When I first stumbled upon Music from Battlestar Galactica and Other Original Compositions, I couldn’t help but ask myself: Is this really a Giorgio Moroder production? The collision of silver-age sci-fi and disco was either the ultimate descent into cultural decadence or one of the most brilliant moments in Western pop history—or perhaps both?
It was almost unbelievable to think that the legendary producer behind Donna Summer’s groundbreaking “I Feel Love”—a track that redefined dance music—would lend his talents to a disco adaptation of a moderately successful sci-fi TV series. Coming off the back of his own iconic electro-disco album From Here to Eternity and the award-winning Midnight Express soundtrack, both released before, this seemed like an odd detour for Moroder.
First, let’s address the elephant in the room: Battlestar Galactica wasn’t a smash hit. The original series struggled to gain traction, and the Moroder album fared no better. Released in December 1978, it fell flat on arrival and has largely been forgotten among Moroder’s prolific body of work.
But why? Timing is one factor. By late 1978, Eurodisco had already started evolving beyond the “classic” disco sound. Another issue was the album’s undeniable similarity to Meco’s Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk, released in 1977. From the cover art to the sound, Battlestar Galactica felt derivative, making it seem like a desperate attempt to capitalize on the sci-fi-disco trend.
Finding detailed information about this project is challenging, as Giorgio Moroder himself has never mentioned it in interviews—a telling omission. Unlike his other productions, the album wasn’t released under his Oasis Records label, strongly suggesting it was a commissioned project.
The label behind the album, Casablanca Records, provides a clue. Casablanca’s founder, Neil Bogart, was likely inspired by the success of Meco’s Star Wars album, which had been released by Casablanca’s then-partner Millennium Records. However, when Millennium switched distribution to RCA in 1978, it took Meco with it. Bogart may have seen Moroder as the perfect replacement to carry the torch of disco-fied sci-fi soundtracks.
Meanwhile, MCA Records, which released the original Battlestar Galactica score by Stu Phillips, attempted its own disco remix of the theme. Like Moroder’s version, it failed to make a splash, suggesting that the concept of a disco Battlestar Galactica was doomed from the start.
Despite its commercial failure, the Battlestar Galactica album didn’t put a dent in Giorgio Moroder’s meteoric career. By 1978, he was already one of the most influential figures in music, and this project is little more than a curious footnote in his legacy.
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Discover The Album Cover : Giorgio Moroder
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When I first stumbled upon Music from Battlestar Galactica and Other Original Compositions, I couldn’t help but ask myself: Is this really a Giorgio Moroder production? The collision of silver-age sci-fi and disco was either the ultimate descent into cultural decadence or one of the most brilliant moments in Western pop history—or perhaps both?
It was almost unbelievable to think that the legendary producer behind Donna Summer’s groundbreaking “I Feel Love”—a track that redefined dance music—would lend his talents to a disco adaptation of a moderately successful sci-fi TV series. Coming off the back of his own iconic electro-disco album From Here to Eternity and the award-winning Midnight Express soundtrack, both released before, this seemed like an odd detour for Moroder.
First, let’s address the elephant in the room: Battlestar Galactica wasn’t a smash hit. The original series struggled to gain traction, and the Moroder album fared no better. Released in December 1978, it fell flat on arrival and has largely been forgotten among Moroder’s prolific body of work.
But why? Timing is one factor. By late 1978, Eurodisco had already started evolving beyond the “classic” disco sound. Another issue was the album’s undeniable similarity to Meco’s Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk, released in 1977. From the cover art to the sound, Battlestar Galactica felt derivative, making it seem like a desperate attempt to capitalize on the sci-fi-disco trend.
Finding detailed information about this project is challenging, as Giorgio Moroder himself has never mentioned it in interviews—a telling omission. Unlike his other productions, the album wasn’t released under his Oasis Records label, strongly suggesting it was a commissioned project.
The label behind the album, Casablanca Records, provides a clue. Casablanca’s founder, Neil Bogart, was likely inspired by the success of Meco’s Star Wars album, which had been released by Casablanca’s then-partner Millennium Records. However, when Millennium switched distribution to RCA in 1978, it took Meco with it. Bogart may have seen Moroder as the perfect replacement to carry the torch of disco-fied sci-fi soundtracks.
Meanwhile, MCA Records, which released the original Battlestar Galactica score by Stu Phillips, attempted its own disco remix of the theme. Like Moroder’s version, it failed to make a splash, suggesting that the concept of a disco Battlestar Galactica was doomed from the start.
Despite its commercial failure, the Battlestar Galactica album didn’t put a dent in Giorgio Moroder’s meteoric career. By 1978, he was already one of the most influential figures in music, and this project is little more than a curious footnote in his legacy.
Listen to a big part of the medley in this week’s Twelve Inch disco mix Monday on mixcloud. It’s song n°10 !