Thursday Thirteen #485

This one is for John. My late friend and I were like minded on much, but we disagreed mightily on disco. I find it mind-numbing and rather silly. He found it liberating. Before diabetes cost him a toe and his balance, he liked nothing better than to get on the dance floor and shake his groove thing. Disco was the soundtrack to his college years and early twenties and it was playing during his most carefree good times.

 

So it's with him in mind that I list 13 of the best-selling songs of the disco era. #13 was played at John's celebration of life, and I like to think that he was happy and whole again, cutting a heavenly rug.

1. Gloria Gaynor — “I Will Survive” (1978)
2. Chic — “Le Freak” (1978)
3. Bee Gees — “Stayin’ Alive” (1977)
4. Rick James — “Super Freak” (1981)
5. Lipps Inc. — “Funkytown” (1979)
6. The Trammps — “Disco Inferno” (1976)
7. Village People — “Y.M.C.A.” (1978)
8. Patrick Hernandez — “Born to Be Alive” (1979)
9. Bee Gees — “Night Fever” (1977)
10. Pointer Sisters — “I’m So Excited” (1982)
11. A Taste of Honey – "Boogie Oogie Oogie" (1978)
12. Peaches & Herb – "Shake Your Groove Thing" (1979)
13. Diana Ross – "Love Hangover" (1976) 

Except for #1 and #9, I don't like any of them. Which is not to say that I couldn't sing along with any of them on karaoke night. That's how pervasive disco was when Top 40 radio was still king.

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.