Burning The Ground Exclusive 1979
“There but for the Grace of God Go I” by Machine is a classic Disco track, known for its socially conscious lyrics and powerful beat. Released in 1979, the song was written by August Darnell, also known for his work with Kid Creole & The Coconuts, and his brother Stony Browder Jr. Its story addresses themes of societal pressures, racism, and the desire for a better life.
The song follows a Latino couple, Carlos and Carmen Vidal, who move from the South Bronx to try to raise their daughter in a safer, more affluent environment. However, in their attempt to distance her from the influences they consider harmful, they isolate her and ultimately face the irony of trying to shield her from the very world they were once part of. The line “Too much love and protection can lead to your child’s rejection” captures this tragic twist perfectly.
Musically, “There but for the Grace of God Go I” combines funky basslines, driving percussion, and a memorable horn section, encapsulating the disco sound with a touch of Latin influence. Machine’s vocals are intense and commanding, matching the urgency of the lyrics. The song was both popular on the dance floor and impactful in its message, resonating with audiences who appreciated its unique blend of a danceable beat and socially aware storytelling.
The song became a cult classic, especially in the dance and disco scenes, and its influence has endured, with various artists and DJs sampling or covering it. It remains a staple for those looking to explore disco music with a deeper message, showcasing how the genre could offer not just infectious rhythms but also poignant reflections on society.
“There but for the Grace of God Go I” enjoyed notable success, especially within the dance and disco communities. The song quickly became a club favorite, thanks to its infectious groove and powerful social message. In the United States, it achieved significant success on the Billboard charts, peaking at #77 on the Billboard Hot 100 but making a much bigger impact on the dance floors. It reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Disco Top 100 chart, a reflection of its popularity in nightclubs and discos across the country.
The song resonated in New York’s vibrant disco scene and quickly spread internationally, particularly in Europe. It became a hit in Belgium, the Netherlands, and France, where its socially conscious lyrics and energetic beat struck a chord with fans of both disco and funk. “There but for the Grace of God Go I” helped establish Machine as one of the bands that pushed disco into a slightly edgier, message-driven direction, paving the way for future dance hits with more substantive themes.
SIDE A:
There But For The Grace Of God Go I 4:59
Written-By – August Darnell, Kevin Nance
SIDE B:
Get Your Body Ready 4:07
Vocals [Uncredited] – Jocelyn Brown
Written-By – Kevin Nance
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | There but for the Grace of God Go I | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #77 |
| 1979 | There but for the Grace of God Go I | U.S. Billboard Black Singles | #91 |
| 1979 | There but for the Grace of God Go I | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance / Disco songs | #8 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: RCA Victor – PD-11457, Hologram Records (3) – PD-11457
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1979
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Disco
CREDITS:
- Mastered By – RSE*
- Producer – August Darnell
NOTES:
Produced for ITC Corp. Productions
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black PnP MkII
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 25 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!
Password: burningtheground
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I got here a bit late, but here’s the deal with this song, probably one of my favorite tracks of all time: I can’t really consider this “disco” because of the unique production and musicianship, yet it’s one of very few dance songs that’s not just “mindless boogie with strings”. It was first issued to the record pools in 1979 where a lot of gay clubs banned it on their feedback forms because of their shallow perception of a few lyrics, though a few dizzy queens didn’t really listen to the story at first. I was in radio and did… Read more »
Ironic how little has changed in the last 45 years, first verse lyrics “let’s find a place they say, somewhere far away, with no blacks, no jews and no gays”. Sometimes the truth hits too close to home.
Thx Paul, I only have the Long Remix 12″ (by Timmy Regisford), released on Unidisc 1994. Good to have the original now. Fantastic song.
You’re welcome. I am guessing the audio was the way it should be.
Yes. The quality is just as we expect from you. Top! 😉
We are little Audio kids and we are just a little bit spoiled by you…
Maybe it would, but somebody’s hallucinating lyrics that aren’t in the song.
This is a real time capsule! The 70s were definitely a time for social change. This makes me think of the show Good Times, which brilliantly gave life to the struggles to rise above poverty. Sadly I’m not sure how much progress, if any, we’ve made. Thank you Paul!! Enjoy your weekend. You too Jeff, Martika, Song and Dance and everyone else in this community!
You described this perfectly, Retro Hound. I am like you, though, in that we have only made baby steps in society since this song’s release. I hope you have a great weekend. 🙂
I was excited to listen to this song but didn’t really connect with it. The lyrics seem to be about a bigoted couple trying to raise their daughter away from influences they view as harmful. Interesting concept—thanks for sharing!
I don’t think that is the meaning at all. Its story addresses societal pressures, racism, and the desire for a better life.
I listened to the “original version” of this song on YouTube first because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to download it. In the first verse, the lyrics clearly say, “let’s find a place they say, somewhere far away, with no Blacks, no Jews, and no gays.” To me, those lyrics are undeniably bigoted. Maybe the version you have is a cleaned-up one?
I would never post something if I thought it was bigoted. It did very well in the gay dance clubs so we must have accepted its message. My version is the original uncensored one. You do not have to download this free file.
The song portrays the couple as the bigots, not the song itself. And certainly not you. Their plan to shield their daughter from what they considered bad influences ended up backfiring, which is the point reflected in the song’s title.
I understand. I apologize if I was defensive. After listening to the song more I do get your point. Have a great weekend.
Mark is absolutely correct. This was one of very few “disco” songs with a real message. (See my main post of all the versions RCA released back in the day)
A stone cold disco classic and definitely in my top disco 12”s. I liked the remake from the UK duo Fire Island in 1995, which was a House version.
Thanks Paul, and have a great weekend.
You’re welcome, Mark. Have a great weekend 🙂
Oooooooooh, my dancing feet just won´t stop, Paul. What a gem to send us off into the weekend. I love the b-side even better. Thank you so much and have a great weekend Paul and Jeff and Retro Hound and Martika and all of you crazy disco people. Keep dancing.
You’re welcome, Song and Dance. Have a great weekend 🙂
This song is the very definition of a classic, Paul!! Growing up, it was even played on the Top Forty radio station, 77 WABC, which was an AM station out of NYC, so one knew this was huge. The channel did play a censored version with certain lyrics changed. Although I was young, I knew that the song had a very important message. It did, however, take me some years to fully understand the title. Gosh, Paul, thanks for this addition to your “Paul-ography” of the very fine in dance music. I had no idea that August Darnell was involved.… Read more »
When you hear the word DISCO this track always comes to mind. I love that it had a message along with the groove. Have a great weekend everyone. 🙂
I missed your weekend greeting, Jeff. So, instead I wish you a very relaxed work week!
Thank you, Martika! I love it and I hope you do the same!!
Jeff
The road manager for the group I DJ for is the son of Machine’s drummer Lonnie Ferguson.. we hang out often….
That is super cool DJ Scientist 🙂
Yes, that is really cool!!
Have a nice weekend 😊
Jeff
Thank you for everything you do!!