Bee Gees - Saturday Night Fever: The Original Movie Soundtrack

By Jim Emerson

The soundtrack to the blockbuster Saturday Night Fever marks both the zenith and the nadir of disco. It was such a popular sensation that it catapulted the music to stratospheric levels of mainstream popularity, and the album was the bestselling movie soundtrack of all time (until Purple Rain, then The Bodyguard, and then Titanic). But "Disco Fever" became so hot, it could only flame out just as quickly (along with the careers of the Bee Gees). With this record, disco became a phenomenon and a fad. The Bee Gees' contributions are the strongest, especially the once-ubiquitous "Stayin' Alive" and "Night Fever," and they still hold up. Then there's Walter Murphy's "A Fifth of Beethoven," a trivial piece of pop ephemera that may have set new standards for ephemeral triviality. How often will you listen to this record--and how much will you play when you do? There's no telling--but it remains a classic piece of pop history, and when you're in the mood it's a good thing to have around.

This album broke the all-time sales record of Peter Frampton's Frampton Comes Alive. This record was later broken By Michael Jackson's Thriller.

		Tracks

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"Unlike the previous reviewer, I regarded this disc as mind-blowing when it came out and am still impressed by it thousands of listens later. Listen closely to "Stayin' Alive" and you'll understand why Roger Daltrey loved the song musically and lyrically (he hated the lead vocals). Contrast the two shots we get of John Travolta's character the two times it's used in the movie and you'll understand what a well-done piece the movie itself is. Perhaps the best dance song on the album -- and the one used in the best dance scene in the movie -- was one of the two Bee Gees tracks not done for the movie, "You Should Be Dancing." Another great track was the intrumental used for the Puerto Rican couple's dance, "K-Jee" done by MFSB. I've never been able to listen to that opening without doing a little boogie of my own. Kool and the Gang contributed a pretty good track that was used for the black couple's dance in the dance contest (the un-PC use of ethnicities to describe the couples is just in the interest of quicker identification. But, also, how the couples are treated by the main characters is based entirely on their ethnicities). Yes, this album is a cultural touchstone like few others. It's also more listenable and danceable than all but a few others." --David J

"In my amateur opinion, the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack was better than the movie itself. The highlights of the movie are the dancing scenes anyway." --DiscoQueen

"Yes, I have comments. Disco killed live music, and we have lost much because of it. Prior to disco, every dance had a real band, and after disco those jerks called DJ's became the norm. The soulless crap songs that went along with this shift were little more than mating music for homosexuals until this form of nonmusic got mainstreamed by movies and groups like Bee Gees. Alas, musicans have paid for it ever since. [Editor's note: I normally won't allow idiots to spew here, but since this attitude was so pervasive among a certain class of people during the late Super70s, I thought I'd share it to remind you about the backlash against disco. Please don't feel compelled to respond to him as I won't print it.]" --swampman

"Uh, actually, the whole album is good, contrary to what the dubious Ken Barnes says." --Intransigent Musician

"I can still remember these songs on the radio and on my brother's *GASP* 8-track. The Bee Gees take me back to a time of childhood innocence and fun. Also, I find the music invigorating and just plain cool." --KSig_Dee

"It wasn't so much the music, it was the escape. Five days at work, then you make the best of the weekend. Clubbing was affordable, and no chance of trouble.... just some disease-free fun. I do miss those days." --Bill

"The greatest , most uplifting songtrack of our generation. I play this cassette in the car and feel great when I hear it every time. How deep is your love?" --Anonymous