Any disco funk geek knows too well that Giorgio Moroder is not a great singer, and this is obvious on this album, but what we get is some fab instrumentation and arrangements, like we have always heard.
Some of Morodor’s songs have not made it to the top the reason being of his sleazy side to the songs. Case in point is songs like Donna Summer’s Love to Love You, Baby that was also banned by the BBC on its release. But this is no sleazy album thought we have a lot of such words lying all around the album. It’s a great fun album that should be played and enjoyed.
Side A opens with the title track Knights In White Satin a remake of The Moody Blues 1967 and ESP. their HUGE 1972 classic. Giorgio's version begins with the letter "K" it contains the same lyrics as The Moody Blues version, to a slow disco beat. It's rather strange, but its lovable at the first listen. We then move on to In The Middle Of The Knight, a song written by Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte. The song is very similar to Knights In White Satin, with violins thrown in, a great track to repeat.
We then go back to the title track Knights In White Satin, the continuation of Songs 1 & 2. Then comes a pretty good vibe with Oh, L'amour, followed by Sooner Or Later" that has a slow beat, the only slow track on the album, though it is filled with some saucy lyrics. The playlist on Side A ends with I Wanna Funk With You Tonite that is topnotch and a classic to say the least. It's very danceable and it also contains some sexy and suggestive lyrics.
Giorgio Moroder, one of the most talented and prolific artists in the entertainment industry, has been at the forefront of pop trends for four decades. The man who created Euro Disco and sparked a worldwide boom in computerised dance music, is a brilliant producer and songwriter. He had worked in Europe for many years and based himself in Germany. When in Munich he started his own record label called Oasis Records, which several years later became a subdivision of Casablanca Records.
He has worked with artists like David Bowie, Barbra Streisand and the Three Degrees, Italian born Giorgio and has music in his own name too, this album being one of them. This album showcases his innovative treatment of the Justin Hayward classic Nights In White Satin, revamped to a disco beat as Knights In White Satin, done so well that you would love it instantly.
Performed by the Munich Machine ensemble, together with strings and backing vocalists, here are 6 tracks from the original 1976 album.
The album has only 6 tracks, with the Side B a bonus collection of 4 single versions of Let The Music Play, Oh L’Amour, I Wanna Funk With You Tonight and, of course, Knights In White Satin.
Get those glitter balls out and start disco dancing.
Rating: *****
Label: Oasis
Release: July 1976
Reviewed by Verus Ferreira