J-J-J-Jive talkin' - you're telling me lies

Another milestone was recently reached - it is 40 years this month since the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever exploded all over our charts! One of the world's biggest-selling albums, it spent 18 consecutive weeks at No. 1 here in the UK; though we had to wait till March '78 to see the film.

Track after track after track would be an eminently suitable choice for our traditional party number to start the weekend. The album has 'em all - Stayin' Alive, Night Fever, How Deep Is Your Love, More Than a Woman, If I Can't Have You, Boogie Shoes, You Should Be Dancing, Disco Inferno...

...but, to get our juices flowing ready to boogie, I've chosen this one!

Bee Gees - Jive Talking

It's just your jive talkin'
you're telling me lies, yeah
Jive talkin'
you wear a disguise
Jive talkin'
so misunderstood, yeah
Jive talkin'
You really no good

Oh, my child
You'll never know
Just what you mean to me
Oh, my child
You got so much
You're gonna take away my energy

With all your jive talkin'
You're telling me lies, yeah
Good lovin'
Still gets in my eyes
Nobody believes what you say
It's just your jive talkin'
That gets in the way

Oh my love
You're so good
Treating me so cruel
There you go
with your fancy lies
Leavin' me lookin'
like a dumbstruck fool
with all your

Jive talkin'
You're telling me lies, yeah
Jive talkin'
You wear a disguise
Jive talkin'
so misunderstood, yeah
Jive talkin'
you just ain't no good

Love talkin'
is all very fine, yeah
Jive talkin'
Just isn't a crime
And if there's somebody
You'll love till you die
then all that jive talkin'
just gets in your eye

Jive talkin'
You're telling me lies,yeah
Good lovin'
Still gets in my eyes
Nobody believes what you say
It's just your jive talkin'
That gets in the way

I listened to The saintly Ana Matronic's recent Radio 2 documentary Night Fever - The Rise of the Bee Gees, and - among many fascinating insights and reminisces it featured - according to Barry Gibb, that unmistakeable percussive intro to the song was taken from the clack-clack noise the group's car made while crossing a metal bridge on their way to the recording studio!

The result is legendary.

And I hope your weekend is similar, dear reader.

Saturday Night Fever soundtrack on Wikipedia

There is something goin' down and I can feel it

Another week is (almost) over, and it's time to party!

It is also an excuse to feature another "timeslip moment"...

In the news thirty-eight years ago: Cold War tensions continued after the Soviets shot down Korean Air Lines Flight 902; the Afghan Civil War began with a military coup; American homophobe Anita Bryant, Bob Marley, Saatchi & Saatchi and the Yorkshire Ripper were all headline-grabbers; and Britain's first official naturist beach opened in Covehurst Bay near Hastings. On telly: Pennies From Heaven, Cheggers Plays Pop and All Creatures Great and Small. In our cinemas: Dawn of the Dead, FM, and (of course) the ubiquitous Saturday Night Fever.

In the UK charts this week in April 1978: novelty act Brian and Michael's Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs was (unfortunately) at the top, and also selling well were Suzi Quatro, Wings, Showaddywaddy, Andrew Gold, Johnny Mathis with Deniece Williams, Gerry Rafferty, Sheila B Devotion and Blondie. However, continuing the inexorable dominance of the charts by the aforementioned Saturday Night Fever, this classic number was about to take over...

So let's take a step back to that remarkable Bee-Gees-led Disco boom, get our best black panties on - and Thank Disco It's Friday!

Bee Gees - Night Fever

Listen to the ground:
there is movement all around.
There is something goin' down
and I can feel it.

On the waves of the air,
there is dancin' out there.
If it's somethin' we can share,
we can steal it.

And that sweet city woman,
she moves through the light,
controlling my mind and my soul.
When you reach out for me
yeah, and the feelin' is bright,

then I get night fever, night fever.
We know how to do it.
Gimme that night fever, night fever.
We know how to show it.

Here I am,
prayin' for this moment to last,
livin' on the music so fine,
borne on the wind,
makin' it mine.

Night fever, night fever.
We know how to do it.
Gimme that night fever, night fever.
We know how to show it.

In the heat of our love,
don't need no help for us to make it.
Gimme just enough to take us to the mornin'.
I got fire in my mind.
I got higher in my walkin'.
And I'm glowin' in the dark;
I give you warnin'.

And that sweet city woman,
she moves through the light,
controlling my mind and my soul.
When you reach out for me
yeah, and the feelin' is bright,

Then I get night fever, night fever.
We know how to do it.
Gimme that night fever, night fever.
We know how to show it.

Here I am,
prayin' for this moment to last,
livin' on the music so fine,
borne on the wind,
makin' it mine.

Night fever, night fever.
We know how to do it.
Gimme that night fever, night fever.
We know how to show it.

Possibly the one and only time anyone thought John Travolta was sexy.

Have a great weekend!

Listen to the ground: there is movement all around

A dreadful week crawls to its close, and it is time to start planning to party!
[Admittedly, this may be celebration or commiseration if they announce today whether or not I still have a job...]

We're off to Brighton this evening for a much-needed (if brief) getaway, and we'll be sure to pack our tightest jump-suits and copious quantities of Elnett hairspray - just like the Brothers Gibb (including a weirdly beardless Barry)!

Topping the UK charts this week in 1978, it's the magnificent Night Fever. Thank Disco It's Friday!

Bee Gees - Night Fever

Listen to the ground:
there is movement all around.
There is something goin' down
and I can feel it.

On the waves of the air,
there is dancin' out there.
If it's somethin' we can share,
we can steal it.

And that sweet city woman,
she moves through the light,
controlling my mind and my soul.
When you reach out for me
yeah, and the feelin' is bright,

then I get night fever, night fever.
We know how to do it.
Gimme that night fever, night fever.
We know how to show it.

Here I am,
prayin' for this moment to last,
livin' on the music so fine,
borne on the wind,
makin' it mine.

Night fever, night fever.
We know how to do it.
Gimme that night fever, night fever.
We know how to show it.

In the heat of our love,
don't need no help for us to make it.
Gimme just enough to take us to the mornin'.
I got fire in my mind.
I got higher in my walkin'.
And I'm glowin' in the dark;
I give you warnin'.

And that sweet city woman,
she moves through the light,
controlling my mind and my soul.
When you reach out for me
yeah, and the feelin' is bright,

then I get night fever, night fever.
We know how to do it.
Gimme that night fever, night fever.
We know how to show it.

Here I am,
prayin' for this moment to last,
livin' on the music so fine,
borne on the wind,
makin' it mine.

Night fever, night fever.
We know how to do it.
Gimme that night fever, night fever.
We know how to show it.

Right from the opening bars, you just knew this was always destined to be a classic.

Have a great May Day Bank Holiday weekend, one and all!