Big Disco Crossover Hits, part 2

Aretha Franklin may have been the Queen of Soul, but Diana Ross was the Queen of the Charts from 1964 (with the Supremes) to the mid-1980s (as a solo act). Then came Madonna... Today's story has no Madonna - but it does have a lot of Diana.

Ross' first hit for 1976 - and first Disco hit - was a smash: Love Hangover was a #1 hit in all three pertinent US charts: the Hot 100, the R&B chart and the Disco chart. It was also a big hit around the world:

This is the "Special Disco Version":

Diana's next #1 on the Disco chart was The Boss in 1979. The song was also a top 20 Pop and R&B hit:

The next crossover Disco hit for Ross was another huge one. Upside Down was also a #1 hit in all three pertinent US charts: the Hot 100, the R&B chart and the Disco chart. It was also a top 3 hit in most major markets around the world:

The #1 Disco hit that resonated the most with her gay fans, however, was her next one, I'm Coming Out. The title says it all:

It would be 4 years until her next Disco #1, also a crossover hit. It was called Swept Away:

We say goodbye to Miss Ross and move on to a #12 Disco hit that hit #1 in the Hot 100 and was an international hit. The song in question is Play That Funky Music by Wild Cherry, a blue-eyed soul band from Ohio:

Stevie Wonder is one of the most important artists, ever. He didn't do Disco per se, but many of his classic hits were danced to death, even before the Disco craze. Like, for instance, Superstition:

... or You Haven't Done Nothing:

His first big Disco chart hit (#2), were actually four 1976 masterpieces that charted as one. The Disco chart was funny that way. This is the magnificent I Wish:

This is the ebullient Sir Duke, a #1 hit on the Hot 100, as was I Wish:

This is Another Star:

... And this is Isn't She Lovely:

Don't Leave Me This Way was originally a hit for Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes:

... But it was Thelma Houston who made the song a triple #1 hit (Pop, R&B, Disco):

This is the extended version:

Rose Royce was a Los Angeles-based group whose lead singer was the sweet-voiced Gwen Dickey. Car Wash was a hit comedy in 1976 - it also included a gay character. The theme song was a #1 US Pop, #1 R&B, and #3 Disco hit:

You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine by Lou Rawls occupied positions #2-1-4 on said charts:

For The Rubberband Man by The Spinners it was #2-1-14:

Andrea Marie Truden, better known as Andrea True, leader of the Andrea True Connection, from Nashville, was a porn actress. She took time out for recording though - and one of her singles, More, More, More, was a smash hit (#4-23-2):

Boz Scaggs used to be part of the Steve Miller Band. It was Lowdown that established him as a successful solo star (#3-5-12):

Dazz was Brick's biggest hit (#3-1-7):

Free by Deniece Williams was one of the slower dance tunes, good for body-to-body contact:

Tavares had two big crossover hits in 1976. First was Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel:

Then came Don't Take Away the Music:

Young Hearts Run Free was Candi Staton's biggest hit:

Movin' by Brass Construction was also a big hit:

... So was Turn the Beat Around by Vicki Sue Robinson:

Earth, Wind & Fire had two big crossover hits in 1976. First was Saturday Nite:

... As well as Getaway:

The Trammps were having hits since 1972. In 1976, their big crossover hit was That's Where the Happy People Go:

Their absolute classic, Disco Inferno, was also released in 1976 and went to #1 on the US Disco chart, as well as to #9 R&B. It stalled, however, on the Hot 100 (#53). It was re-released when Saturday Night Fever conquered everything - and managed to reach #11 on the Hot 100:

Tangerine by The Salsoul Orchestra was a remake of a 1942 #1 hit for Jimmy Dorsey:

The Blackbyrds had a big hit a year earlier with Walking In Rhythm:

... They followed it up in 1976 with their crossover hit, Happy Music:

Melba Moore hit it big with This Is It, especially in the UK:

Other big Disco hits that crossed over mainly in the UK in late-1975 and 1976 include Disco Connection by Isaac Hayes:

... Nice and Slow by Jesse Green:

I'll Go Where Your Music Takes Me by Jimmy James & the Vagabonds:

Now Is The Time, also by Jimmy James & the Vagabonds:

Highwire by Linda Carr:

You Don't Have To Go by the Chi-Lites:

Ride A Wild Horse by Dee Clark:

There Goes My First Love by the Drifters:

You're More Than A Number In My Little Red Book, also by the Drifters:

I'm On Fire by 5000 Volts:

Dr. Kiss Kiss, also by 5000 Volts:

Swing Your Daddy was a hit by Jim Gilstrap:

The Real Thing was a breakthrough band in the UK for 1976. Their first hit, You To Me Are Everything was #1 for 3 weeks:

Their follow-up, Can't Get By Without You, peaked at #2:

These are the biggest crossover Disco hits for 1976. Before I leave and despite having the Holiday Blues, I cannot not wish you a merry whatever you're celebrating. If you don't feel like celebrating (join the club), or if you don't believe you have something to celebrate for, hang on tight for the next two weeks; like a visit to the dentist, this too will be over...