Rock the Boat
May 9, 2024
This month I’m focusing on One Hit Wonders of the 70s.
Today our song is: Rock the Boat
Wikipedia tells us this about the song:
"Rock the Boat" is a song by American trio The Hues Corporation, written by Wally Holmes. "Rock the Boat" was first featured on their 1973 debut studio album Freedom for the Stallion (the single edit later appeared on certain editions of the band's 1974 second album Rockin' Soul). It was released as the third single from the album in early 1974, to follow up Stallion's title song, which had peaked at number sixty-three on the Hot 100, and "Miracle Maker (Sweet Soul Shaker)" which did not chart.
Initially, "Rock the Boat" appeared as though it would also flop, as months went by without any radio airplay or sales activity. Not until the song became a disco favorite in New York did Top 40 radio finally pick up on the song, leading the record to finally enter the Hot 100 and zip up the chart to number one the week of July 6, 1974, in only its seventh week on the chart (and fourth week in the Top 40). The record also reached the top ten in the United Kingdom. "Rock the Boat" is considered one of the earliest disco songs. Some authorities proclaim it to be the first disco song to hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, while others give that distinction to "Love's Theme" by Love Unlimited Orchestra or "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" by MFSB, both chart-toppers from earlier in 1974. The song became a gold record. It is a heavy airplay favorite on oldie and adult contemporary stations today.
Enjoy!
This was a fun song. Funny, but I never think og any of the songs you mentioned as "disco" songs...
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, 'ROCK THE BOAT' (which I admit to liking) was definitely Disco! And 'LOVE'S THEME' was equally Disco (and I surprisingly like that one, also).
ReplyDeleteBack in 'the day' I was a proud and certified "Disco Sucks!" member. (I was a member of Lodge #8686 in Los Angeles, California. My I.D. number was FO86! Yes, the ! was an actual, official part of my I.D. number.)
Even back in 'the day' I always loved 'Turn The Beat Around' by Vickie Sue Robinson, but I didn't disclose that ("Denied!") fact in my 13-page application.
All these decades later, my opinion about Disco has mellowed... BUT(!) only slightly.
Easily on my list of 'Top 5 Favorite Guilty Pleasure Movies' is 'THE SPIRIT OF 76' (1991). I sincerely believe that every American capable of remembering the Bicentennial of 1976 should be required to watch that movie at least once. I dig it so much that I even own the musical soundtrack on compact disc. Here are the songs listed in order:
1. Spirit Of '76 - The Dickies
2. We're An American Band - Grand Funk
3. Love's Theme - Love Unlimited Orchestra
4. Takin' Care Of Business - Bachman-Turner Overdrive
5. The Hustle - Van McCoy
6. Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas
7. Turn The Beat Around - Vickie Sue Robinson
8.Rock The Boat - The Hues Corporation
9. Boogie Fever - The Sylvers
10. Disco Inferno - The Trammps
11. A Fifth Of Beethoven - Walter Murphy & Big Apple Band
12. Saturday Night - Bay City Rollers
13. 1976 - Redd Kross
The movie stars David Cassidy. If that doesn't make the movie a genuine, bona fide 1970s historically accurate documentary, I don't know what would!
~ D-FensDogG