U.K. Top 20 : March 19, 1979

U.K. Top 20 March 19, 1979

"Clog Dance", an instrumental by two members of the Electric Light Orchestra and new singles by Queen and The Village People enter the U.K. Top 20, a list made up of far too many disco songs as well as a few classics that will always stand up to the test of time. (I'm looking at you Gloria, Elvis, Lene and Chic).

1 I Will Survive --Gloria Gaynor
2 Oliver's Army --Elvis Costello and the Attractions
3 Lucky Number --Lene Lovich
4 Something Else /Frriggin' In the Riggin' The Sex Pistols

 5 Can You Feel the Force? Real Thing

 6 Tragedy -The Bee Gees
 7 I Want Your Love --Chic
 8 Keep On Dancing Gary's Gang

 9 Waiting For An Alibi -Thin Lizzy
 10 Into the Vally --Skids
11 Painter Man-- Boney M
12 Get Down-- Gene Chandler

13 Don't Stop Me Now --Queen
14 Hold the Line --Toto
15 Money in My Pocket --Dennis Brown

16 In the Navy --The Village People
17 Clog Dance --Violinski

18 You Bet Your Life --Herbie Hancock
19 Get It --Darts
20 Turn the Music Up --Players Association

US Top 10: March 10, 1979

On March 10, 1979 disco ruled the U.S. Top 10 with at least six songs produced for the dance floor in the list including the top three. Olivia Newton John's 'A Little More Love", written by the ever loyal John Farrar, has some obvious elements of ABBA and the Bee Gees. Only the Dire Straits single qualifies as rock. Resentment among rockers was starting to build in the US, culminating in July with Disco Demolition Night at Comisky Park in Chicago.

1 I WILL SURVIVE –•– Gloria Gaynor
2 DA YA THINK I’M SEXY? –•– Rod Stewart
3 TRAGEDY –•– Bee Gees

4 FIRE –•– The Pointer Sisters
5 HEAVEN KNOWS –•– Donna Summer with Brooklyn Dreams
6 A LITTLE MORE LOVE –•– Olivia Newton-John

7 SHAKE YOUR GROOVE THING –•– Peaches and Herb
8 WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES –•– The Doobie Brothers
9 Y.M.C.A. –•– The Village People

10 SULTANS OF SWING –•– Dire Straits

At First I Was Afraid

Gloria Gaynor : I Will  Survive

[Purchase]

On December 15, 1978 Gloria Gaynor's epic disco single, "I Will Survive", entered the Billboard Hot 100 at US#87. Originally a B-side to a song called "Substitute", the anthem, celebrating personal strength, would peak at  #1 in both the US and UK. Today it is the go-to karaoke tune for millions of people around the world.

40 Year Itch : Always Buzzin, Buzzin, Buzzin

[Purchase]

   When "Honey Bee" was released, it became known as the Disco National Anthem, because it received so much disco play.

Gloria Gaynor, I Will Survive

    It was the first disco "suite". On the Gloria Gaynor album, Never Can Say Goodbye, released in January of 1975, the three disco songs on side one all segue into each other for some non-stop 20 minutes of dyno-mite dancing action.  That helped propel all three songs to the top of the newly formed disco charts, including future Top 10 single "Never Can Say Goodbye" and a two year old tune called "Honey Bee", which required a new video performance shot atop a New York City skyscraper.

Disco Action Audience Reaction Chart

1. Al Downing: I'll Be Holding On

2. Shirley and Company : Shame, Shame, Shame

3. Jimmy Castor : E-Man Boogie

4. B.T. Express : Express

5 Sister Sledge: Love Don't You Go Through No Changes On Me

6. Gloria Gaynor: Honey Bee/ Never Can Say Goodbye/ Reach Out

7. Carol Douglas : Doctor's Orders
8. Carl Douglas : Blue Eyed Soul
9. Labelle : Lady Marmalade
10. Stylistics: Hey Girl Come and Get It