

In June 2017, I bought what I assumed was a blank cassette tape at Goodwill Outlet in Seattle, WA. I was delighted to discover 7 original songs on it, but the tape was unlabeled. I'm trying to find out who made this music. The company that made the tape knows nothing. His name is John Doe Disco until we find out who he is. Can you help me find John Doe Disco? -Tom D.

The Tape:

The Clues So Far (updated 12-14-17):

The tape was found during summer 2017 inside Goodwill Outlet in Seattle, at the bottom of their media bin. The tape had no markings or labels apart from the orange and white CSC label. (I photoshopped John Doe Disco onto it for the youtube video) The tape is a mass produced blank tape, so Cinema Sound Corporation knows nothing about who made the recordings. The recordings were most-likely recorded between 1978 and 1980, judging by instrumentation, musical style and the era the tapes were sold. Shelly's Leg was a popular disco scene during the period this music was made and folks who went there might know something about John Doe Disco. The opening track "Fast Friends" appears to be a cover of El Derado's Fast Friends (1979) (youtube link) (discography info). It's difficult to find out any information about El Derado, since that's a popular name. This clue pushes the possible recording era for John Doe's music into the early 1980s, instead of the late '70s as previously thought. There was a venue in Seattle in the '80s and '90s called T.U.G.S. that would play local musician's demo tapes for people to dance to. Perhaps this tape was played there? I've been trying to ask folks who were involved there.

Current Assumptions:

The tape is a duplicate--not the master tape, so there may be other copies in existence, unless they were destroyed.

The artist was a 30-something year old gay white male who lived in the Seattle area.

A Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 synth was most likely used as part of the instrumentation.

The artist is very well acquainted with songwriting and music production, so may have recorded/performed other music.

Questions:

Who recorded this music? Is the artist still alive? Was this music recorded in a home studio or professional studio? Are the non-keyboard sounds sampled audio or did he record live instruments for drums/bass/piano? If he was a part of the 1970s Seattle gay disco scene, is there a chance other people may have heard these songs? Was this music ever played at a club or radio station?

Social Media Threads:

The Song Lyrics:

Fast Friends

((fast friends))

((fast friends))

You look so sad and shy all by yourself

((fast friends))

Leanin’ against the bar with no one else

I took a chance and asked you to the floor

((fast friends))

You said “ok” and smiled — I hope for more

We danced all night and both liked what we saw

((fast friends))

You held me close and the ice began to thaw

Then they gave last call and the lights came on

((fast friends))

I knew we’d stay together n’ get it on

We’re fast, fast friends

We only have a little bit of time to spend

We’re fast fast friends

We don’t have much time, we can’t pretend

We don’t have much time before it will end

Oh no

I told you “Come with me back to my place. ”

((fast friends))

We held each other hard in a long embrace

We made friends fast, it was all the time we had

((fast friends))

When you need someone so much it can’t be bad

We’re fast, fast friends

We only have a little bit of time to spend

We’re fast fast friends

We don’t have much time, we can’t pretend

We don’t have much time before it will end

Oh no

((fast friends))

(sexy noises)

((fast friends))

((fast friends))

Before the morning light, you left for home

((fast friends))

Had someone waiting there, she was all alone

I never will forget the time we shared

((fast friends))

It was only for one night, but you really cared

We’re fast, fast friends

We only have a little bit of time to spend

We’re fast fast friends

We don’t have much time, we can’t pretend



We’re fast, fast friends

We only have a little bit of time to spend

We’re fast fast friends

We don’t have much time, we can’t pretend

We don’t have much time before it will end

Oh no

Oh no no no

Oh no-no

Oh no no no no no n’ no oh oh -ye -yeah yeah YEAH

Just a little bit of time

Just a little bit of time to spend

Oh we only have a little bit of time to spend

We can’t pretend

Before it will end

Just a little bit of time

Just a little bit of time to spend

A little bit of time

A little bit

Just a little bit of time to spend with you

(FADE OUT)

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Cruisin’

Cruisin’ me, I’m cruisin’ you, yeah

We see each other across the room

Cruisin’ me, I’m cruisin’ you — oh yeah

Who’ll be the first to make a move?

