Twentieth Century Disco: A Forgotten Rock Gem from 1973
Let’s cut to the chase—Twentieth Century Disco by an unknown artist is one of those albums that sneaks up on you. Released in 1973 under the Italian label Broadway International and produced by BWD, this record feels like a love letter to rock ‘n’ roll with a quirky twist. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it sure knows how to spin it.
The album kicks off with tracks like Rock Me Baby and Wig Wam Bam, both packing enough punch to get your feet tapping. But if I had to pick two standouts, they’d be Cum On Feel The Noize and Children Of The Revolution. Here's why these stuck in my head.
Cum On Feel The Noize has this raw energy that just grabs you by the collar. You can almost picture some smoky club in Milan back in ’73, packed with people losing their minds to its relentless beat. The guitar riffs are sharp enough to cut glass, and the vocals have this rough-around-the-edges charm that makes you wanna shout along—even if you don’t know all the words. It’s chaotic in the best way possible, like someone spilled espresso on a perfectly good suit and somehow made it cooler.
Then there’s Children Of The Revolution. This track slows things down just enough to let you catch your breath before hitting you with lyrics that feel oddly prophetic for the time. There’s something haunting about the melody, like it’s whispering secrets from another era. The production isn’t overly polished, which actually works in its favor—it gives the song a lived-in quality, as though it’s been around forever.
Now, here’s where things get weird. Despite being labeled "rock," Twentieth Century Disco flirts with so many styles that it’s hard to pin down. Tracks like Ball Park Incident and No More Mr. Nice Guy lean into glam rock territory, while others, like Gudbuy T’Jane, throw in unexpected pop hooks. It’s like the album can’t decide what it wants to be—and honestly? That unpredictability is kinda refreshing.
Looking back at this obscure piece of Italian rock history, it’s wild to think how much music gets lost in the shuffle. Sure, Twentieth Century Disco might not change your life, but it’ll definitely make you smile—or at least nod your head awkwardly when no one’s watching. And hey, isn’t that what rock ‘n’ roll’s all about?
Final thought? If this album were a person, it’d probably show up late to a party wearing mismatched socks and still manage to charm everyone in the room.
