Gotta love this hit from 1977...
Of course, most people on Solid Gold were lip synching, with the exception of Stevie Nicks, who was apparently bombed out of her gourd when she performed.
"You Don't Have To Be A Star"...
Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. sang this duet back in the days when disco was king. I remember the song, but was actually more familiar with Marilyn McCoo because she was the hostess of Solid Gold back in the 80s. I used to watch her all the time.
Here's Marilyn singing on Solid Gold... Andy Gibb is introducing her.
And here, Marilyn and Andy sing his hit "I Just Want To Be Your Everything".
I was never a big fan of Marilyn McCoo's, but I did have some fun singing her old duet today. Check out the vocals on OBSEQUIOUS.
I think this turned out rather well.
Marilyn seems to do well when she duets... Here she is with Ricky Nelson on Solid Gold.
Of course, most people on Solid Gold were lip synching, with the exception of Stevie Nicks, who was apparently bombed out of her gourd when she performed.
Marilyn McCoo introduces Stevie... and comes off rather Star Search TV spokesmodel-esque...
My mom, despite being a serious classical pianist at the time, was a Solid gold fanatic. She says she liked the entire Fifth Dimension, and the only thing Marilyn McCoo ever sang that she actively disliked was that godawful "I've Never Been to Me" song.
ReplyDeleteWhat I'm going to repeat next is so racist that I'm reluctant to type it, but it is illustrative of just how bigoted some parts of the U.sd. were even into the '80's.
The LDS youth used to have these things called Roadshows. They were basically 15-minute musical comedies based loosely on a given theme. They were performed mostly by the youth, but scripts were typically written by adults, though the youth might have been allowed to assist. In any event. no major part of any ward's production was included without the permission of the adults in charge unless some kid on the stage just chose to improvise and deviate from the script. . In the particular case i will soon cite, what was sung was too integral a part of the plot for it to have been ad-libbed by the youth, as it was soung multiple times.
The plot had something to do with a black singing group, a la the Temptations or the Jacksons, or perhaps even the 5th Dimension. As part of the plot, the group was trying to convince a talented white kid to join their group even though he was of a different race. (The supposed African-Americans were all white Mormon kids with blacked out faces.) They sang the song you posted, except they sang it, "You don't have to be a TAR baby to be in our show." The audience, according to my dad, hooted and behaved as though it was the funniest thing they'd ever heard.
My dad was supposed to play guitar for a family Ward of which he was not a member just to help them out (he was in a student ward), but he was so incensed but what was sung and by the audience reaction that he took his guitar and sound equipment and walked out before his performance.
This all allegedly went down long before I was born, so I obviously cannot verify that it really happened that way, but I can't imagine my dad making up such a story. For that reason, the song has negative connotations for me.
Did Marilyn McCoo do a version of "I've Never Been To Me?" The 80s version of that song was sung by a woman named Charlene. Your mom is right. It is godawful.
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZgIk2b68gQ
I had heard about the road shows. That particular one sounds really bad. I have even more respect for your dad now since he walked out. What an offensive spectacle that must have been!
Marilyn Mccoo never recorded "I've Never been to Me" as far as I know. She merely covered it on Solid gold, my mom said.
ReplyDeleteYes, it must have been a most offensive spectacle, but most of those present were too offensive themselves to be offended. The lone saving grace was that my dad doesn't think there was a single black person present.
Ahh... that explains it. Now that I think about it, Marilyn McCoo also did a horrendous cover of Chicago's "Hard To Say I'm Sorry" on Solid Gold. I remember the fake drama she inserted in the last line, "You're gonna be the lucky one!" Ugh...
DeleteGetting caught up on some of your posts. I love this one especially! Ms. Mccoo was a very talented vocalist, but some songs just didn't suit her at all. I remember her doing Elton John's "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" on Solid Gold. Just didn't suit her (though I remember she did "clean up" the lyrics a bit--I admire her principles). Loved Solid Gold. Thanks for bringing back these cool memories today! See ya on SingSnap!
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by, Groovy Agent! Hope you'll visit again!
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