| "Dancin' (on a Saturday Night)" | |
|---|---|
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| Single byBarry Blue | |
| from the album Barry Blue | |
| B-side | "New Day" |
| Released | 1973 |
| Genre | Glam rock |
| Length | 3:10 |
| Label | Bell Records |
| Songwriters | Lynsey de Paul andBarry Blue |
"Dancin' (on a Saturday Night)" is a song written byLynsey de Paul andBarry Blue, that was recorded by Blue and released as a single in 1973 onBell Records. Blue's backing band of session musicians were well known in the industry and one year later the drummer, John Richardson, joinedthe Rubettes.
Barry Blue's song reached the number 2 on theUK Singles Chart,[1] (and number 1 on theMelody Maker top 30),[2] number 2 on the Australian Kent Music chart,[3] number 3 on the Austrian singles chart,[4] number 4 on theIrish Singles Chart, number 9 on the German singles chart,[5] and number 11 on the Dutch singles chart.[6]
It was also a track on the first in a series of compilation albums released by the BBC in their seriesBest of Top of the Pops, released in 1975 and that spent five weeks on theUK Albums Chart, peaking at No. 21.[7]
The song ranked the 18th best selling single in Australia in 1973,[8] and 23rd best selling single in the UK in 1973.[9]
Barry Blue's version of the song has also appeared on the soundtrack to the filmsAnita and Me, andAmerican Swing. A remixed version of the original Barry Blue song was released in 1989, reaching number 86 on the UK Singles Chart.[1] It also is featured in the filmThe Long Good Friday. The song has become a line dance classic.[10]
| Chart (1973) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austria | 3 |
| Australia | 2 |
| Belgium | 13 |
| Denmark | 5 |
| Germany | 9 |
| Ireland | 4 |
| Netherlands | 11 |
| Rhodesia | 10 |
| Singapore | 6 |
| Spain | 19 |
| UK | 2 |
Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids released their version of the song as a single in 1974 and it became a U.S. hit, reaching number 79 on theCashbox singles charts and number 93 on theBillboard Hot 100. It also charted in Sweden and reached number 7 on theTio I top charts.[11][12] It also appeared as the lead track on their 1974 album,There's No Face Like Chrome.[13]
In Canada, a version recorded by the Canadian bandBond in 1975 reached number 12 on theCHUM Chart,[14] and was included in the RPM Canadian Top 20 Albums Chart that year.[15] The song was also included on their self-named album,[16] as well as the K-Tel albumCanada Gold, both released in 1975.[17]
The Danish band, Clear Sound, also recorded a version with Danish lyrics by Finn Reiner which charted at number 17 in the Danish Hitlister.[18] It was also covered by co-writerLynsey de Paul on her 1974 album,Taste Me... Don't Waste Me and in a similar style albeit with Italian lyrics byMia Martini as "Sabato".[19]
There have been may cover versions of the song recorded by other artists[20] includingThe Hiltonaires who recorded a version as track 4 on the B side of their album Made in England 7.[21]