Paul Anka Did Disco (and ... its really good!)

[remicks]

*****

I'm feeling particularly generous tonight and feel like sharing one of my "secret" disco songs ... one I'm guessing few know of ....

.....We've all got some of those right .... the ones we greedily hoard for our own selfish pleasures not wanting their powers diluted by mass awareness and consumption ...


The disco song I'm revealing is by of all people: ... Paul Anka .....Wait ! don't go away: .... Really, Paul Anka !

Secretly tucked away on an album of his from 1977 is this little hidden gem. The album is called THE MUSIC MAN and the song is on side two cut four : TONIGHT . I'd love to learn that there's a 12" of this .... but as far as I know if you want to hear it .... you'll need the album .
I've waited for it to appear on youtube ....but it never has and maybe never will ( hey its a secret song! ) so I'll try to generally describe it .

It starts off with a little piano playing (by David Foster) ...followed by the swirl of strings , beginning drum beat , and Paul's opening word "Tonight" .

Its richly arranged with the already mentioned strings as well as horn blasts and trumpets and oboes and trombones and discernible FRENCH HORNS .......
There's also that Love Unlimited styled scratching guitar played throughout by Larry Carlton. Several TOTO members involved here too.

And yet as loaded with musicians as this is , I'd characterize this sound as "gentle disco" .... its piano driven and romantically lovely with long held violin notes and subtle changes that keeps it moving along its just under five minute total time ( ya that's one negative ... too short !) .


Oh, and would the fact that its produced by Charlie Calello ( as in Dr. Buzzard and Odyssey) make it any more enticing?

So enchanted with this one am I each time I play it ... I feel I can confidently put my remicks' "Seal Of Assurance" on this one that it will not disappoint .


Should you come upon it ...reasonably priced (I can't imagine it wouldn't be!) ... what the heck ..... live dangerously in the land of disco .... give it a shot!...

and let me know !!



see how secret it is ..... even Paul's trying to not reveal himself !!


*****

.....

[Disco Funk]

Hmmm...I might still wait for an audio sample before taking a chance on this one!

But this wasn't his first foray into the dance beat. You forget he did that wonderful duet with Odia Coates, on a single mixed by Tom Moulton. It's not on youtube, but it is listed on this website. Can you guess what I'm referring to?

Disco Funk

[kavo]

Don't forget: Paul Anka w/Karla Devito – Gimme The Word. First heard this killer song on Saint Radio (the 1983 NY Eve Party w/ DJ Chuck Parsons). It's one of my favorites from that entire night. —kavo

[kdavid13]

Originally Posted by remicks

*****
The disco song I'm revealing is by of all people: ... Paul Anka .....Wait ! don't go away: .... Really, Paul Anka !

Secretly tucked away on an album of his from 1977 is this little hidden gem. The album is called THE MUSIC MAN and the song is on side two cut four : TONIGHT . I'd love to learn that there's a 12" of this .... but as far as I know if you want to hear it .... you'll need the album .
I've waited for it to appear on youtube ....but it never has and maybe never will ( hey its a secret song! ) so I'll try to generally describe it .

So enchanted with this one am I each time I play it ... I feel I can confidently put my remicks "Seal Of Assurance" on this one that it will not disappoint .


Should you come upon it ...reasonably priced (I can't imagine it wouldn't be!)... what the heck ...... give it a shot!...

and let me know !!



see how secret it is ..... even Paul's trying to not reveal himself !!


*****

.....

Remicks - ever since you brought it up - I've been trying to hear this song...and of course it is not on iTunes !!!

Anyway - I went to a sidewalk sale this afternoon and was able to find a copy of the album for 50 cents.

The track is everything you said...and more.
I totally get the Love Unlimited reference - btw.

Thanks for the tip !!

[thommy2458]

Originally Posted by Disco Funk

Hmmm...I might still wait for an audio sample before taking a chance on this one!

But this wasn't his first foray into the dance beat. You forget he did that wonderful duet with Odia Coates, on a single mixed by Tom Moulton. It's not on youtube, but it is listed on this website. Can you guess what I'm referring to?

