One of the oldest music genres in human history is disco.
Disco songs mostly heralded the 20th century, especially in the late 1970s and 1980s.
In those times, club DJs would play disco hits, and everyone present would migrate to the dance floor, hands in the air and hips swaying.
The disco sound might be old, but it still captures the soul of music lovers to date.
While there are thousands of disco songs right now, there are some amongst the many that have stood the test of time.
Here we list the best disco songs of all time.
1. “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor
“I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor is one of the most popular disco songs ever.
It is a unique and strong song about moving from a toxic relationship.
Although Dino Fekaris and Frederick J. Perren wrote the song, Gloria Gaynor did an excellent job executing the lyrics with her powerful voice.
It has become an anthem for women and men worldwide going through breakups.
2. “Stayin’ Alive” by Bee Gees
Many consider it the best disco song in the Saturday night fever movie released in the 1970s.
Hence, it is only fitting to say that staying alive by Bee Gees is the second song on this list.
The song has also been associated with being the most significant cultural moment for disco music.
To this date, staying alive by Bee Gees is always mentioned whenever there’s a conversation about classic disco songs.
3. “I Feel Love” by Donna Summer
“I Feel Love” by Donna Summer is among the disco top hits because it fuses disco, electronic, and synthpop effortlessly.
This is the perfect song to play when your lover treats you right, and you have no doubts about the feeling.
It would make an excellent addition to any couples’ playlist.
4. “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” by Michael Jackson
The top disco songs of all time wouldn’t be complete without a track from the king of pop, Michael Jackson.
“Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” is a single off the “Off the Wall” album. This song was enjoyed by all in the 1970s and even now.
Chris Tucker sang it in the Rush Hour movie, where he tried to mimic Michael Jackson’s dance and luscious voice.
5. “Night Fever” by Bee Gees
“Night Fever” by Bee Gees is another disco hit song on the Saturday Night Fever playlist.
This song is embellished with all the funky vibes one can muster.
You will find yourself bobbing your head and moving your waist immediately after this song blasts from the speakers.
6. “Dancing Queen” by ABBA
ABBA is a disco-pop group called the ‘Swedish Beatles’ by many.
It consists of four gifted singers, and the name “ABBA” was formed from the first letter of their names.
“Dancing” is one of the group’s most popular disco songs that had everyone on the dance floor in the 70s.
It is a song about dancing and having the time of your life.
7. “Le Freak” by Chic
“Le Freak” by Chic is the 70s groovy disco song you want to add to your party playlist.
It became a party anthem soon after its release in 1978.
The song is about the hustle and bustle at a popular New York nightclub called Studio 54.
8. “Last Dance” by Donna Summer
In “Last Dance”, Donna Summer smoothly transited from soul to disco, which makes it different from anything she ever released.
“Last Dance” is undoubtedly one of the summer’s most famous disco songs.
The song shows the musical prowess of the artiste at its finest.
The disco rhythms and textures help to execute the song flawlessly.
9. “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)” by Sylvester
The song greatly influenced disco songs and music in general in the 80s.
It was initially produced as a mid-tempo piano gospel song but was later remixed by a producer called Patrick Cowley.
The song fuses early electronic and disco sounds with the velvety voice of the singer, Sylvester.
It is a love song about how lovers make each other feel.
10. “Miss You” by The Rolling Stones
In 1978, the Rolling Stones veered off their usual rock genre and released a disco-themed album called Some Girls.
“Miss You” is the hit song on the album.
The song mixes the groove and funk of disco with the catchy melodies of rock.
11. “Heart Of Glass” by Blondie
“Heart of Glass” by Blondie was a massive hit when it was released in 1979.
This song catapulted to stardom after it peaked at no. 1 in the UK in the same year.
It is one of the greatest disco hits with its deviant lyrics about being recalcitrant to the woes of love.
12. “September” by Earth, Wind, And Fire
Earth, Wind, and Fire is an RnB/disco/pop group of nine people. “September” is one of the best disco dance songs out there.
The song references the night of September 21st. While fans have theories about why that night was referenced, songwriter and member of the group Maurice White said he chose it because it rhymed.
