1977 - January: KC & the Sunshine Band “Part 3”

What the Riff?!?

Alright, folks, break out your platform shoes and your dance clothes, because What the Riff is headed down to the club! KC and the Sunshine Band was playing in all the disco dance studios in 1977, but they were particularly prominent in the Miami market, near their home town of Hialeah, Florida. We're riffing on Part 3, unexpectedly the fourth studio album from the group (though there was a bit of a reset with their second album being self-titled and the first album having only moderate success).

Harry Wayne Casey was a part time employee at TK Records in Hialeah when he formed the band, originally called KC & the Sunshine Junkanoo Band. Casey worked with Richard Finch, engineer for TK Records, to produce the albums, including Part 3. Additional musicians joined, including Jerome Smith on guitar, Robert Johnson on drums, and numerous others to complete the horn section. KC and the Sunshine Band would find a virtuous cycle, as Casey and Finch would write songs inspired by what they saw at the discos, then would see their songs played at those same clubs.

KC and the Sunshine Band were often featured as guests on FM pop powerhouse Y-100, and this exposure contributed to their success. The first big hit was their second and self-titled album released in 1975, which produced the hits “Get Down Tonight” and “That's the Way (I Like It)” Part 3 would continue their funk/disco dominance. The band would continue to see success through their sixth studio album released in 1979. Shortly thereafter styles would change, and the disco sound would not continue into the 1980's. That, and a falling out between Casey and Finch would end the band for a while.

KC and the Sunshine Band has seen a resurgence with the popularity of retro bands, and still tours today.

Wrap Your Arms Around Me
The fifth single from the album is a little bit of a deeper cut and features the horns prominently with a funky groove.

(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty
You can't go wrong with a dance song that tells you to shake your booty! Although this first single from the album was number 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot Soul Singles Chart, there was some controversy attached to it, with speculation that it had a stronger sexual connotation than simply dancing.

I'm Your Boogie Man
This song written by Casey and Finch also hit number 1 on the Hot 100. Finch said that the song was written about a DJ named Robert W. Walker, who was the first to play their song “Get Down Tonight.”

Keep It Comin’ Love
A little softer than some, this song nevertheless was still successful. However, it only reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, being kept out of the number 1 slot by Meco's “Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band,” and the big hit of the 70’s, Debbie Boone's “You Light Up My Life.”

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Main Theme from the television series “Fantasy Island”
Headlined by Ricardo Montalban as Mr. Roarke and Herve Villechaize as his right hand man, Tattoo, this show would feature a stream of actors and actresses playing one-off characters chasing their dreams on the island.

STAFF PICKS:

Isn't She Lovely by Stevie Wonder
Bruce leads off the staff picks with what feel is one of the most positive songs you will ever hear. Wonder celebrates the birth of his daughter Aisha Morris on this song that opens side three of his double album, “Songs in the Key of Life.” All instrumentation in the song is played by Wonder except for a few of the keyboard parts which were furnished by Greg Phillganes.

Hard Luck Woman by Kiss
Rob's staff pick sounds a lot like Rod Stewart for good reason — it was written by Paul Stanley for Stewart. Though Stanley thought it sounded like “You Wear It Well,” his band Kiss decided it would be a good follow up to their successful ballad, “Beth.” The song made it to 15 on the charts, and is a rare ballad. Drummer Peter Criss sings lead on this song, as he did on “Beth.”

Red by Sammy Hagar
Wayne brings us the Red Rocker, Sammy Hagar, with an anthem off his second solo album. This is also the album and song which gave him the name “the Red Rocker.” A fan called him the Red Rocker when getting a picture, and Hagar liked the name. The album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios.

I Never Cry by Alice Cooper
Brian wraps up the staff picks with a mellow ballad from the not-normally mellow Alice Cooper. This is from the album “Alice Cooper Goes to Hell,” a concept album inspired by his visit to rehab. Many of his fans were disappointed with this softer side of Cooper, but his performances never suffered for the presence of a ballad or two.

COMEDY TRACK:

In The Mood by Henhouse Five Plus Too
It appears that we need to close this podcast out before it goes to the birds!

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