James Arena Takes Us Down Memory Lane
By Chris Astrala
James Arena is a published author, freelance writer, host and commentator who has interviewed over 160 singers, songwriters, producers, DJs and mu-sic industry professionals from around the world. James takes a look at the fascinating pop music history through the memories and anecdotes of these performers and singers, songwriters, producers, responsible for some of the greatest hits in dance music history.
James generously shared his time with us recently to talk about his background and publishing journey. For anyone with an interest in music history, he gives us a fascinating look at pop music through the past four decades. So put on your dancing shoes and get ready for that trip down memory lane.
The Standard Magazine:
Thank you James for taking the time to speak with us. So let’s get right to it—How did you get your start?
James Arena:
It’s great to be speaking with you. My love affair with dance music began when I was about 17 years old. I had no real interest in pop music before, but one night in 1977 I saw a singer named Andrea True (The Andrea True Connection) on TV. She was performing a song called “N.Y., You Got Me Dancing,” which set off a spark in my brain. I loved this high-energy song—and within weeks had discovered the world of disco music. Gloria Gaynor, The Ritchie Family, Carol Douglas, Chic, Vicki Sue Robinson—I just dived in-to their music and never turned back. I felt a deep connection with this mu-sic’s melodies, beats, voices and uplifting power—and it never let up.
I devoured dance music throughout the 80s, 90s and 21st century. I will never give it up.
For almost over 22 years I worked in the music industry, including as an executive with BMG in New York (the company that owned RCA and Arista Records), in their direct marketing division. When my corporate career there ended, I decided the time had come to start documenting the lives and accomplishments of the dance music vocalists, producers and industry professionals I admired so much. The only books out there focused on the general eras and club culture. There were none about the artists them-selves. So I thought I should try to fill this void and get their stories collect-ed and published. I didn’t want to just talk about them; I wanted the artists themselves to tell me their memories of what happened and how they feel about their careers today.
The end result has been a series of books/e-books covering five decades of dance music, published by McFarland & Co., available worldwide. First La-dies of Disco, Legends of Disco, Europe’s Stars of ’80s Dance Pop, Stars of ’90s Dance Pop and Stars of 21st Century Dance Pop and EDM. In all, I have interviewed over 160 artists to date from around the world.
TSM:
Tell us about which of those interviews standout the most to you and why.
JA:
It was personally quite extraordinary to communicate directly with all these artists. Every one of them has contributed a great deal of joy to my life. I don’t say that casually—I don’t know what life would have been like with-out their music. My life was made better by their efforts.
It was almost surreal speaking with legends like Martha Wash (“It’s Raining Men”), whose roots go back to the days of the icon Sylvester, Amii Stewart (her “Knock on Wood” single still dazzles), and Gloria Gaynor (“I Will Sur-vive”), who, along with Donna Summer, remains one of the most
recognizable names in dance music history. When I think about what I’ve experienced, it seems almost impossible. I’m so glad I’m on this journey, and so thankful these books have been published. These artists’ stories are now preserved in a proper, respectable medium.
I was completely thrilled to speak with Pete Burns of the seminal 80s group Dead or Alive (“You Spin Me Round”). He passed a short time after our interview, which emphasized for me the value of documenting the words of these artists.
TSM:
You asked several Disco era artists if they thought that Disco music ever received an appropriate level of respect and recognition; did they?
JA:
The fast answer is—no, if we are speaking of classic 70s disco. By and large, most artists did not feel their music was given the legitimacy and respect by pop culture it deserved, especially during the disco backlash of the late 1979 into the first few years of the 80s. I think over-saturation of the
market, this sort of ridiculous battle of rock vs. disco, and a series of campy, cheesy dance records contributed to a decline in disco’s popularity. But once the 80s got underway, a new era of dance pop from Europe and the US revived disco and helped it evolve in fresh and highly exciting ways. Dance music, as it was simply called, was able to top the charts worldwide, along with other pop genres, and today I’d argue it has never been more popular. Dance music has a long and proud history of helping people through both good and bad times, and it has a unique ability to empower the masses. There’s something about that beat—the way it matches our heartbeats and even accelerates them—that is irresistible. As we get older, perhaps dance music feels like something that is relegated to our past, our youth, and therefore it seems less important that its rock, country or R&B counterparts. But then a DJ puts on a record like Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family” and everyone is rocking to the beat again.
