It’s a new year of Throwback Weekends, and we’re kicking things off with an appropriate title for the first weekend of 2026.
On the week of January 3, 1976, the song ‘Saturday Night’ by Bay City Rollers topped the Billboard Hot 100, giving the Scottish rock band its one and only U.S. #1.
This song was first released in the UK in 1973 but failed to chart. It was rerecorded a year later by the band’s new lead singer, Les McKeown, and that version was released as a single in the U.S. It spent one week atop the Hot 100.
Bay City Rollers sold more than 100 million records worldwide and had 10 top ten hits in the UK, making it one of the most successful bands whose songs I’ve never heard. I assumed this one would ring a bell, but nope, not even a little bit.
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night!
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night!
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night!
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night!
[Verse 1]
Gonna keep on dancing to the rock and roll
On Saturday night, Saturday night
Dancin’ to the rhythm in our heart and soul
On Saturday night, Saturday night
I-yi-yi-yi, I just can’t wait
I-yi-yi, I gotta date
[Chorus]
At the good ol’ rock and roll
Folk show, I’ve gotta go!
Saturday night, Saturday night
Gonna rock it up, roll it up
Do it all, have a ball
Saturday night, Saturday night
It’s just a Saturday night
It’s just a Saturday night
It’s just a Saturday night
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night!
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night!
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night!
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night!
[Verse 2]
Gonna dance with my baby
‘Til the night is through
On Saturday night, Saturday night
Tell her all the little things I’m gonna do
On Saturday night, Saturday night
I-yi-yi-yi, I love her so
I-yi-yi, I’m gonna let her know
[Chorus]
At the good ol’ rock and roll
Folk show, I’ve gotta go!
Saturday night, