70s Inspired Royalty Free Disco Music For Today’s Filmmakers

Disco thrived during a decade unlike any other. 

So much so that if the mention of disco or the 1970s doesn’t immediately bring to mind flared pants, knee-high boots, tapered collars, and fringe everything — well, we hope this image is firmly planted in your mind now.

While there is a lot to be said about that aspect of the era, it’s important to really peel back these layers and consider disco’s impact on American culture and politics. 

Because, though this genre is known for its upbeat and dance-worthy feel, there is much more to this music than what we hear. 

In this post, we’ll take a look at the history of disco — why it started and ultimately ended — and spotlight four of the most memorable disco tracks from the 70s and 80s.

If you like those tracks as much as we do, check out the 12 royalty free songs we share from Soundstripe’s music library that have a similar tone and feel. 

The Disco Era: From Discotheques To Mainstream Media

Disco emerged out of — and in direct response to — the social and political unrest of the 1960s.

During this time, the free love movement did little to prevent the increase in homophobic and racially-motivated violence. There were few places that people of color and those in the LGBTQ+ community could go to without fear of being targeted or terrorized. 

Nightclubs, and specifically discotheques, became safe spaces where people from all walks of life could come and dance without fear of exclusion, or worse. 

As you might’ve already pieced together from its name, the disco genre started in this underground nightclub scene. Motown, funk, and soul were a few of the genres that influenced the early disco deejays and artists. 

Rhythmically, disco is known for its heartbeat rhythm (to encourage dancing), repetitive vocals, and upbeat tempo.  

Its rise to mainstream media is often linked to the 1977 film “Saturday Night Fever,” thanks to its disco-forward soundtrack and all-star cast. But this mainstream popularity was shortlived.

Just two years later, Chicago deejay Steve Dahl led what he called “Disco Demolition Night” at a White Sox game. Anyone who disliked disco and what it represented brought disco records to be destroyed on site. 

This was not the only triggering event that brought disco back to the discotheques and out of the public spotlight, but it was certainly a pivotal one. 

Even though disco was no longer part of mainstream culture, it still influenced musicians and artists within and outside of the underground music scene. 

Disco music continued to be produced and performed in the club environment throughout the 1980s. Over time, the genre inspired newer forms of dance music like house and techno. 

Let’s take a look at four of the most popular disco tracks from the 70s and 80s, and a few royalty free alternatives that are easier to license for production purposes. 

4 Legendary Disco Tracks (& Royalty Free Alternatives) 

The Bee Gees’s “Stayin’ Alive” (1977)

It’s no coincidence that the Bee Gees’ classic hit “Stayin’ Alive” is at the top of this list. 

“Stayin’ Alive” first made headway when it was used in the opening scene for Saturday Night Fever. In this scene, Tony Manero (John Travolta) strides down the streets of Brooklyn to the beat of the music. 

While you might recognize this song from a different show, film, or media, its debut on Saturday Night Fever created mainstream buzz for the song and disco, in general. 

The song was an instant chart topper on the Billboard Hot 100 and still ranks #191 on the Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. 

Looking for royalty free disco music with a similar feel? Check out these tracks.

• Door To Door Disco by Bright Seed
• Groovy Town by AEROPLANES
• Finito by Bellodrone

Chic’s “Le Freak” (1978)

A little known fact about Chic’s “Le Freak” is that the songwriters and lead group members Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards wrote the song after they were denied entry to the exclusive Studio 54 nightclub. 

What’s more is that the lyrics “Aaaaahh, freak out!” had a more blunt punchline originally:  

According to Edwards, "We really had pretty big designs on completing the song as 'Fuck Off'...had we not come up with 'fuck off' we would never have written 'Freak Out' and some other song would have been our big hit record.”

Looking for royalty free disco music with a similar feel? Check out these tracks.

• At The Get Down by Matt Wigton
• Bus Won't Stop by Famous Cats
• Overtime by Simple Thieves

Donna Summer’s “Last Dance” (1978)

Like the Bee Gees’s “Stayin’ Alive,” the disco track “Last Dance” was originally written for a film’s soundtrack. In this case, songwriter and actor Paul Jabara wrote this song to be included in the 1978 film Thank God It’s Friday.

The late singer and songwriter Donna Summer starred in this film and performed this song, which won an Academy Award and Golden Globe.  

Not only was Summer’s performance in this film memorable, she’s remembered as the Queen of Disco. With hits like “I Feel Love” and “Hot Stuff,” it’s easy to see why.

Looking for royalty free disco music with a similar feel? Check out these tracks.

• Inner Workings by Cast Of Characters
• Walk The Walk by Polyphonic Groove Orchestra
• Welcome To The Dusty Disco by The Night Driver

Kool & the Gang’s “Celebration” (1980)

Kool & the Gang’s “Celebration” has been a celebratory anthem on and off screen since its release in 1980. For the band, it was also the first and only single to rank at the top position on the Billboard Hot 100.

According to the group’s sax player Ronald Bell, “The initial idea [for the song] came from reading the Q’uran...I was reading the passage where God was creating Adam, and the angels were celebrating and singing praises. That inspired me to write the basic chords and the line, ‘Everyone around the world, come on, let’s celebrate.’” 

In 2020, “Celebration” was inducted into the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry alongside another legendary disco track, Labelle’s “Lady Marmalade.”  

Looking for royalty free disco music with a similar feel? Check out these tracks.

• Fire Bird by Famous Cats
• Overtime by Simple Thieves
• Clocking Out by Bright Seed

Need Disco Music For Your Next Project?

If you want to find and license music with a disco-feel for an upcoming project, be sure to check out the similar song recommendations we shared in this post. 

It takes less than five minutes on average to find and license the music you need from Soundstripe’s music library, and the licenses are good forever — no red tape or hidden fine print. 

Sign up for a free account today to start saving your favorite songs, building playlists, and more.