Maria Mendiola of Buccara 'Yes Sir, I Can Boogie' and Sara Dash (LaBelle) 'Lady Marmalade'

MARIA MENDIOLA, 69

Died 11 September 2021

Singer with disco vocal duo Buccara which had a hit in 1977 with "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie."

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SARA DASH, 76

Died 20 September 2021

Singer (Soul) and member of LaBelle who had that big hit "Lady Marmalade."

WLS Top Ten for Week of January 4, 1971: 'My Sweet Lord'

The Top Ten songs in Chicago fifty years ago on Superstation WLS (World's Largest Store) 890 AM.  Back in those wonderful AM days.

1.  KNOCK THREE TIMES--  Dawn

2.  LONELY DAYS--  Bee Gees    The Pre-Disco Bee Gees

3.  DOMINO--  Van Morrison

4.  I HEAR YOU KNOCKING--  Dave Edmunds

5.  IMMIGRANT SONG--  Led Zeppelin

6.  MY SWEET LORD--  George Harrison  He didn't copy.

7.  LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH--  Steven Stills

8.  STONED LOVE-- Supremes

9.  BLACK MAGIC WOMAN--  Santana

10.  ONE LESS BELL TO ANSWER--  Fifth Dimension

*****************************************

DEBUTS

26.  ROSE GARDEN--  Lynne Anderson

27.  GAMES--  Red Eye

28.  1900--  Yesterday Liz Damon's Orient Express

29.  MOST OF ALL--  B.J. Thomas

HIT PARADE BOUND:  SOMEBODY'S WATCHING YOU--  Little Sister

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "We Come From The Land Of Ice And Snow."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Immigrant Song"

No More Tears: Donna Summer's Ten Greatest Hits: "I Feel Love"

From the May 17, 2012, Stop the Presses 4 Music Blog "No More Tears: Remembering Donna Summer's 10 Greatest Tracks" by Chris Willman.

1.  Love to Love You Baby  (with all those moans)

2.  I Feel Love

3.  Last Dance

4.  MacArthur Park

5.  Bad Girts  (My own second favorite)

6.  Dim All the Lights

7.  No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)

8.  Love Is In Control

9.  She Works Hard for the Money

10.  This Time I Know It's for Real

What, no "Hot Stuff"?

Name That Tune:  "Friday Night and the Strip Is Hot."  --RoadDog


CHOCOLATE RULES:  Why is there no such an organization as Chocoholics Anonymous?  Because no one wants to quit.


"Bad Girls"

When Disco Saved Beach Music-- Part 5

The last hour of Fessa John Hook's show on how Disco Saved Beach Music. An asterisk means I'm not familiar with the song.

WALK AWAY FROM LOVE-- David Ruffin
IF I CAN'T HAVE YOU-- Yvonne Elliman
THE GAME IS OVER-- Brown Sugar*
SECOND TIME AROUND-- Shalamar

I COULD DANCE ALL NIGHT-- Archie Bell & the Drells
I LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE-- Alicia Bridges
MR. MELODY-- Natalie Cole*
SHOO DOO FU FU OOH-- Lenny Williams

I'LL GO WHERE YOUR MUSIC TAKES ME-- Tina Charles
DO YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT-- Dionne Warwick
BEIN' WITH YOU-- Tavares*
LET'S GO SOMEWHERE AND MAKE LOVE-- Jackie Moore

BABY DON'T CHANGE YOUR MIND-- Gladys Knight & the Pips*
THIS SONG WILL LAST FOREVER-- Lou Rawls

Disco? Imagine That? --RoadDog

When Disco Saved Beach Music-- Part 4

Beach Music had about run its course in the mid-1950s, when Disco burst on the scene (with a big help from good old John Travolta). Its arrival reinvigorated the scene and the shag dance.

Another hour's worth of Fessa John Hook's music. Asterisk means I hadn't heard it before.

I JUST CAN'T GET YOU OUT OF MY MIND-- Four Tops
GOT TO GIVE YOU UP-- Marvin Gaye
1000 LAUGHS-- Eloise Laws*
SATURDAY NIGHT SUNDAY MORNING-- Thelma Houston*

A LITTLE LOVIN' (KEEPS THE DR. AWAY)-- Racs*
NIGHT FEVER-- Bee Gees
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S RIGHT-- Evely "Champagne" King*
I CAN'T FIGHT YOUR LOVE-- Modulations*

LOVE REALLY HURTS WITHOUT YOU-- Billy Ocean
HANG ON IN THERE BABY-- Johnny Bristol
I LOVE YOU-- Donna Summer
ANYWAY YOU WANT IT-- Enchantment

EASY COMING OUT, HARD GOIN' IN-- William Bell
LET ME BE GOOD TO YOU-- Lou Rawls

Think You Know Your Disco? --RoadDog


PARAPROSDOKIAN SENTENCE: War does not determine who is right--only who is left.

When Disco Saved Beach Music-- Part 3

If you ever want to know ANYTHING about Beach Music, the "Fessa, John Hook, is the guy you need to check out. Not only for his BM Countdown and Blues Shows, but his books and magazines.

Here are the songs he played in his second hour. Again, I've head some of them, but not the others. An asterisk behind the performer means I haven't heard it before.

