For decades, I thought Kung Fu Fighting by Jamaican singer-songwriter Carl Douglas was just another novelty song. I figured it was a flashy hit only because Bruce Lee martial arts movies happened to be big in the early seventies. But, I just learned that the song not only is credited with helping to popularize disco, the tune made it all the way to number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the R&B chart, and ranked #14 on the year-end chart. That’s an impressive achievement for a one-hit wonder.
In keeping with a theme, the rest of tonight’s playlist leans somewhat towards disco. Absolutely no Disco Duck, however. I have to draw the line somewhere.
1974 #1
Kung Fu Fighting (3:11)
Carl Douglas
1974
Never Can Say Goodbye (2:59)
Gloria Gaynor
1974
When Will I See You Again (2:59)
The Three Degrees
1975
The Hustle (4:00)
Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony
1976
Turn the Beat Around
Vicki Sue Robinson
1976
You Don’t Have to Be a Star (To Be In My Show) (4:44)
Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr.
1976
Love Me (3:18)
Yvonne Elliman
1977
Hello Stranger (3:12)
Yvonne Elliman
1977/1978
If I Can’t Have You (3:01)
Yvonne Elliman
1978
I Will Survive (4:22)
Gloria Gaynor
1978 #5
Shake Your Groove Thing (5:47)
Peaches and Herb
1979
What Cha Gonna Do with My Lovin’ (4:06)
Stephanie Mills
1980
Never Knew Love Like This Before (5:30) Stephanie Mills
