Good morning, Kittens and Dawgs! It’s fabulous to see you! Are you ready to groove to some mewsic? This week’s theme is “your favorite country songs or freebie” pick. I already had this post finished so I will share my favorite country mewsic in two weeks. I’m continuing today with my “#1 One-Hit Wonders” series and and I invite you step on the floor with my dance partners: XmasDolly, Stacy, & Colette!
Today’s playlist (many of which I shared here) includes top charters between 1977 and 1979.
- Gonna Fly Now (1977) composed by Bill Conti in Philadelphia with Carol Conners and Ayn Robbins writing the lyrics. Rocky’s song is a piece of American Pop Culture and despite not having seen the movie, Rocky, I know it’s a connection with the famous scene with Rocky Balbo running up the long flight of stairs leading to the Philadelphia Museum of Art where he turns raising his arms in victory while the song plays.
- Undercover Angel (1977) is the only #1 hit for Alan O’Day. He wrote other hits for other artists, though. This song tells the story of a man’s fantasy dream of the right woman to love. I loved that O’Day refers to her as an angel, too. Today’s women are too afraid to admit it (they want to be treated like angels) and men are too afraid to do it (treat them like angels). Both sexes are missing out on so much fun!
- You Light Up My Life (1977) Debby Boone is one of the biggest hits for this year and is Boone’s only hit song. The song was written by film director Joseph Brooks as an interpersonal love song for the movie with the same name. However, when asked of Boone who she was singing about, she replied, “God”. I get that. I see the connection. However, when this song hit, I thought of DH who was then just my boyfriend because he lights up my life. I often sing the chorus to him. 🙂
- Hot Child in the City (1978) is a catchy seemingly innocent pop tune written and recorded by Nick Glider but the story behind the lyrics is based on Glider seeing runaway kids turning to the streets leaving hard home life for something far sinister. I’m a naïve person but when this song came out I knew it was about prostitution but I didn’t realize he was singing about a real child.
- Knock On Wood (1979) covered by Ami Stewart, originally released by soul artist Eddie Floyd (1966). Stewart regenerated the oldie as a disco and is the most recognizable version. I never connected Stewart’s song with Floyd’s until now. Isn’t it funny how the mewsic arrangement can trick the brain?
- Ring My Bell (1979) Anita Ward. Songwriter, Frederick Knight penned the lyrics for an 11-year old, Stacy Lattisaw and meant as a teenybopper ditty about kids talking on the telephone but when Lattisaw signed with another label, Ward was asked to record the song. The phrase “you can ring my bell” is a sexual suggestion and a popular female come-on phrase from the 80s so this song didn’t raise a brow at its release. Billboard Magazine ranked this as one of the 50 sexiest songs of all times.
- Don’t Give Up On Us (1979) was written and recorded by TV actor, David Soul, who’s best known for his role on Starsky & Hutch. Interesting I learned he gained attention on The Merv Griffin Show (1967-1978) as the “Covered Man” where he wore a mask. According to Wikipedia, he told explained to the audience, “I’m David Soul and I want to be known for my music.”
Thia soul might be a good candidate to my Whatever Happened to… series. - Pop Muzik (1979) by M is a project by Robin Scott, an English mewsician. The song released first in the UK but topped the charts in several countries, including the US. I remember the song but was not very fond of it. However, Wiki said the song was initially recorded as an R&B and funk styles. It was upon a friends suggestion to use synthesizers who described the song like this… I was looking to make a fusion of various styles which somehow would summarise the last 25 years of pop music. It was a deliberate point I was trying to make. Whereas rock and roll had created a generation gap, disco was bringing people together on an enormous scale. That’s why I really wanted to make a simple, bland statement, which was, ‘All we’re talking about basically (is) pop music.
DH graduated in 1977 but if you clicked on the link then you know that but these were my high school years and in the summer of 1979, we got married. Hopefully, I can begin the 80s decade of #1 One-Hit Wonders next month, so watch for that future post.
ATTENTION: PLEASE READ!!! This is a weekly hop for mewsic enthusiasts regardless if you follow our weekly theme or not if you have mewsic to share then we’re ready to dance with you. Otherwise, I ask that you do not link non-mewsic posts to boost traffic to your site. You’re welcome to leave your URL in comments with a brief description inviting me to check it out. Thank you!
What mewsic moves you today?
Keep those tunes playing and your body swaying, I’ll see ya around the cyber block! Don’t forget to check back tomorrow for more “Get to Know Me” (see NEW Cathy Chats page above for questions) with Cathy Chats!