"Cathedrals" D.C.LaRUE (1976) Original version

D.C.LaRue
"Cathedrals"
Original 1976 full lenght version
70s
Disco

From Wikipedia:

D.C. LaRue (born David Charles L'Heureux on April 26, 1948 in Meriden, Connecticut, U.S.A.) was a Disco artist His music was successful in dance/disco clubs and on dance music charts worldwide during the late 70s and early 80s.

His first big hit happened in 1976 and was titled "Cathedrals". With its release on Pyramid Records D.C. proved he could write, sing, produce and perform like a true veteran. LaRue's 1976 "Cathedrals" 12" 45 RPM caused an immediate sensation in the disco/dance clubs through out the world. D.C. was the first white male to ever hold the #1 R&B/Soul chart position in England. "Cathedrals" was the first commercially available 12" disco single in the USA and the only 12" single to be charted on Billboard Magazine's Top 100 Singles chart before or since.

In less than a year he began work on his second album "The Tea Dance." The 1976 recording featured such notable background singers as Lani Groves and Sharon Redd. It also included a duet with legendary 1960's rock/pop icon Lou Christie. The stand out cuts included the 12" of "Face Of Love," "Overture" and "Don't Keep It In The Shadows." The album presented itself was a concept capturing the essence and feel of a Broadway show. LaRue's "Cathedrals" album sold over 100,000 copies in its first three weeks of release but "The Tea Dance" more than doubled that sales figure and over the course of its life and became a bigger hit.

About the extended break on the 12" re-mix of "Indiscreet" from "The Tea Dance" rapper Grandmaster Flash is quoted as saying "It was first Hip Hop break I heard...the start of all the Hip Hop and Rap to come!"

1977 brought limited personal appearances, signing a deal for a cameo movie role and putting the finishing touches on several tracks for his third album "Confessions." He changed labels because of a new distribution agreement between Pyramid Productions and Casablanca Records. As part of the deal he was asked to provide two tracks for the Casablanca Filmworks movie "Thank God It's Friday."

1978 began with the release of the soundtrack album for Thank God It's Friday which included D.C.'s track "Do You Want The Real Thing?" That year also saw the spectacular success of his third album "Confessions." The release of the 12" remix of its "Let Them Dance" track propelled the album to gold status over night and garnered him numerous disco/dance awards through out the world.

LaRue's movie debut was a cameo in the Bee Gee's Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. D.C. also appeared in the Village People film "Can't Stop The Music." (1980)

In 1979 he released "Forces Of the Night." It featured the 12" single "Hot Jungle Drums And Voodoo Rhythm" as well as duets with Rita Moreno (Hollywood actress/Broadway hoofer) on "Have A Good Time" and Michelle Aller (the beautiful voice on Cerrone's "Call Me Tonight") on "On With The Dance."

As the decade ended D.C. released his final vinyl output. 1981's "Star Baby" retained the spark and ingenuity that had been prevailent in his earlier releases but with the disco area coming to an end it was sadly overlooked. It did however feature yet another exciting duet with Lou Christie ("Into The Ozone") and the 12" release of "So Much For L.A." garnered quite a bit of positive club reaction. It was the first ever double sided Casablanca Records 12" single with the flipside being the track "Boys Can't Fake It."

As the disco-era ended D.C. turned to other interests; most notably his love of photography and graphic designing.

Recently (2006) his classic recording of "Cathedrals" was sampled in England (3AM/Bobby Blaco & Miki Moto)and it turned into an internationally successful dance hit all over again. His music continues to live on. Not only are his recordings the perfect reflection of a Disco era gone by but an example of an art that is just as relevant today.

The editors of GQ Magazine voted LaRue one of the 6 creative artist who would epitimize "success in the decades ahead."

Albums:

Ca-the-drals (Pyramid 1976)
Tea Dance (Pyramid 1977)
Forces of the Night (Casablanca 1979)
Confessions (Casablanca 1980)
Star Baby (Casablanca 1981)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• r&b
• dance
• disco
• cathedrals
• d.c.larue
• 1976
• 70s
• underground
• avangarde
• big
• hit
• original
• full
• lenght
• version
• sampled

[ROoooo80]

the real sound of the 70s

[whogotda]

disco perfection

[IRONMANHONDO87]

@karlxtrava Thank you for making that point clear. I hate it when people try to make something out of nothing. I was in high school when this tune hit the airways. And there was never a mention of AIDS due to the fact that it hadn't hit the public knowledge dole. We were all about having a good time dancing to tunes such as this one.

[karlxtrava]

I agree that the lyrics sound like it is an ode to those lost to AIDS but this came out in '76 and AIDS was not identified until the early '80s. The lyrics are more likely about the sense of lonliness that many experienced in the post-Stonewall gay sexual revolution of the '70s - no shortage of willing sexual partners but emotional relationships were much more difficult to find. He is singing about how he had beded many partners but there are no where to be found when looks around.

[blackvinylrecords]

I bought the disconet re-edit from one of the guys in Dancetrax NYC about 10 years ago after having loved it for many years. My understanding of the song lyric is that it is about all of the writers (DC La Rue) ex-lovers who had died in the AIDS epidemic of the mid-80's. Listen and it makes sense. Surprised that no one has mentioned that this was a Paradise Garage and Loft classic as well. Thanks for posting and ONE LOVE.

[tunnelratlt]

@DJSTRANGEFRUIT never seen them,but I definitly take ya word that they were beautiful !!!!!

[dosx78]

@oliverecords yeah baby!the drums are what get you open.lol

[DJSTRANGEFRUIT]

Lani was so beautiful Vivian Cherry, Diva Gray, Jocelyn Shaw, Gwen Guthrie........The flawless New York session girls

[BruklynG]

Me three!!! (51) Oh MAN!!! To be a teenager when Disco was hot! The unfortunate thing for me though was not being able to go to the clubs. I had this 12" 45(RPM).

Such innocent times! So much fun (despite my STRICT upbringing)

[jetit]

Ms. Lani Groves on vocals..love it