The Epidemic that Swept the Nation: Disco Fever

Hey people! Okay, it's time to come clean about something many of us in our late 30's to early 50's refuse to acknowledge. It kills us to say it, or even think it these days, but many of us succumbed to 'The Fever' back in 1977. Oh come on, come on! Don't sit there acting like you have no idea what I'm talking about. Think back to those late Saturday afternoons when you rushed home after work, called your "boys" or girlfriends, and made plans to hit any disco that came closest to resembling the one featured in the legendary film "Saturday Night Fever". Ladies, remember how you frantically teased your hair until it practically touched the ceiling of your bedroom? It had to be perfect. Guys, remember how you threw on so much "Brut" or "Hai Karate" that the smell arrived at the club three hours before you did? Ah, those were the days! I feel a tear coming on. Somebody pass me a Kleenex. Okay, I'm good now.

John Travolta became a dancing God, and the Bee Gees were proof positive that artists did use Helium in the recording studio. You think this Barry Bonds situation is scandalous, can you imagine what these guys did to hit those high notes? Disco and disco dancing became such mega-hits that long-time, hardcore rock and rollers like KISS ("I Was Made For Loving You") and Rod Stewart ("Do You Think I'm Sexy") crossed over and topped both the Top 40 and dance music charts. Well, when you think about it, if an unknown artist named Rick Dees could top the disco charts with a song called "Disco Duck", it was a given that classic rockers were going to be able to capitalize off the disco craze as well. Man! You folks have no idea how much I hated that stupid duck song. Not even Olivia Newton-John dressed as "Sandy", in that hot, black, skin-tight body suit from the movie "Grease", would've kept me on the floor if I heard that song blaring through the speakers. Don't laugh! I'm in theraphy because of that song. Somebody pass me another Kleenex. Whew! Give me a moment. Okay, I'm good now.