I suppose, for me, my biggest disappointment hasn’t been the fact that the media and pop culture historians sometimes trivialize dance music. I feel sadness when an artist wants to disconnect from the label “dance music artist” or “disco artist.” It’s true many artists were capable of performing other styles of music and are uncomfortable that only some of their music (in this one particular genre) is their claim to fame. I get that. But, in my eyes, having a dance hit that people love, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40-plus years later is a badge of honor few will ever get to wear. I think they join the naysayers in undervaluing their contribution towards making the world a more enjoyable place to be.
TSM:
Was Legends of Disco written as a sequel to First Ladies of Disco?
JA:
Yes, it was. I had focused on the female vocalists in the first book, but soon realized there were a lot more women—and men—I needed to recognize for their accomplishments. And after Legends of Disco, I felt I must honor the incredible artists that came out of Europe and the UK in the 80s. Can’t ignore the 90s and 21st century, either. So one book led right into another! As I reached the home stretch writing one book, I immediately began the next.
TSM:
What do you consider the quintessential disco song of all time?
JA:
It’s such a tough question, given the thousands of songs that made an impression upon me. My choice—which is strictly based on my own preference— is “More, More, More” by, once again, the Andrea True Connection. This was the singer’s first and biggest hit. It’s hard to explain why I love this song so much. Andrea was, believe it or not, a 70s porn star at the time, and I found her dual career quite fascinating. She wasn’t the best singer by a long shot, but there is something hypnotic about this song, its melody, percussion and hook. Her first hits were a sort of a “gateway drug” for me, and I can still feel my heart race when I hear these tracks today! Andrea passed a few years ago, and I was heartbroken I had been unable to reach her for my first book. However, I interviewed one of her former producers, Michael Zager, and famed remixer Tom Moulton, to get a better under-standing of who she was for the chapter I devoted to her work.
TSM:
More recently you have written books on EDM (Electronic Dance Music) & Dance Pop, what are the main differences between the two genres?
JA:
Dance-pop is a broad term that reflects the dance music heard from the 80s onward—I suppose in some ways it replaced the word “disco.” So, in the 80s and 90s, music of all types—house, Hi-NRG, Italo-disco, dance-rock, and other sub-genres—crossed from the clubs to the pop charts and radio. That continues to this day. EDM probably has a million sub-genres by now, and it’s a combination of poppier sounds that hit the mainstream and more underground, rave and party-oriented sounds geared for events that are often staggering in size held around the world. EDM is largely the genre of star producer/DJ, and usually less about vocalists, in terms of the spotlight. I’m speaking very broadly, of course, but it shows this constant evolution that dance music is experiencing.
TSM:
Finally, what’s next for you?
JA:
My book looking at dance music from Europe and the UK in the 80s, Europe’s Stars of 80s Dance Pop, has been very well received. It was an incredibly challenging book to write, as I reached out to over 32 major artists from France, Italy, Germany and other countries. It was an extraordinary opportunity to share English interviews with these stars, whose stories have usually been relegated to their country’s primary language. I’m currently working on the sequel to this book, a Volume 2, which will include detailed talks with some more of the decade’s biggest selling hit makers. That should be out later in 2018. All the books are available on Amazon and Google Play, or wherever one gets books online. I’ll also be continuing to support the touring First Ladies of Disco Show, inspired by the book, and sharing news and interesting info on my Facebook (James Arena) and Twitter/Instagram pages (@JamesArenaNow). And waiting for someone to say these books should be turned into movies or Broadway shows!