13. “That’s The Way I Like It” by KC And The Sunshine Brand
In the 70s, there were still strict rules about what could be aired and what not. This led to the banning of “That’s the Way I Like It” by KC and the Sunshine Band.
It was banned because the song is filled with several sexual innuendos, but this didn’t stop the song from becoming a massive hit.
It peaked at no. 1 on the Billboard charts for two consecutive weeks after its release in 1975.
14. “Disco Inferno” by The Trammps
“Disco Inferno” by the Trammps didn’t gain much traction until it was included as a track on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.
However, in 1978, it peaked at no. 11 for two consecutive weeks.
This song is very groovy and lively and would have you on the dance floor within seconds that it starts playing.
15. “Never Can Say Goodbye” by Gloria Gaynor
If there is one thing Gloria Gaynor did in the 80s, it was sing her heart out.
“Never Can Say Goodbye” is a very busy song with a beautiful and loud orchestra.
It is a song about unhappy relationships and how couples can settle their differences.
16. “Young Hearts Run Free” by Candi Staton
Contrary to popular belief, “Young Hearts Run Free” wasn’t written by Candi Statton.
It was written by her producer, David Crawford, after promising her that he would write her a song that would last forever.
It did last forever because it is still one of the most popular disco songs ever.
17. “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge
“We are family; I got all my sisters with me” became a popular phrase amongst sisters after the release of this song.
Sister Sledge is an RnB group consisting of four sisters of the Sledge family. “We Are Family” is one of the most fun disco songs ever to exist.
The song has been used as a soundtrack in several movies and has become an anthem amongst family members.
18. “Good Times” by Chic
This is one of the most sampled disco songs in music history.
It is a disco classic that has done a lot for the disco genre as a whole.
Chic referenced the lyrics of “Happy Days Are Here Again” and “About a Quarter to Nine.”
19. “December ’63 (What A Night)” by The Four Seasons
The success of this song brought the four seasons back into the limelight in 1975.
The song describes the first night of a young man’s encounter with a woman.
The song is fast-paced, and the story is told wonderfully well.
20. “Don’t Leave Me This Way” by Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes
“Don’t Leave Me This Way” was a good club disco bop in the 70s.
It is a song that beautifully fuses soul with disco, with Teddy Pendergrass as the lead singer.
This song did not gain popularity until it became another groovy disco version by Thelma Houston in 1977.
The song’s message is in the title, and Thelma did an excellent job refixing the song to sound better than the original.
21. “Blame It On The Boogie” by The Jacksons
One pop group that swayed the world in the 70s was the Jacksons.
With Michael Jackson as the lead singer, the group created this infectious disco song named don’t blame it on the boogie.
It is one of the Jacksons’ most popular songs and is still on charts worldwide.
22. “You’re The First, The Last, My Everything” by Barry White
“You’re the First, The Last, My Everything” was initially written as a country song in 1953 by Peter Radcliffe.
However, Barry White reworked the song into one of the biggest hit disco songs ever recorded.
This disco song is the perfect song to send to your partners on special occasions.
It would remind them that they are your first, last, and everything.
23. “Love Train” by The O’Jays
This song was released way ahead of its time, but it still became a hit disco song.
It was released in 1972 before disco music became popular in the United States.
It topped the charts and peaked at no. 1 on the billboard hot 100. It still receives airplay to date.
24. “If I Can’t Have You” by Yvonne Elliman
Producer Robert Stigwood already knew the song was set out to be one of the top disco songs of all time.
While the song was initially meant to be recorded by the Bee Gees, the producer gave it to Yvonne Elliman.
If you have listened to the track, you would know she did a perfect job pouring her soul into the soundtrack.
25. “Get Down Tonight” by KC and The Sunshine Band
If you want to get your groove on, “Get Down Tonight” by KC and the Sunshine band is the song for you.
This is one of the best disco dancing songs of all time.
The way the band blended the instrumentals with their cool sonorous voice will have you swaying with reckless abandon.
