Disco was a pop music program that aired in Germany on the ZDF network from 1971 to 1982. It generally aired on the first Saturday of each month at 7:30PM, each show running 45 minutes. 133 shows were produced. The show was hosted by German actor and comedian Ilja Richter. Its lesser known predecessor on ZDF, 4-3-2-1 Hot & Sweet was aired between 1966 and 1970, presenters included Ilja Richter and Suzanne Doucet. Disco generally served a younger pop-oriented audience compared to ZDF's Hitparade, and until 1972, its main competitor was Beat-Club, followed by Musikladen, both on ARD. Repeats of Disco have been aired since 1984 on ZDF Musikkanal, after its closedown in 1989 on 3sat. Since 2004, the digital ZDF Theaterkanal aired repeats of the entire series. In 2007, ZDF Dokukanal began to air reruns, starting with episodes from 1975 and also multiple repeats of the series have been shown on hit24 in 2008. The show focussed on chart hits current at the time of airing, giving about equal airtime to international pop music and German Schlager. Despite its name, it did not particularly focus on disco music although it featured many disco hits as long as they were chart relevant..
DirectorEwald Burike
Season 1, Episode 1
Feb 13, 1971
Interpreten der ersten Sendung waren: Shocking Blue - Shocking you • Andy Kim - Be my baby • Creedence Clearwater Revival - Lookin' out my backdoor • Dana - Who put the lights out? • Kinks - Apeman • Lulu - You've got to believe in love • Dave Edmunds - I hear you knocking • Christie - San Bernadino • Petula Clark - The song of my life • Alfie Khan - She's coming back
Season 1, Episode 2
Mar 13, 1971
Edison Lighthouse - It's up to you Petula • Mary Roos - Sing noch mal dieses Lied • Mary Roos - In Gedanken • Mary Roos - Ich geh zurück in die Zeit • Mungo Jerry - Baby Jump • Gilbert O'Sullivan - Nothing rhymed • Neil Diamond - Cracklin' Rosie • Pickettywitch - Baby, I won't let you down • Ilja Richter - Tip Tap in die Tulpen • Tremeloes - Right wheel left hammer, sham • Georgio - Underdog • Tom Jones - She's a lady • Nanette - Everybody's singing like now
Season 1, Episode 3
May 8, 1971
Hotlegs - Desparate Dan • Muguel Rios - Like an eagle • Badfingers - No matter what • Sheila McKinley - And then the war is over • Cliff Richard - Sunny honey girl • Rattles - You can't have sunshine everyday • Anna Lena - Das Lied vom Glück • Mixtures - Pushbike song • Lynn Anderson - Rose garden • Hollies - Too young to be married
Season 1, Episode 4
Jun 5, 1971
Bourbon Family - Acapulco gold • Joe Dolan - Sometimes a man just has to cry • Clocagh Rodgers - Jack in the box • Dave Dee - Wedding bells • T.Rex - Hot love • Samantha Jones - Sweet Inspiration • Bill + Buster - Hold on to what you've got • Thomas Hock - Ein neuer Tag • Rolling Stones - Brown sugar • Ricky Shayne - Ginny come to me
Episode 5
Jul 3, 1971
Neil Diamond - I am, I said • Tony Christie - I did what I did for Maria • Lulu - Everybody clap • Danyel Gerard - Butterfly • Price & Fame - Rosetta • Brotherhood Of Man - You and I • Chris Andrews - Michigan River • Olivia Newton-John - If not for you • Glen Campbell - Dream baby • Move - Tonight
Episode 6
Aug 14, 1971
Middle of the Road – Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep Susan Shirley – True Love and Apple Pie Mungo Jerry – Lady Rose Frumpy – Life without Pain J. Bastos – Loop di Love Status Quo – Tune to the Music Ireen Sheer – Oh Holiday McGuinness Flint – Malt and Barley Blues The Who – Won’t Get Fooled Again Drafi Deutscher – United
Episode 7
Sep 11, 1971
Bob and Marcia – Pied Piper Barry Ryan – Red Man Middle of the Road – Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum Miguel Ríos – United Sweet – Co-Co The Tremeloes – Hello Buddy Clodagh Rodgers – Tangerines Andy Williams – Schicksalsmelodie The Rattles – Devil’s on the Loose Cindy & Bert – Ich fand eine Hand
Episode 8
Oct 9, 1971
Shocking Blue – Blossom Lady Les Humphries Singers – We Are Goin’ Down Jordan Creedence Clearwater Revival – Sweet Hitch-Hiker Gitte – Regenbogen Dawn – Candida Dawn – Knock Three Times Dawn – What Are You Doing Sunday? Jimmy Cliff – Goodbye Yesterday Sheila McKinlay – Ich geh’ mit dir T. Rex – Get It On (Top of the Pops) The Hollies – Hey Willy New Seekers – Never Ending Song of Love
Episode 9
Nov 13, 1971
The Tremeloes – Silence Is Golden Chris Andrews – Yesterday Man Shirley Bassey – Something Ricky Shayne – Ich sprenge alle Ketten Christie – Yellow River Dave Dee – My Woman’s Man Marion – Er ist wieder da Barry Ryan – Eloise Bobbie Gentry – Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head The Troggs – With a Girl Like You
Episode 10
Dec 11, 1971
The Fortunes – Freedom Come, Freedom Go Ricky Shayne – Mamy Blue Cilla Black – Something Tells Me Peret – Borriquito Jack White – Mit all deiner Liebe Slade – Coz I Luv You Marion Maerz – Auf dieser Erde Rod Stewart – Maggie May Love Generation – Love for Everybody
