Weird Song of the Week - Disco Run Amuk

 Disco Run Amuk

Friday 18 August 2023

Once in a while, you discover weird musical gems in odd places, dare I say, weird places.  That happened to me this week when I discovered a weird musical gem in a finance article.  Go figure.

I was never a huge fan of The Beach Boys.  Their music is OK, but not great in my opinion.  Some argue they would have been The Beatles had the Beatles not existed.  I feel The Rolling Stones or The Who might beg to differ.  But fortunately for music lovers, the Beatles do exist, so this line of speculation is a waste of time.  This fact, of course, makes such speculation a fun indulgence.  My view on The Beach Boys is I don’t mind listening to a song or two if it is played on the radio, but I cannot see myself listening to a whole album at once.  But if I were actually on the beach and a café had The Beach Boys playing in the background, I would be fine with that.

In 1967 The Beach Boys released Here Comes the Night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv6ZkAwy3DY

This version has been remastered.  Here is the gem I discovered in the finance article.  In 1979 The Beach Boys did another version of this song.  It was a disco version.  Instead of just putting a disco beat to the original music, they redid the whole thing.  And here is that disco version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK-9L6AOxPM

This is also a remastered version.  This disco remake, done by the actual Beach Boys, has all the clichés of disco music of that time even down to the ubiquitous strings.  In 1979 disco was everywhere and a lot of bands wanted to get in on the craze.  Perhaps disco was on the decline by then but The Beach Boys were one of many groups trying to take advantage of one of the deepest wide-ranging musical crazes of all time.  But when they performed this version on stage at one of their concerts they were booed.  The hatred was so strong they never performed this song again.  I either forgot about this or never knew it existed.  I think it is the latter.

But you know, I don’t think this version is really that bad.  This is because the original has a dance beat to it.  Also, you have to remember that when you evaluate music, you have to do it in context.  I can dislike something while listening to it on the radio in the car, but if I were on the dance floor, I might have a whole different view.  So, I actually think I would like this version if I were transported back in time to a disco in 1979.  But even on the radio today, I do not think this version is all that bad.  But wow, they go crazy on the strings.

This got me to wondering what the worst disco remakes are.  By worst, I mean disco versions of songs which have no redeeming qualities whatsoever and that would be despised both on the radio and on the dance floor.  Here Comes the Night does not qualify because I would love this on the dance floor and it’s OK just listening to it too.

I will look at some which people say are bad, but which might not be all that bad, and then I will look at others which are, how can I put this, well let me put it this way.  Some are so bad if I had a time machine and could travel back in time, my first act would be to ensure these songs never existed.

Let’s begin gently with one that is, like the Beach Boys remake, not really that bad, although people dislike this.   Can’t take My Eyes Off you.  Here is the Frankie Valli original.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYwQy_9JPtQ

And here is Boys Town Gang with their disco remake.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3R4bzBgC3g

Please don’t hurt me (and I’ll be saying that a few times in this column) but I kind of like this version more than the Valli original.  But then, it takes a weird person to write a column about weird songs.

We begin our slow descent into madness with Do Wah Diddy.  Here is the Manferd Mann version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc0x7xOap4I

Now here is A la Carte with their 1980 version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEnxwOiuUac

OK what’s the verdict?  This version tells the story from a lady’s point of view.  I would be OK with this on the dance floor but maybe not as OK with it on the radio. 

Descending slowly, we stop next at California Dreamin’.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W2se8MMqwo

This is the original Barry McGuire version.  This is not the clip you probably thought I would include.  Here is the Mamas and the Papas version which is the most famous version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-aK6JnyFmk

If you listen to the McGuire version, the backup vocalists might sound familiar.  That’s because they should.  The Mamas and the Papas did backup vocals for the McGuire original.

Here is Cynthia Woodard with her disco version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQB7DGKwfU4

Oh my.  That was, uh, kind of bad, wasn’t it?  Our descending path next brings us to The Lion Sleeps Tonight which featured in a past column of Weird Song.  Here are The Tokens doing I believe the first pop version of this song in English.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQlByoPdG6c

This was released in 1961 and is the version I know best.  This is one of my favorite songs.  Tight Fit released their version in 1982 and this is a good version.  This is probably the version I first heard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRv4cdZxTdQ

Both versions were big hits in the UK.  But you know what this column is about.  Sandwiched between these two good versions was this bad one.  This was done by The Stylistics, a group I like in general.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxHfPw5Wu9c

The Stylistics were on the decline and tried to salvage themselves by moving to disco.  This version starts off pretty well I think, but then descends into true disco madness.

We begin to descend more steeply now.  Next up is Gloria written and made famous by Van Morrison.  Here he is performing it live in 2008.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvJnlLMJ1Rw

Now here is the Midnight Stud disco remake.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWkOgbVDm20

Please don’t hurt me.  Take a deep breath.  This applies particularly to reader Nick.  It’s OK.  The world spins on.  The sun will rise again.

And now, reader Lancelot, please don’t hurt me.  We move next to the great Marvin Gay and his song I Heard it Through the Grapevine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWG3npfEoHo

Here is P’zazz with their 1980 disco remake.

https://flashbak.com/10-awful-disco-cover-versions-which-will-ruin-songs-you-love-21876/

Oh man, I need some antacid tablets after listening to this.  You might be yelling “Stop!” by now, but no, we must descend to the very bottom.  We have stopped walking now and have fallen off a cliff.  Barely alive we come to Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HibBnC6SVk8

After P’zzazz I am beginning to feel a little better after listening to real music again.  Unfortunately, I must stick to the theme of this column.  In 1979 The Wonder Band released a disco remake.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq0XzhOvZh4

This one is so bad I actually texted a friend of mine, reader Bob, to warn him in advance.  I’m going to take a break now because I need to look for a defibrillator before it’s too late.

OK back now.  How could it get any worse than this?  Surely not.  But yes.  Our last descent down the mountain side of disco madness is Bridge Over Troubled Waters.  Here is a live Simon and Garfunkel version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrcwRt6J32o

I am happy I have been able to see them live myself and this is one of their best songs.  And now, for the final time, I ask that you please don’t hurt me.  I’m just the humble columnist here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt_euc93Umk

This is Linda Clifford doing her 1979 disco remake.  I did not have the heart to include a live version. 

https://flashbak.com/10-awful-disco-cover-versions-which-will-ruin-songs-you-love-21876/

By now I’m so warped, I am beginning to think P’zzazz isn’t so bad after all.  I had better stop now before I get dragged off by those men in white coats.

Let me know some of the worst disco remakes you know of or just the worst remakes ever.