I didn't know Bryan Adams did disco...

This morning, I just became aware of this "gem" from 1978, "Let Me Take You Dancing".

Yes, THAT Bryan Adams... from Canada.

It sounds like he's been inhaling helium.  Adams was just 18 when this was released.  It had some "mild" success on the radio and was eventually remixed to make it sound more "disco" so it might get some airplay in the United States.

I swear, before this morning, I'd never heard this song before.  I don't know that I need to hear it again, although I can practically picture someone prancing around to this number.  John Luongo remixed this song using 1978 technology.  He made the tempo faster, but that also changed Adams' vocals so that they sounded higher.  No wonder it sounds like he sucked on a helium tank.

I fully expect this video will eventually disappear, because Bryan Adams apparently wants to forget it was ever recorded.  It hasn't appeared on any of his albums, other than the original vinyl back in the 70s.  He doesn't perform it live anymore.  And every time someone uploads it, it gets blocked by Web Sheriff... or so it used to be.  I see this video has been up for over six months now.

I can see why Adams wants to forget about it... My witty friend, Joann, says it sounds like a song even Leif Garrett would reject.

The Knudsen Brothers-- now known as Six...

A couple of days ago, I ran across this old video of an Osmond Brothers' special.  It originally aired in 1978.

I have to admit, I was most intrigued by Jay Osmond's hair.  It looks like he got a perm.  Perms were all the rage in the 70s.  I had a couple of them myself in the 80s.  Still remember the nasty smell of the chemicals.

This special includes performances by a lot of the big stars of the day.  Andy Gibb, Crystal Gayle, Bob Hope, Jimmie Walker, and a debut by a group of five young lads calling themselves The Knudsen Brothers.  The brothers sang barbershop, just like the Osmonds had done on Andy Williams' show.  They wore blue tuxedos and harmonized very impressively, although I think even in 1978, barbershop was a bit hokey.

I was curious about the talented boys, so I looked them up.  They now perform in Branson, Missouri and call themselves SIX.  That's because another brother joined the group.  The Knudsen brothers actually number ten, but only the eldest six are singers.  The other four work to support the group. 

SIX sings "God Bless the USA" in harmony...  I don't think it's bad, though I think I was more impressed by their debut on the Osmonds' special.

Like the Osmonds, the Knudsen Brothers are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I asked on RfM if anyone knew this band back in the day.  One person said they were members of her ward back in Utah and provided free entertainment at their ward functions.  I'm not LDS myself and have never been.  My exposure to the church comes courtesy of my husband, who was LDS when we met and later resigned.  It wasn't hard for him, since he was a convert.  His daughters are LDS, and one is somewhat rabidly so.  I suppose I can thank them for introducing me to the culture.  Ex Mormons are some of my favorite people, though I'm not a fan of the church.

Anyway, I've never been to Branson.  It might be interesting to go there sometime, just because of all the performers there.  On the other hand, a lot of it seems to be acts that are family friendly and somewhat corny.  Kind of Las Vegas lite, with less emphasis on gambling, drinking, and other "sins"...  I guess this is where people go who miss the corny TV specials that were so popular in the 70s and 80s.  To be honest, I kind of enjoyed them myself, even though I was a kid at the time.

  

Toby Beau...

I have an old CD that has "hard to find" hits on it.  One of the songs on that CD is by Toby Beau, of the hit song, "My Angel Baby".

Toby Beau is apparently a band, not a single singer.

Wikipedia tells me that Toby Beau is a Texas band that was formed in the early 70s.  The band got its name from one of the last wooden shrimp boats docked in the Gulf of Mexico town of Port Isabel, Texas.    

Toby Beau had one major hit, the aforementioned "My Angel Baby", which I remember was always on the radio circa 1978.  Despite not making it big with a bunch of huge hits, Toby Beau is still in existence today and tours.  Back in the day, they used to tour with big acts like Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band and the Doobie Brothers.  But, aside from their one hit wonder in "My Angel Baby", they never really hit it big themselves.

One of the original band members, Daniel McKenna, who had a hand in writing "My Angel Baby", died by his own hand back in 2006.  According to his daughter, Emily, McKenna had really bad allergies to grass, trees, dust, and even some foods.  The allergies were hell to live with and kept him from doing what he loved.  Sounds like a very sad ending for a talented guy.

David Naughton, singer, actor, dancer extraordinaire...

I'm surprised I haven't yet written about the venerable David Naughton.  I remember him well as an actor in movies like An American Werewolf in London and Midnight Madness, which starred a young Michael J. Fox.  He was also on a TV series called Makin' It, which spawned a hit song.  In the 80s, he starred opposite Pam Dawber on My Sister Sam.  I used to enjoy that show.  Sadly, it became infamous because the pretty young actress Rebecca Schaeffer was murdered by an obsessed fan.

Egad... this has 1978 written all over it.  Break out the roller skates!

In the late 1970s, David Naughton was also the star of a vintage Dr. Pepper commercial...

Another Dr. Pepper ad from 1980, back when American sodas were made with cane sugar.  I miss those days.

I know David Naughton is still around.  I haven't actually seen him in anything recently, though for some reason his disco hit song was stuck in my head this morning.  What's worse is that I remember another song from the early 80s.  It was not done by David Naughton, but has sort of a similar sound to "Makin' It".  I'm going crazy trying to remember the song and who sang it.  It'll come to me eventually, but until it does, I'm going to be going nuts.

Guess it's time to consult YouTube.

Was reminded of this classic hit this morning...

"Magnet and Steel" is a classic hit by Walter Egan…

I well remember when this song was popular, back in 1978.  Walter Egan had just one really big hit and this was it.  Stevie Nicks was one of the backup singers and, if I'm not mistaken, she was also dating Egan at the time.  "Magnet and Steel" had a sexiness about it, as well as sort of a 50s sound.  I like it because it reminds me of the late 70s, when I had no responsibilities and was pretty innocent about the world.  Also, I just like stuff from that era.  I'd much rather listen to 40 year old hits than recent hits.

  

For some reason, "Magnet and Steel" reminds me of this old song, too… from about the same time.

Whatever happened to romantic duets by people who can sing?  Just kidding.  I'm becoming an old fart and I need to get a life.  

I'm sure these folks are still floating around out there in the big world…  Kind of like Stacey Q.

 

I love the nightlife...

The other day, I listened to the soundtrack for the 1998 film The Last Days of Disco.  The soundtrack mostly consists of disco and the very first song is this old chestnut from Alicia Bridges...

This song was quite the hit back in 1978.  I was six years old back then and remember hearing it all over the radio.  It was originally intended to be an R&B song, but metamorphosed into a disco song.  It was so popular that it even crossed over to country!

I remember being surprised when I found out Alicia Bridges was a white woman.  She has one of those voices that sounds like it came from a person of color.  Nevertheless, though this song is sort of a campy reminder of the late 70s, it's also a classic.

And since it's Friday, it's also oddly appropriate for today...