Big Disco Crossover Hits, part 3

I make a point to always begin this Disco crossover series with a superstar act that crossed over from the genre that they were primarily known for (usually R&B/Soul) to Disco. For 1975 there was Labelle and for 1976 there was Diana Ross. I took a look at the songs that hit #1 on the US Disco chart in 1977: Thelma Houston's Don't Leave Me This Way and The Trammps' Disco Inferno were heard on the Big Disco Crossover Hits, part 2 since they were originally released in 1976. The Ritchie Family's #1 did not cross over. Grace Jones, Donna Summer, the Village People, and Chic each had their own presentation. Love & Kisses were presented as part of the French Disco tribute. Then my gaze fell on Marvin Gaye's name: Eureka!

Gaye's #1 Disco single is the classic Got To Give It Up. The song also made the top of the Hot 100 and the US R&B chart and made the top 10 in the UK and various other countries. This is the single version:

This is the extended version, Got To Give It Up (Part I & II) :

More than a year later, the self-mocking Ego Trippin' Out was a Disco & R&B hit:

Since we've mentioned 1977's #1s of the US Disco chart, let's listen to the rest of them: Do What You Wanna Do by the T-Connection held the position for 7 weeks. It also made #11 UK, #15 R&B, and #46 on the Hot 100:

Their follow-up, On Fire, peaked at #5 on the US Disco chart, #16 UK, and #27 R&B:

C. J. & Company held the top spot for 5 weeks with Devil's Gun. It also peaked at #36 on the Hot 100 and at #2 on the R&B chart. This is the single version:

This is the album version:

Best of My Love by The Emotions only peaked at #11 on the US Disco chart; it did, however, reach the top on the Hot 100 and the R&B charts, and made the top 5 in the UK and Canada:

... It was preceded by their hit I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love, a #51 Pop, #13 R&B, and #4 Disco hit:

A couple of years later, they returned to chart success for one last time, with their collaboration with Earth, Wind & Fire called Boogie Wonderland. Its chart positions in the US: #6 Pop, #2 R&B, and #14 Disco. Also a top 10 hit in the UK, the Netherlands, Australia, and New Zealand and #11 in Canada:

Boogie Nights by Heatwave was written by Rod Temperton, a composer of some of Michael Jackson's greatest hits. It was a big Pop hit in the US and the UK (#2 in both countries), also a #5 US R&B and #36 Disco hit:

Did you know that Star Wars was not only a blockbuster at the box-office, but it also inspired a Disco hit? The Star Wars Theme / Cantina Band, as was recorded by Meco, hit #1 on the US and Canada Pop charts, as well as #6 on the US Disco chart. It was also a great hit in the rest of the world, making it the biggest-selling instrumental single in the history of recorded music:

This is the Disco version:

Barry White kept on having big crossover hits; this time, it was It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me. The song was big in the US: #4 Pop, #1 R&B, and #5 Disco:

(Every Time I Turn Around) Back in Love Again by L.T.D. is a song that I particularly like. It peaked (US) at #4 Pop, #1 R&B, and #19 Disco:

Did you know that the Commodores (Lionel Richie's group) didn't only make sentimental ballads like Three Times A Lady and Still? In fact, their first hit ever, 1974's instrumental Machine Gun was a big Disco hit:

Their second biggest hit for 1977, after the ballad Easy, was Brick House; #5 Pop, #4 R&B, and #34 Disco:

Native New Yorker by Odyssey was a big hit in the UK (#5), but it did quite well in the US as well; #21 Pop, #6 R&B, and #3 Disco:

John Miles is a Jarrow lad, just like the Animals' Alan Price. He had two big UK hits in 1975, the jaunty Highfly and the epic Music, but it is 1976's Slow Down that qualifies for our list; #10 UK, #34 US Pop, and #2 US Disco.

This is John Miles performing Slow Down on Top of the Pops:

This is the full version:

Peter Brown grew up in a Chicago suburb. His first hit was a big one: Do Ya Wanna Get Funky with Me was a US #18 Pop, #3 R&B, and #9 Disco. This is the single version:

This is the 12" version:

He followed it up in 1978 with Dance With Me (#4 New Zealand, #9 Canada) and a triple US hit (#8 Pop, #5 R&B, and #4 Disco). It is dedicated to our good friend, the Record Man, who has requested it a while ago, with the comment: "Proof that all Disco is definitely not monotonous". This is the extended vinyl recording featuring the vocals of Betty Wright:

We've already heard a big Disco hit inspired by Star Wars. How about one inspired by I Love Lucy? Disco Lucy (I Love Lucy Theme) by Wilton Place Street Band was a US hit in 1977 (#24 Pop, #41 R&B, and #7 Disco):

Rocky also inspired the creation of a Disco hit: Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky) by Maynard Ferguson did well in the US (#28 Pop, #97 R&B, and #37 Disco):

We continue with three songs by female-led groups that already had big hits previously; we begin with Rufus, featuring the amazing Chaka Khan, and their hit At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up), a big US hit (#30 Pop, #1 R&B, and #37 Disco):

Remember Andrea True and her band, Andrea True Connection? She was mentioned - and heard - in part 2 of this story. They had another crossover hit in 1977, with N.Y., You Got Me Dancing (#27 Pop and #4 Disco):

Rose Royce, another female-led group that made it big the year before, came up with Do Your Dance (#39 Pop, #4 R&B, and #20 Disco):

Cocomotion by El Coco was a medium-sized hit (#44 Pop, #22 R&B, and #6 Disco):

Feel the Need by The Detroit Emeralds was mostly a UK hit (#12). It did, however, peak at #14 on the US Disco chart:

Evelyn "Champagne" King's first hit was released at the end of 1977 and was an instant classic; Shame peaked at #9 Pop, #7 R&B, and #8 Disco:

Spring Rain, by Silvetti, peaked at #39 in the Hot 100, but managed to make #4 on the Disco chart:

One would certainly not call Leo Sayer a Disco artist. However, Thunder in My Heart, while doing well on the Pop charts (#22, UK - #38, US), also peaked at #30 on the Disco chart:

Dancin', by Crown Heights Affair, peaked at #51 in the UK but did better in the US (#42 Pop, #16 R&B, and #6 Disco):

Finally for today, the Philadelphia International All Stars, a truly all-star act comprised of Lou Rawls, Billy Paul, Archie Bell, Teddy Pendergrass, the O'Jays, and Dee Dee Sharpe, released Let's Clean Up the Ghetto. One would expect it to do better on the Pop charts (#34, UK - #91, US), but it did well on the US R&B (#4) and Disco (#26) charts, This is the single version:

This is the album version:

Tomorrow we'll have the week's statistics and the new chapter of the Pink Floyd countdown. See you then!