A dancing dozen as twelve top classic rock acts deliver their disco strut 

Three more examples from a variety of rockers

Pink Floyd

Another shock from sometime prog rock Pink Floyd. Yes, sir, they can boogie. It might not have been that dance tune but with their top single hit song “Another Brick In The Wall, Pt. 2”, its classic chorus, and superb Roger Waters bassline, it all fell neatly into place. Perhaps it was the number one chart status that drove it to the dance floors. Or maybe it was its success at the discos that helped it soar up the charts. 

Grateful Dead

If some of the other acts here were a surprise, it’s perhaps none more so than seeing the Grateful Dead.  Their title song from the 1978 album Shakedown Street delivers the surprise on record. The early intro has a similar feel to Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick In The Wall”. There’s also a flavor of the Bee Gees “Saturday Night Fever” in the beat and rhythm, though without the falsetto vocals and in a more laid-back manner. It’s got a dance floor stomp air about it for sure.

Thin Lizzy

One of my favorite bands. Full of raw energy, hot pulsating rock, and roll, fed by that twin lead guitar sound. Their Live And Dangerous album captures all of that brilliantly. Doesn't sound much like a disco band though does it? 

That's where their 1977 song “Dancing In The Moonlight (It’s Caught Me In Its Spotlight)” ushers in a change. A classic bass riff from Phil Lynott gets the song underway. That’s a dance beat straightaway and Lynott keeps that up through the song. John Helliwell of Supertramp added a further dance element with a sax in the background. Another great song as one more rock band goes disco.

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