Sunday 3/7/21 12:30 am ET: Feature LP: Village People – Macho Man (1978)

Macho Man is the second studio album by Village People, released on February 27, 1978. The album gained success due to its hit singles, “Macho Man” (US Billboard pop chart #25) and “Key West.” Rolling Stone said of the album, “It seems certain to become the first out-and-out disco album without John Travolta on its cover ever to be certified platinum”.

This album was reissued to CD in 1999.

1. “Macho Man” 5:14
2. “I Am What I Am” 5:38
3. “Key West” 5:46
4. “Just A Gigolo” 1:15
5. “I Ain’t Got Nobody” 3:22
6. “Sodom and Gomorrah” 6:15

Sunday 3/7/21 12am ET: Feature LP: Village People – Cruisin’ (1978)

Cruisin’ is the third studio album by the American disco group Village People, released on September 25, 1978. Its title is a double entendre: it may mean just driving around or gay cruising. This became obvious even for straight audiences in 1980, when William Friedkin’s movie Cruising was released. Features the hits “Hot Cop” and “Y.M.C.A.” which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.

The album was briefly rereleased in 2003 as YMCA in continental Europe.

“Y.M.C.A.” – 4:47
“The Women” – 5:54
“I’m a Cruiser” – 7:03
“Hot Cop” – 6:19
“My Roommate” – 5:20
“Ups and Downs” – 6:21

Victor Willis – lead vocal, background vocals
Russell Dabney – drums
Alfonso Carey – bass
Jimmy Lee – guitar
Rodger Lee – rhythm guitar
Nathaniel Wilkie – Fender Rhodes
Richard Trifan – synthesizer
Peter Whitehead – percussion
Felipe Rose – percussion
Bitter Sweet – hand claps

Monday 8pm ET: Feature Artist – Village People

Village People are an American disco group best known for their on-stage costumes, catchy tunes, and suggestive lyrics. The group was originally formed by French producers Jacques Morali, Henri Belolo and lead singer Victor Willis following the release of the debut album Village People, which targeted disco’s largely gay audience. The group’s name refers to New York City’s Greenwich Village, at the time known for its large gay population. The characters were a symbolic group of American masculinity and macho gay-fantasy personas.

The group quickly became popular and moved into the mainstream, scoring several disco and dance hits internationally, including the hit singles “Macho Man”, “In the Navy”, “Go West” and their biggest hit, “Y.M.C.A.”. Describing the latter as “an American phenomenon”, in March 2020 the US Library of Congress added it to the National Recording Registry, which preserves audio recordings considered to be “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant”.

Wednesday 6pm ET: Sounds of The 70s

This week on the Sounds of The 70s we feature music from:  Pablo Cruise, Bob Dylan, Cheap Trick, John Mellencamp, Elton John, Doobie Brothers, Village People, America, Hillside Singers and more . . .