26. “Rock Your Baby” by George McCrae
This song fuses soul with Disco in the finest ways.
The cool of this song didn’t stop it from becoming a dance floor anthem in the 70s.
This popular disco song put George McCrae in the spotlight after becoming an international hit. It sold over 10 million copies and was an inspiration for ABBA’s Dancing Queen.
27. “Daddy Cool” by Boney M
Boney M was among the first black music groups in the 70s.
The group specializes in disco and funk.
“Daddy Cool” is their first track to gain massive popularity in the UK.
After its release, “Daddy Cool” became a popular disco dance song.
It was produced and co-written by Frank Farian.
28. “You Should Be Dancing” by Bee Gees
One of the groups that made waves in the disco genre is the Bee Gees.
“You Should Be Dancing” is one of the most uptempo disco songs by the Bee Gees.
It was also a part of the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, recorded only a year before.
This song cemented the group’s name as the disco king in the hearts of many.
29. “Funky Town” by Lipps Inc
The vibes of this song are in its title—funky.
“Funky Town” by Lipps Inc is a song about moving to a town of fun called funky town (New York).
This disco song was part of the Shrek part 2 soundtrack.
Funky Town” is a one-hit wonder as not much was heard from the group again.
It charted no. 1 in the US and no. 2 in the UK.
30. “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now” by McFadden And Whitehead
The black community critically acclaimed this song.
McFadden and Whitehead sang about the black community’s experiences, struggles, and triumphs.
It gained traction and was loved by so many.
So much so that it was soon named the black national anthem.
31. “Boogie Wonderland” by Earth, Wind, And Fire
“Boogie Wonderland” might not be no. 1, but it is one of the greatest disco hits of all time.
The Earth, Wind, and Fire music group established themselves as disco kings with “Boogie Wonderland”.
It soon became a popular dance floor anthem because of its funky and up-tempo vibes.
32. “Let’s Groove” by Earth, Wind, And Fire
It’s almost impossible not to get up on the dance floor when “Let’s Groove” comes up.
The song is like a clarion call to everyone at parties or clubs to get their dancing shoes on.
The lyrics read, “let this groove set in your shoes” and “let’s groove tonight.”
You can add it to your party playlist and watch your guest lose themselves on the dance floor.
33. “It’s Raining Men” by The Weather Girls
This song has a very interesting title. After its release, it became a smash disco hit song in the 80s.
It was released in 1982 and was originally meant to be recorded by Donna Summer.
It was pitched to Diana Ross, Cher, and Barbra Streisand, all of whom declined the offer.
It fell into the hands of the weather girls, and it soon became one of the most famous disco songs.
34. “Yes Sir, I Can Boogie” by Baccara
This song was recorded by the iconic Spanish duo Mayte Mateos and Maria Mendiola.
“Yes Sir, I Can Boogie” is a song about wanting to only dance to a particular song by a dancer.
This song is sultry but one of the best disco songs of all time.
It became a number-one hit in several countries, including the US.
35. “Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel” by Travares
“Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel” is a romance disco song by the four-person music group the Travares.
It is a 6-minute track perfect to set the lovey-dovey tone for your romantic date.
The lyrics of this song are cheesy and perfect for romantic playlists.
Many widely acclaimed it, and it peaked at no.4 in the UK.
36. “Shadow Dancing” by Andy Gibb
The Gibb brothers constituted the musical group Bee Gees.
It wasn’t long before their younger brother Andy Gibb joined the group and became one of the most popular pop stars ever.
“Shadow Dancing” is one of its biggest disco hit songs.
It peaked at no.1 in the US and several other countries.
37. Lady Marmalade” by Patti Labelle
It was “Lady Marmalade” that made Patti Labelle very popular in the seventies.
The song lyrics contained both French and English.
So, it gained traction amongst French and English nationalists alike.
It was one of the biggest seductive disco songs in the 70s.
It had ladies moving to the dance floor in sweet motion.
38. “YMCA” by Village People
“YMCA” by Village People was released as a clarion call to young men worldwide to join the YMCA.
YMCA is an acronym for Young Men Christian Association.
