Day 327: John Davis and the Monster Orchestra – Night & Day

It’s Friday night, you know what time it is, it’s Disco Friday. I’m in the midst of a casual night of beer and trivia so I wanted something fun in the background, and this time I went in blind with a group I’ve never heard of before: John Davis and the Monster Orchestra.

Album cover courtesy of Polydor

John Davis and the Monster Orchestra were an American disco band who were active between 1976 and 1980, led by John “the Monster” Davis. He became a very prominent disco producer in his 20s, producing for artists like John Travolta and William DeVaughn. He also wrote the theme tune to Beverly Hills 90210.

Night & Day was released in 1967 as the debut album of John Davis & the Monster Orchestra, and unsurprisingly it was also produced by John Davis. The album consists of just tried and true, pure disco music. There’s nothing too complicated, you don’t have to focus on it, you don’t have to think about it – you can just pop it on in the background and have a nice time. It’s uncomplicated, but that’s not a bad thing at all, it just seems like a good example of some of the heights that this genre can reach, even without doing anything too crazy.

True to its form, there’s also one song with very excessive orgasmic moaning. What was it with sex songs and disco? It just feels like something you couldn’t do today in any other genre. Like if Harry Styles just suddenly interrupted a song with a lady having a nice time, it just wouldn’t happen. That type of interlude feels like a true sign of its time.

I’m enjoying the Monster and the Monster Orchestra, it’s a good time. I’d definitely put this on again as a nice and uncomplicated Friday night album. Night & Day is a very well-deserved 8/10.