SUGAR PIE-- Guy Joneses*
WAHT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES-- Esther Phillips
BOOGIE SHOES-- K.C. & the Sunshine Band

TRAPPED IN A STAIRWAY-- Paul Jabars*
HE'S SO SHY-- Pointer Sisters
SHOUT AND SCREAM-- Teddy Pendergrass

THIS TIME IT'S REAL-- Tower of Power*
YOU OUGHT TO BE HAVING FUN-- Tower of Power
I JUST KEEP THINKING ABOUT YOU-- Tuts Vega*

CAN'T GIVE YOU ANYTHING (BUT MY LOVE)-- Stylistics
HEAVEN MUST BE MISSING AN ANGEL-- Tavares
RED LIGHT-- Linda Clifford*

BEGIN THE BEGUINE-- Johnny Mathis
YOU LITTLE TRUSTMAKER-- Tymes

Good Stuff If You Can Find It. --RoadDog


PARAPROSDOKIAN SENTENCES-- A figure of speech that uses an unexpected ending to a series or phrase.

When Disco Saved Beach Music-- Part 2

According to the 'Fessa, Beach Music was about dead until Disco infused new life into it. An asterisk after the performer means I haven't heard it before.

EVERLASTING LOVE-- Carl Carlton
ROCK YOUR BABY-- George McCrae
CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF YOUR LOVE-- Barry White

HONEST I DO LOVE YOU-- Candi Staton (was married to Clarence Carter)
LOWDOWN-- Boz Scaggs
USED TO BE MY GIRL-- O'Jays

WORKING MY WAY BACK TO YOU-- Spinners
YOU KNOW HOW TO LOVE ME-- Phyllis Hyman*
WHEN LOVE IS NEW-- Arthur Prysock*

ENJOY YOURSELF-- Jacksons*
CHEATERS NEVER WIN-- Committee
DOCTOR'S ORDERS-- Carol Douglas*
SIT DOWN AND TALK TO ME-- Lou Rawls

Check It Out at Cashbox Magazine. --RoadDog


We can't all be heroes because somebody's got to sit on the curb and clap as they go by.

When Disco Saved Beach Music-- Part 1

They say, "Video Killed the Radio Star," well, the Buggles anyway. But according to Beach Music maestro John Hook, "Disco Saved Beach Music."

From 'Fessa John Hook's Beach Music Top 40 Countdowns on the Cashbox Magazine website http://www.cashboxmagazine.com/countdowns/beachmusicweekly.html.

I'm listening to his forty songs right now. Good stuff, including some disco songs I've never heard of before.

Say the word "Disco" and you get lots of groans. We even had Disco Demolition here in Chicago which led to a mini-riot at old Comiskey Park and a Sox forfeiture of a game vs. the Tigers.

I think most people just didn't like the "culture" Disco folks tried to build around the music.

However, most people liked and still like the music. Like they said on American Bandstand, "It's got a good beat and is easy to dance to." I give it a ten.

Back when I was deejaying, if I was having a hard time getting people out on the floor, out came a Disco song and nine times out of ten, it worked.

"I Love the Nightlife" by Alicia Bridges playing right now.

I'll Be Listing All Fifty Songs He Played, But Even Better, You Give It a Listen. --RoadDog


UNIVERSAL TRUTH: I "hate" to admit it, but since I've been retired, I sort of forgot how to set an alarm.

Top Disco Hits-- Part 2

Continued from yesterday.

9. You're My First, the Last, My Everything-- Barry White-- 1974-- just sex on vinyl

8. Don't Stop 'Till You get Enough-- Michael Jackson-- 1976-- Before he went strange

7. Dancing Queen-- Abba-- 1976-- their biggest hit

6. YMCA-- Village People-- 1978-- still a great song to get people of all ages going, despite the gay aspect. Put those arms down, NOW!!

5. Celebration-- Kool and the Gang-- 1980-- Not bad for a throwaway song. If this doesn't get the folks out on the dance floor, I'm no sure what else will. I'd like to know how many weddings have had this song played.

4. Play That Funky Music-- Wild Cherry-- 1976-- Grew out of a black audience member yelling to the band, "Play some funky music, white boy!" Their only hit, but a good one.

3. Last Dance-- Donna Summer-- 1978

2. I Will Survive-- Gloria Gaynor-- 1978-- probably one of the all-time greatest disco hits.

1. Staying Alive-- Bee Gees-- 1977-- A big surprise with the song that kicked it all off.

Brought Back Some Memories. --RoadDog

Top Disco Hits

The Jan. 27th List Universe had a LIST of the top fifteen Great Disco Hits.

I liked the music, but wasn't too keen on the lifestyle and culture folks tried to build around it.

As a deejay, if you're having problems getting people out on the dance floor, just put on most any of these in the list, and, if they are going to dance, this will get them going.

15. Funkytown-- Lipps, Inc.-- 1980-- Could be classified Nu-Disco. I like this and "Double Dutch Bus" which I normally play together.

14. Get Down Tonight-- KC and the Sunshine Band-- 1975-- First of five No. 1s. I would put all five of them on the list. Another sure fire way to get folks on the floor.

13. Turn the Beat Around-- Vickie Sue Robinson-- 1976. I liked the girl from Miami Sound Machine's version as well.

12. You Should be Dancing-- Bee Gees-- 1976-- How did that guy hit those high notes?

11. Brick House-- Commodores-- 1977-- Down Right Dirty id you ask me. She's built like a what? Some say a "brick ____house." A great follow-up to "I've Had the Time of My Life" from Dirty Dancing. And, speaking of dirty dancing...not as bad as #9.

10. Heart of Glass-- Blondie-- 1979-- also ushered in the New Wave Sound.

Top Nine Tomorrow. --RoadDog