Now we’re gonna stand in our corners

Gazing long and hard the whole night through

Must be something better for us loners

Than standing by ourselves and feeling blue



Who will be the first to come on over?

(come on over)

We don’t have a single thing to lose

Let’s forget our pride and drop our false pretensions

‘Cause we’re both here standing in the same old shoes

CHORUS X2

My stomach’s in a knot, I just can’t stand it

(can’t stand it!)

To see you there while I’m still standing here

(I’m still here!)

I can’t take this long suspense forever

(forever!)

Hope something happens soon to stop this fear

(this fear!)

I caught you smiling, ya know, I’m feeling braver

(braver!)

Look at me, hey, I’m smilin’ too

(I’m smilin’!)

My feet are moving now, I’m coming over

(look out!)

Looks like now I’ll finally get to you

CHORUS X3

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Doin’ It Together

Doin’ it together

Together is better

Doin’ it together

Together is better

Doin’ it together is better than doin’ by yourself

Doin’ it alone’s no better than bein’ up on the shelf

Now that we’re together I’m never gonna be all by myself

Doin’ it together is better than doin’ by yourself

Before we met each other, we were doin’ it all alone

Just gettin’ by, putting in our time, the sunshine never shone

’Till the day I saw you, I was doing it on my own

Feelin’ insecure and so unsure was all I’d ever known

Doin’ it together is better than doin’ by yourself

Doin’ it alone’s no better than bein’ up on the shelf

Now that we’re together I’m never gonna be all by myself

Doin’ it together is better than doin’ by yourself

But now we got each other, I’ll never ever let you go

Together constantly, I found security

Just lettin’ our feelings flow

We’re bolted all together whatever might be we’ll see it through

You’re a dream come true, no more solitude, we’re gonna stick together like glue

Doin’ it together is better than doin’ by yourself

Doin’ it alone’s no better than bein’ up on the shelf

Now that we’re together I’m never gonna be all by myself

Doin’ it together is better than doin’ by yourself



Doin’ it together

Together is better

Doin’ it together

Together is better

Doin’ it together

Together is better

Doin’ it together

Together is better

Doin’ it together is better than doin’ by yourself

Doin’ it alone’s no better than bein’ up on the shelf

Now that we’re together I’m never gonna be all by myself

Doin’ it together is better than doin’ by yourself

As we go through life together, I’m always gonna keep you by my side

You’re gonna help me through, I’ll do the same for you, we’re gonna keep each other satisfied

We’ll be doin’ it together forever, nothing’s ever gonna come between

Constantly, eternally, never ever gonna treat you mean

Doin’ it together is better than doin’ by yourself

Doin’ it alone’s no better than bein’ up on the shelf

Now that we’re together I’m never gonna be all by myself

Doin’ it together is better than doin’ by yourself

X4

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Trust Me

Trust me, don’t be afraid, just trust me

There’s no other way, please trust me

Starting right now

Chase all those doubts from your mind

You need somebody, I see in your eyes

Reachin’ for me, boy, but still feeling shy

You got to get over, get over those doubts

Just lean on me now, babe, things will work out

You look so afraid now, unsure of yourself

Try forgetting the past, put it up on the shelf

Let’s start out together, beginning right now

We’ll break down our walls, and make it somehow

Trust me, don’t be afraid just trust me

There’s no other way, please trust me

Starting right now

Chase all those doubts from your mind

I feel what you’re feelin’ I have been where you’ve been

If you can’t trust me, babe, we may as well end

It’s so important, I’m tellin’ it true

You’ve got to trust me, before I’ll trust you

So

Trust me, don’t be afraid please trust me

There’s no other way, hey trust me

Starting right now

Chase all those doubts from your mind

Trust me, don’t be afraid just trust me

There’s no other way, please trust me

Starting right now

Chase all those doubts from your miiiiiiiind

Trust me, don’t be afraid please trust me

There’s no other way, hey trust me

Starting right now

Chase all those doubts from your mind

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Disco Palace

YYYYYYEAH!

