American Bandstand: The Disco Years

[notthewombat]

Always wondered if these disco artists were on Bandstand, and if so, when...

1): France Joli

2): The Bee Gees

3): Celi Bee

4): John Paul Young


Thanks,

Steve

[notthewombat]

Also thought of another artist--

Tina Charles

Also, does anyone know when AB switched over to the "disco" set (the one where they first started using the flashing "AB" sign)?

[Discomanic]

Steve:
I can't answer your question but I do have a book of American Bandstand and the guests. After my move, there's no telling where it is. I'll try and find it. The topic brought up another issue, last year I heard Dick Clark was making available American Bandstand, The Disco Years on DVD. But I haven't heard anymore about it. Does anyone know the status?? Thanks

[Mario]

Hello Steve :icon_smile: I used to watch American Bandstand "EVERY" Saturday morning during the disco years of the show...I probably started watching it around 1973 and in the late 60's as a kid, I watched off and on alongside my favorite aunt. Although I don't have solid proof, only memories, in answer to the four acts in question, I would venture to say:
no, no, no and no. Not that American Bandstand was not a terrific show, but the Bee Gees (especially during the Saturday Night Fever days were HUGE! IMO much too big to appear in person on Bandstand to lip synch.) I do believe that sometime in the late 60's the Bee Gees did appear on form of "film" on the show. Celi Bee's "Superman" and John Paul Young's "Love Is In The Air" and Frace Joli's "Come To Me" were played on American Bandstand while the kids danced. Disco Bee Gee records were played SEVERAL times on the show (so were Andy Gibb's records as well.) Now, as far as Dick Clark "releasing" old footage :icon_rolleyes: I'll believe that when I see it! The closest we ever got to that was via VH1 a few years back. And even those are scarce! Take Care, Steve... :icon_cool: Mario

[kdavid13]

Yes me too.Whenever I think of AB ; I immediately flashback to the summer of 1979...I spent the whole summer inside the house after having had an operation ; so it was my treat for the week.
remember all these disco outfits and the hits of the day...

The rate-a-record ; with the "easy to dance to" critics !!

[normvork]

Always wondered if these disco artists were on Bandstand, and if so, when...

1): France Joli

2): The Bee Gees

3): Celi Bee

4): John Paul Young


Thanks,

Steve

I remember Celi Bee doing Fly Me On the Wings of Love on bandstand, probably on the same show as Superman. I remember it being kind of a crawling-on-the-floor production writhing with her male chorus dancers.

[notthewombat]

Whenabouts was this? Was this in 78 or 79? Do you remember who else performed on the show?

Thanks to everyone for their help, btw!

Steve

[discokicks]

Unfortunately I think Norm must have seen Celi Bee on a different show. I have a book called "The History of American Bandstand" which lists the performances chronologically and none of the artists that you were hoping for appeared on bandstand.

I was enthralled with Bandstand in the seventies as it introduced my young mind to the idea that there's a larger world of music out there than what they play on local radio.

[Mario]

I also remember another song that the kids danced to on American Bandstand by John Paul Young...It was entitled: "Yesterday's Hero"...
But again, as far as I remember the other acts in question (particularly the Bee Gees) never appeared physically on the show...Take Care :icon_cool: Mario

[Eman]

Hey Mario!
I remember them dancing to Yesterday's Hero's but it was the Bay City Rollers version...... I was so happy in all my 12 year old glory to hear the Bay City Rollers on American Bandstand!!! Just like when Dick Clark played Saturday Night for the first time!!! LOL Oh to be a teenbopper again!!!

[normvork]

Unfortunately I think Norm must have seen Celi Bee on a different show. I have a book called "The History of American Bandstand" which lists the performances chronologically and none of the artists that you were hoping for appeared on bandstand.

I was enthralled with Bandstand in the seventies as it introduced my young mind to the idea that there's a larger world of music out there than what they play on local radio.

Oops! Now I'm mystified where she performed that number...not likely on Soul Train or Soap Factory.:icon_confused:

[VINYLLIFE]

OK.......Would you believe... that some of my friends here in L.a were the ones who invented the Y M C A dance moves while on American Banstand?? This is where the Village people picked it up and took it on the road.:icon_confused: SORRY!:icon_confused: Being here in Los Angeles, everyone wanted to get on the show. A very close friend of mine "Hal" was a long time regular on the show. He has every episode from 76-84 or so on video....yes every one!!!! Some of our Disco gatherings at my house end up with everyone hudled up around my 19" tv screen:icon_mad: .Anyways Hal is always willing to share footage with other AB fans. And boy does he behind the scene stories:icon_eek: . Like Mrs Viva being the first boy as a girl to apear on AB....we think.She got away with it for awhile, but when Dick found out :icon_evil: !!.............We just recently dedicated one of our parties to AB, running footage during the dancing.

Disco Lives in L.A!!!

[Mario]

Wow, Vinyl...:icon_biggrin: What an interesting post! How fortunate you and your friends are in L.A. to have preserved videos from those Disco Bandstand shows! Aside from their brief and edited versions on VH1 a few years ago, these episodes are extremely rare. I've read that Dick Clark Productions are "EXTREMELY" protective of the rights to these old shows. I understand that some of the late 50s and early 60s former dancers have tried in vain for years for the release of the old shows (most filmed in Kinescope). I have a feeling that the 70s dancers will face the same long wait. But alas for now, you and your friends can enjoy your old footage in the privacy of your homes. Take Care....Mario :icon_cool:

[notthewombat]

He has every episode from 76-84 or so on video....

How I wish my wife and I could be friends with this guy!!!

No chance he'd be willing to make us a copy of the July 14, 1979 episode, eh? That was my birthday ;-).

[The Owl]

[langlang]

verrry interesting. i've seen some ab episodes being offered online. as a matter of fact there is an ebay knockoff site called ioffer and someone is selling what they claim to be a complete set of ab episodes from the fifties thru to the eighties. i would kill for that donna summer episode from july '78 that was promoting thank god its friday. any chance your friend could hook me up??

[Cdnbob]

I remember the episode where Donna Summer played host for the entire show.

Bandstand was regular staple for me from 74 till about 84. Great place to acts you'd never get to see otherwise, exposure to great music, and learning all those great new moves you could steal or adapt.