Disco Funk

The fabulous "Make It Up To Me(in love)" with that killer
instrumental intro-love it.There was another 12" he did
in the 80's that had an incredible B side NRG instrumental very euro,italo-I can't think of the name
as usual!
Thom

[remicks]

Originally Posted by kdavid13

Remicks - ever since you brought it up - I've been trying to hear this song...and of course it is not on iTunes !!!

Anyway - I went to a sidewalk sale this afternoon and was able to find a copy of the album for 50 cents.

The track is everything you said...and more.
I totally get the Love Unlimited reference - btw.

Thanks for the tip !!

This is so gratifying, your response Kris .

(I sort of went way out on a limb on this one !!! ) ...but each time I drag it out every few months , I ask "is it as good as I had thought it was" ... & each time I listen anew I answer "Yes"

My hard sell wasn't nearly as convincing to Disco Funk but maybe when he sees your endorsement he won't be so reluctant to try a five dollar ( or better yet ....a fifty cent !!!!) record.

One other thing ... I've noticed this ....just as the song fades the drumming starts to really take off by session/ Motown drummer Ed Greene (Eddie Kendricks, Miracles as well as for Pattie Brooks and Gene Page etc.. )
...and some increased guitar work begins sounding slide key/Hawaiian .....
There was more song cooking there that got cut off !!


So now that you've heard it ... it has a sound that's sort of its own ... and so as to what song would be good to mix it into ......... I'm somewhat at a loss

What say you ??


*****

[kdavid13]

Originally Posted by remicks

This is so gratifying, your response Kris .

(I sort of went way out on a limb on this one !!! ) ...but each time I drag it out every few months , I ask "is it as good as I had thought it was" ... & each time I listen anew I answer "Yes"

My hard sell wasn't nearly as convincing to Disco Funk but maybe when he sees your endorsement he won't be so reluctant to try a five dollar ( or better yet ....a fifty cent !!!!) record.

One other thing ... I've noticed this ....just as the song fades the drumming starts to really take off by session/ Motown drummer Ed Greene (Eddie Kendricks, Miracles as well as for Pattie Brooks and Gene Page etc.. )
...and some increased guitar work begins sounding slide key/Hawaiian .....
There was more song cooking there that got cut off !!


So now that you've heard it ... it has a sound that's sort of its own ... and so as to what song would be good to mix it into ......... I'm somewhat at a loss

What say you ??


*****

The song would mix perfectly with Carolyne Bernier's Tony Green-produced remake of My Guy (similar piano - in fact)or a slightly pitched-down Chatanooga-Choo Choo by Tuxedo Junction.

Doesn't the song also sound a little like Al Martino's Spanish Eye ???

The part where he goes "Baby let me love you,let me love you,let me love you tonight..." reminds me of something too but I can't quite put my finger on it.

BTW there is another slightly-disco track on the album...I get a very clear Bee Gees-vibe from Dannon...which also reminds me of David Soul's Silver Lady. (Yes- Hutch also did a disco-lite track back in 1977...and it also featured Tuxedo Junction's studio vocalist Marti McCall !!)

[SandraDee]

Originally Posted by kdavid13

also reminds me of David Soul's Silver Lady. (Yes- Hutch also did a disco-lite track back in 1977...and it also featured Tuxedo Junction's studio vocalist Marti McCall !!)

'Silver Lady' was a no.1 hit here in the UK! In fact David Soul was the best-selling act in the UK in 1977, honest!! He had 3 other big hits during the year (including another no.1), & never had another hit again!!

[kdavid13]

Originally Posted by SandraDee

'Silver Lady' was a no.1 hit here in the UK! In fact David Soul was the best-selling act in the UK in 1977, honest!! He had 3 other big hits during the year (including another no.1), & never had another hit again!!

And I contributed to his success !!! I have 3 of his albums ! Including one from Holland autographed by Hutch himself.

And another disco-connection : Soul did the original version of Can't we just sit down and talk it over - written by Don't give up on us-writer Tony McCauley.

It was also covered by Donna Summer on I remember yesterday.

[thommy2458]

I just found out yesterday that Paul Anka wrote
"She's A Lady" by Tom Jones! FYI


Thom