Get on down to the Disco Palace

You’ve found yourself a new home

(a new home)

I say movin’ on down to the Disco Palace

You’re never gonna be alone

(never be alone)

The lights are on and movin’ ‘cross the walls and floor

The strobes are flashing time to the beat

(to the beat)

The records keep on spinnin’ the music is nonstop

Even if you tried to leave you can’t stop, can’t stop

Dancin’ all night at the Disco Palace

You’ve found yourself a new home

(a new home)

Dancin’ all night at the Disco Palace

You’re never gonna be alone

(never gonna be alone)

Mixes booming from the speakers so hot

You feel it right on down to your bones

Lost in the sound at the Disco Palace

Everybody feelin’ at [go?] home

When they turn the sound up at the Disco Palace

You’ve found yourself a new home

(a new home)

Turn it up a little more at the Disco Palace

You’re never gonna be alone

(never gonna be alone)

Get on down to the Disco Palace

You’ve found yourself a new home

(a new home)

I say move it on down to the Disco Palace

You’re never gonna be alone

(never gonna be alone)

Stay all night at the Disco Palace

You’ve found yourself a new home

(found yourself a new home)

Come on, stay all night at the Disco Palace

You’re never gonna be alone

(never gonna be alone)

Dancin’ through your funk, c’mon get out on the floor

If you don’t know the steps it’s ok

(it’s ok!)

Keep on movin’ and a groovin’ shake your body to the beat

Everybody get carried away

(carried away!)

When you’re dancin’ all night at the Disco Palace

You’ve found yourself a new home

(found yourself a new hooooooome)

Dancin’ all night at the Disco Palace

You’re never gonna be alone

(never gonna be alone)

Get on down to the Disco Palace

Dancin’ all night at the Disco Palace

Turn the sound up at the Disco Palace

Get down!

Dance!

Shake it!

Make it!

Find the one you want at the Disco Palace

(find the one you want)

You’ve found yourself a new home

(at the Disco Disco Palace)

Find the one you want at the Disco Palace

You’re never gonna be alone

(yeah yeah yeah)

Turn the sound up at the Disco Palace

(turn the sound up)

You’ve found yourself a new home

(found yourself a new home)

Turn it up little more at the Disco Palace

You’re never gonna be alone

(yeah yeah yeah)

Get on down to the Disco Palace

You’ve found yourself a new home

(FADE OUT)

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Going Through The Motions

We built our love upon a crowd

You [kept your?] smoke above the crowd

You took me where no evil shown

And then you left me all alone

Every day since you went away

I’m livin’ day by day

You left with my emotions now I’m going through the motions

Through the motions

I’m going through the motions

Just going through the motions

I’m going through the motions

I looked for you before you came

I heard your sigh and knew your name

Your love was here inside my heart

And then one day it came apart

Every day since you went away

I’m livin’ day by day

You left with my emotions now I’m going through the motions

Through the motions

I’m going through the motions

Just going through the motions

I’m going through the motions

I hold the pillow where you lay

I walk the avenues we played

And through the night I chase the stars

That link the countless smokey bars

Every day since you went away

I’m livin’ day by day

You left with my emotions now I’m going through the motions

Through the motions

I’m going through the motions

Just going through the motions

I’m going through the motions

Just going through the motions

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Don’t Hold Your Body Back

Don’t hold your body back

Don’t hold your body back

Don’t hold your body back

Ooo oo oo oo

X2

(Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh)(CHORUS)

You’ve been givin’ me bits of your lovin’

Come on, boy, give me all or nothin’

Just how long do you think I can wait

’Till our bodies find a way to culminate?

Don’t mean to be rude, but I want you right now

Why hold back, I’m gonna get you some how

Just give me your love, don’t hold nothin’ back

I really need a meal, I don’t want a snack

Friends say you’re shy, I should give you more time

You’re not a young thing, boy--you’re right in your prime

Your body speaks a language that’s easy to hear

I don’t miss a word, let me make myself clear

I know you feel like gettin’ it on

Let your hair all down, let’s yourself re-thaw

I can give you just what you need

Now don’t hold nothin’ on back from me

CHORUS

Contact: tomdeslongchamp [at] gmail

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