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.

Easy as Pie!

I had another one of my sudden song flash memories today.  This time, it's the song "Easy as Pie" by Peaches and Herb.  It was from their 1978 album, 2 Hot which included their monster hits "Shake Your Groove Thing" and "Reunited".  I still love to listen to both of those songs today, even if they are firmly entrenched in the disco era.

I'm not sure how I ever heard "Easy as Pie", since it was not necessarily a hit... I must have heard it somewhere, though, because it popped into my head today.  I had to listen to a sample of it on iTunes.

"Easy as Pie"... oddly enough, I think this popped into my head when I noticed the that it was the same title of a country song by Billy Crash Craddock.

This is a very upbeat song and Peaches and Herb do a pretty good job harmonizing.  The lyrics are cute, too, especially if you like sweet stuff.  This was the B side to "Reunited", which is probably why I heard it as a kid.  Someone probably had it on their jukebox or something.  Do people even use jukeboxes anymore?

A sweet live version of "Reunited", which is a favorite song of mine from the 70s.

And you can boogie to this song...  Wonder what they mean when they sing "Shake Your Groove Thing"...  Bumpin' booties indeed!

I can't deny that I really enjoy disco sometimes.  I find it a great mood lifter, even if it's music from my early childhood and I wouldn't want to relive those years.  I kind of like the 70s, though, if only for the music of that era.  You could hear anything on the radio and the person doing the singing didn't have to be gorgeous to be successful.

The 70s were fun... especially if you didn't have to worry about inflation, Vietnam, or racism...  In other words, it was kind of cool to be a kid in those days.

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.

RIP Donna Summer...

You couldn't grow up in the 1970s and not know who Donna Summer was.  She was the disco queen... glamourous, beautiful, and with a huge voice that mated perfectly with syncopated dance music.  My favorite song by Donna Summer was

"Last Dance"... I remember enjoying the plaintive melody that turned into a heart thumping dance song.  I loved Donna's silky vocals that gradually strengthened into an earthy sexiness.

Donna Summer died today at age 63. She had been battling cancer for a long time.  I was sad to hear the news, mainly because as a child, I had loved her sexy disco songs...

Then in the 80s, she was famous for singing an anthem for working women...

And remaking a Vangelis song...

And singing with Musical Youth...

And reinventing herself...

I always loved her duet with Brooklyn Dreams, too...

I even had a poster of Donna Summer in my bedroom, even though I can't say she was ever my favorite singer.  There was something about her music that was very likable, danceable, and buoyant.  Her songs made great party music.

It could also be really sexy...

The party's over for Donna Summer on Earth, but hopefully wherever she is now, she's enjoying whatever's "On the Radio"...

Livin' it up, Livin' it up, oh yeah...

Maybe I should blog about Dick Clark, since he just recently died.  But I decided I would rather post about Bell & James funky soul song from the 70s...  It's especially fitting, since today is Friday and this week has dragged on for far too long.

Thank God it's Friday!

Good lord.

I am glad the weekend is here.  I think I will spend it planning some travel.  That's one of my favorite things to do these days!

Of course, I could go all new-fangled and post about Rebecca Black... I don't think this song is so bad, but boy did it get some bad press!  Correction... now that I've listened to it a few times, I think it truly sucks!

Whatever.  I'm just glad the weekend is approaching and the month is ending.  Girlfriend is in need of a paycheck.

This blog would be incomplete without the Bee Gees

No self-respecting musical Dungeon of the Past would be without an entry from the Bee Gees.  Unfortunately, the Bee Gees have endured a rather tragic existence over the past 25 years or so.  It started with Andy, who wasn't an official Bee Gees member, but was one of the Brothers Gibb.  He died at the age of 30 of heart problems brought on by his drug addiction.  Andy was, of course, was famous for several songs.

"I Just Want To Be Your Everything" was probably his most popular... although for some reason, I liked this song better...

"Love Is Thicker Than Water"

And this one...

"Shadow Dancing"

And this one...

"Everlasting Love"

Then in 2003, the Brothers Gibb lost Maurice Gibb, twin to Robin Gibb and one of those famous Bee Gees...

I have always loved this beautiful ballad, "How Deep Is Your Love".

Now that Robin Gibb is in a medical crisis, the tragedy trifecta may continue.  The above song was from the band's early days... "I Started A Joke".

"Too Much Heaven"

Everyone should be able "To Love Somebody"

And of course, no Bee Gees tribute would be complete without a dance tune...

Hopefully Robin Gibb will be "Stayin' Alive" a little longer.

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...