PINOY-DISCO
Manila Sound-Pinoy Disco
After the four-year span from 1974, Manila Sound—which had served as an umbrella for various emerging genres such as Original Pinoy Pop, P-Rock, P-Funk, P-Folk, P-Jazz, P-Ethnic, etc.,—experienced another evolution in 1978. This time, it embraced a vibrant new trend that swept through the music scene—enter PINOY DISCO!
This was how it all began.
I had previously arranged and recorded a ballad by Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon titled "Ikaw Ang Aking Mahal". Vicor chose this to be the carrier single for a new group, thus this song would be on Side A and pushed and played on the airwaves. Unfortunately, this project was shelved for a while. This decision, however, changed after learning that another recording company was releasing a new record with the same concept. (Competition can be a powerful motivator, pushing us to deliver our best. In this case, the real winners were the listeners and the record-buying public). Now, we needed a song for the flip side of “Ikaw Ang Aking Mahal".
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐁-𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝?
The B-side of a single is generally a song that is not being geared as a hit. It serves as a companion to the A-side, which is the primary song intended for promotion and airplay. The B-side can be considered a substitute or secondary song, often providing additional content for fans without the expectation of it achieving the same level of success as the A-side.
One evening, Tito Sotto asked me to urgently arrange and record a new song that Vic and Joey were working on. The only directive I received was to create something different. Since the market was saturated with ballads, I decided to craft a new sound and style that would contribute to the distinctive identity of the group.
𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐃𝐉𝐬:
When the radio DJs got the first copy of the single, as directed by the recording company, they played and promoted Side A, “Ikaw Ang Aking Mahal.” But, as fate would have it, their curiosity led them to flip the record over, and to their surprise and delight, the DJs discovered a fresh and engaging new sound on the B-side that they eagerly started playing on the air to share with their listeners.
Boom!!! It became an instant hit and was embraced by all. The DJs’ discovery and subsequent promotion of the B-side were responsible for its success and the birth of the Pinoy Disco trend. The song, the group… “AWITIN MO AT ISASAYAW KO,” VST & Co."
𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐨 𝐉𝐨𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐨𝐧:
Quoted from Joey’s article: “It happened during the reign of the Hotdog. For me, they were the real Manila Sound engineers. But the 'tunog-pusa' sound of the Bee Gees was slowly creeping in like a cat in the night trying to steal the ulam in the kusina. Likewise, the swing beat was almost in full swing. VST & Company was just in its infancy and I was the King Lyricist of the group.”
By the way, the two songs that were pitted against each other were VST’s “Ikaw Ang Aking Mahal” and The Boyfriends’ “Dahil Mahal Kita,” which were both ballads.
Following the success of "Awitin Mo", I received many requests to record more Pinoy Disco tunes. I even received compliments from studio recording engineers for the new sound, and was sometimes jokingly referred to as the Disco King.
To conclude, the advent of Pinoy Disco marked a significant chapter in the evolution of Manila Sound. What began as a creative exploration in the late 70s transformed into a musical movement that captured the hearts of many and left a lasting legacy. Today, Pinoy Disco continues to inspire new generations of artists and listeners, demonstrating the enduring influence of the Manila Sound era. The innovative spirit of that time serves as a reminder of how music can evolve and thrive through fresh ideas and the enthusiasm of its creators.
Manila Sound’s legacy lives on, with Pinoy Disco being a testament to the era’s creativity and passion for music. The impact of these early days of Pinoy Disco still resonates, showcasing the power of innovation and the joy of discovering new musical landscapes.
So I invite everyone to join me, mag ‘happening’ tayo, iwanan muna ang problema, tayo muna magsaya…sumayaw, umindak at pumadjak sa sariling atin….
I’ve put together a collection of Pinoy original Disco songs that celebrate the fun, the partying, the dancing and the stories that defined an era.
From the iconic sounds of VST & Co., The Boyfriends, Passionata, Ella del Rosario, Hotdog, Sharon Cuneta, Wadab, Hagibis, and The Soul Jugglers—this is a nostalgic journey back to where it all began.
Let’s groove and relive the best of Pinoy Disco together!
Pinoy Disco Video
Pinoy Disco Video