawn to the tension you capture between ridicule and conviction. So much of what later becomes foundational first appears disposable or artificial. Time has a way of revealing which sounds were novelty—and which were prophecy.
Seen from today, this isn’t just disco history. It’s the moment circuitry, voice, and intention fused into the architecture of modern sound. And we’re still living inside that future.
Absolutely, Howard. And I’d add one more thing: the unplanned nature of those pivots. As I argue in the piece, I’m convinced that I Feel Love was bound to happen — and that it was always going to come from a European production team, most likely Giorgio Moroder. At the same time, you can clearly see how much of the song was shaped by happy accidents. It’s exactly these kinds of stories that make researching and writing these posts so rewarding. Thanks so much for reading, sharing, and reacting!
This was brilliant, Pe! I loved finding out more about Donna, an artist I of course knew about but, criminally so, not enough. I remember how much I enjoyed listening to, and discussing with you, the record by hers that you selected for your Vital Records appearance.
Masterful writing, as always. What you said about not backing down in the face of adversity really resonated with me.
It takes one to spot one 😂
I already had a feeling we were (and still are) quite alike on that front.
Thanks for reading, reacting & sharing Andy. Much appreciated
Amazing post. Your knowledge, appreciation, but more importantly, LOVE for Disco and boogie fuel these wonderful posts. I have shared before that, as a young boy in the '70s, I dismissed the genre. Mainly because I liked my crunching rock guitars. However, as a teen who discovered funk (via Funkadelic's guitars!), my appreciation for Disco has grown considerably over the years/decades. Mainly through the funky disco albums of late Undisputed Truth, the Kay Gees, and other funky gems. But still, I keep returning to your lengthy, detailed, and lovingly composed exposes to learn more. Thank you for what you do!
On Donna, I know the big hits, but the only album of hers I own is 'Love To Love You Baby'. So, I appreciated this deeper dive.
Thanks so much for the kind words, Michael — they really mean a lot to me. One of the unexpected rewards of researching and writing these pieces is how clearly the connections between disco and other genres come into focus. I’m always amazed by how many artists, scenes, and ideas fed into what was a relatively short yet incredibly rich period in music history. Reactions like yours genuinely help keep me going. And with such a long list of songs and artists still to (un)cover, I’ll be around for quite a while 😁
A compelling piece from start to finish! I am amazed that you can read all that and not stumble once or have any awkward pauses. It’s a testament to your writing that I was sucked in even though a lot of the Sergio and Donna history I already knew. Can’t remember where exactly, probably one of many books, but also the Donna Summer documentary and I feel like maybe a Giorgio Moroder doc? Is there one?
Thanks, Steve 😁
I do have to edit every episode — mainly because I’m trying to tame my terrible Antwerp/Flemish accent. Dutch/Flemish is a Germanic language, so we do share a few things with English, but some words are definitely more challenging for us to pronounce 😁
I also don’t exactly hold back on word choice when I’m writing, which can make the read-out version a bit more challenging at times.
There are separate docs on Summer and Moroder. Giorgio, in particular, seems very accessible for interviews. I think he genuinely enjoys his cult status — and always looks slightly surprised by it. After episode two, you’ll understand the why a bit more 😁
Anyway, thanks so much for the beautiful compliment, Steve. Have a great weekend!
Great post Pe, as always! I'm not sure where I was when I first heard "I Feel Love" but I remember it becoming a big radio hit and I bought the single almost immediately. I was not familiar with Kraftwerk at the time so Summer's record was unlike anything I'd heard before. My husband thinks the song "Spit" by Gelli Haha (which made my Top Ten of 2025) sounds a bit like it. If nothing else it owes something to Moroder and Summer!
Thanks, Dan! Your husband has a point.
The reason it sounds a bit like I Feel Love is the gated reverb used on the synths. I Feel Love was the first track to introduce that effect, and it’s been widely used ever since. If you listen closely to the original mix of I Feel Love, you’ll notice that one side of the stereo carries the “dry” bass, while the other is almost entirely reverb.
That’s one of the key reasons we still think of I Feel Love as music from the future.
Thanks so much for reading and reacting — wishing you and your husband a lovely weekend!
Loved watching this! "I Feel Love" truly is *the* defining dance song — like, anytime I hear even the little synth whirr at the very start the precedes the actual synth riff dropping, it's go time. And when I listened to Beyoncé's 'Renaissance' for the first time and heard the blatant "I Feel Love" sample at the start of closer "Summer Renaissance," I felt an immediate burst of joy. Can't wait for part two!
Haha… same here, Max! Thanks for reading and reacting. I’ve just recorded part two, so it’ll be ready to drop on Sunday at noon.
Obsessed pver the Moroder Love to Love You Baby bassline since 76 when they played it in full on AM at the end of the dial! Unheard of back then when even the biggest rock tracks had slimmer versions for airplay. Even made a disco jazz version in the late 80's with Weater Report 2nd bassist Victo Bailey but nothing prepared anybody for the extended mix. I was disheartened when a club DJ told me they couldn't play more than 2 minutes of a 'song" which lead to whatever EDM is today. Hands in the air by models pretending to spin wvatcwe used to be called pre-mixes. Just released my version on Soundcloud.com/stevegabe Live! From the Vault #15 but nobody cares so as the great M said "I dont care. Do you?"
Listening to your version right now, Steve 😁 Great one.
I really started paying closer attention to the different elements of that song after hearing the almost 20-minute mix Tom Moulton made of the track 😁 You can truly hear how all the parts come together — he even incorporated Giorgio’s voice from one of the takes.
Hearing Love To Love You Baby like that is the perfect way to show that disco wasn’t “machine music,” but often the result of incredibly hard and creative work by musicians and producers.
Thanks so much for reading and reacting, Steve. Have a great weekend!
I have been a unapologetic disco queen since 11 year old me danced to "Last Dance" with my first crush in our annual dance recital. Disco was a part of my children's soundtrack; my son boasts he's probably the only Gen Zer to know all the words to "No More Tears", since I used to make them duet it with me, lol. Thanks for this jolt of nostalgia- can't wait for part 2!
Haha… music really is such a powerful conduit for memories, kelleyfewer! You and your son will remember that moment for the rest of your lives — and every time you hear the song again, those good times will come rushing back.
I love this story! There’s plenty of disco in my newsletter (every other episode), so you’re absolutely in the right place.
Thanks so much for reading and reacting. I’ll be dropping part two on Sunday. Have a great weekend! 💛
Wow, what a trip back in time! My little brother and his friends ridiculed me regularly about my disco music. They all wore “Disco Sucks”tees. Eventually, they’d be on the dance floor with me at parties.
I loved Donna Summer more than any other disco artist. I was hooked long before I Feel Love. A Love Trilogy and Four Seasons Of Love sucked me right in, and I still listen to them today. Thank you for another masterclass—I’m so looking forward to Part 2!
Thank you, Marta. Every one of those “Disco Sucks” T-shirt–wearing guys will run to the dancefloor the moment they hear one of the classic disco tracks. It’s God’s punishment for their behaviour back then 😂😂
And yes — as you already noticed in part one, I’ve always been a big Donna fan too. So that’s definitely something we have in common. My favourite album of hers (and the one I still play very often) is Once Upon a Time.
Say what you want about Donna, but the music is timeless.
Thanks so much for reading and reacting, Marta. I’ll be dropping part two on Sunday! Have a great weekend!