The song was released when the association started gaining popularity in the 70s.
It became a critically acclaimed disco song that sold over 10 million physical copies worldwide.
39. “Rock The Boat” by The Hues Corporation
It took a lot of time before “Rock the Boat” by the Hues Corporation became a disco hit song.
However, after it was played in many clubs in New York, the song gained the attention it deserved.
The song had Fleming Williams as the lead vocalist before he quit the trio in the 80s.
40. “Love Is In The Air” by John Paul Young
Love Is In the Air” by the Australian singer John Paul Young was used as the theme song for the 1992 movie, Strictly Ballroom.
Before 1992, “Love Is In the Air” had already been a smash hit in 1977.
It is another romantic disco song that gained popularity in the 70s with its cheesy lyrics and melodic rhythms.
41. “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” by Rod Stewart
Before Rod Stewart released his 1978 disco album Blondes Have More Fun, he was mostly known as a rock and pop artiste.
Nobody expected the album to take off as it did, especially with the hit single “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy”.
Because of its catchy tunes and engaging lyrics, this song became a special favorite of so many.
Check out our list of the best Rod Stewart Songs.
42. “Rasputin” by Boney M
“Rasputin” is another amazing disco song from the popular award-winning American pop group Boney M.
The song is a mini-history lesson about a famous Russian man called Grigori Rasputin.
The song details how Rasputin got close to a renowned family in Russia and met his inevitable end.
43. “You To Me Are Everything” by The Real Thing
Many musical artists fused souls with disco in the 70s, but not all of them succeeded.
However, the real thing succeeded with “You To Me Are Everything”.
It is now amongst the best disco hits.
It is a love song that is perfect for your summer playlist.
44. “Super Freak” by Rick James
“Super Freak” by Rick James is an all-time disco classic released in 1981.
This disco hit is part of the Rick James album titled Steet Songs.
The song had everyone on the dance floor in the early 80s.
It reached no. 16 on the US Billboard charts for two consecutive weeks.
45. “I’m So Excited” by Pointer Sisters
“I’m So Excited” is among the top disco songs.
It was recorded by an American vocal group called the Pointer Sisters and co-written by Chris Christian and released in 1982.
It reached no. 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song explains in detail how their lovers made them feel so good.
In 2017, Billboard listed the song as number 23 on their list of “100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.”
46. “Knock On Wood” by Amii Stewart
In 1979, Amii Stewart released a studio album titled Knock on Wood.
The album yielded two successful disco hits: “Knock on Wood” and “Light My Fire”.
Both songs peaked at no. 7 on the UK charts and received airplay.
“Knock on Wood” captures the musical dexterity of Amii Stewart and her contribution to disco music.
47. “Car Wash” by Rose Royce
Rose Royce is an American soul and RnB boy band.
“Car Wash” was released in the 1970s by the group.
It received massive airplay and became one of the top disco songs from the band.
In 1976, it was used as the theme song for a film titled Car Wash.
48. “Love Hangover” by Diana Ross
Diana Ross used her sensual voice and dance to hone the disco scene in the late 70s.
In “Love Hangover”, Diana is repeatedly found saying she doesn’t want a cure for whatever she’s feeling for her lover.
The song reached no. 1 for two consecutive weeks in 1976.
49. “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson
“Billie Jean” is another top disco hit from the king of pop, Michael Jackson.
It is one of its most popular songs by MJ. It tells the story of a woman accusing Michael Jackson of being the father of her child.
It was a smash disco hit and reached no. 1 on the US Billboard for seven consecutive weeks.
50. “1999” by Prince
“So tonight I’m gonna party like it’s 1999.”
“1999” by Prince became a smash immediately after its release in 1983. Prince sang the song like he already saw into the future of 1999.
This song was loved by all as it encouraged people to dance their sorrows away despite their situation.
Best Disco Songs – Final Thoughts
The songs in this article are what we think are some of the best disco hits of all time.
These classic disco songs have managed to withstand the test of time, and are still being blasted from sound systems around the world today.
Add any of these songs to your disco playlist and get groovy!
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