Pretty straight-forward, today’s lesson:
- Dispense with the whole “boy-part/girl-part” structure of the original vocal;
- Make it sound like a trippy, nice’n’sleazy Stranglers cover
Lifted from the 1990 Anti-Poll Tax compilation album “Alvin Lives (in Leeds)”, here’s 14 Iced Bears:
Of course, the original, lifted from the smash hit movie “Grease”, was a huge beast back in 1978, when it spent 7 weeks at Number 1 in the UK.
John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John – Summer Nights
As an indication as to just how massive “Grease”-mania was, “Summer Nights” was the second single to be released from the soundtrack, and the second to hit the top spot in the singles chart. The first single was “You’re The One That I Want”, and if you were to combine the two, Travolta & Newton-John spent 16 weeks at Number One in 1978.
So, since the film essentially describes a holiday romance that continues unexpectedly, it’d be wrong of me not to include that song here too, right?
John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John – You’re the One That I Want
Sadly, I don’t have any cover versions of that by 1970s comedy actors to play now.
Oh wait. Sorry. What I meant to say was: Sadly, I do have a cover version of that by 1970s comedy actors to play now.
Brace yourself:
Hylda Baker & Arthur Mullard – You’re The One That I Want
And if that wasn’t bad enough, here they are, “singing” live, on what has to be the most excruciating appearance on Top of the Pops this side of All About Eve’s backing track malfunction:
Learnt most of my best dance moves off old Arthur, as it goes.
Bet you wish I wasn’t having phone issues now, eh?
More soon.
A History of Dubious Taste 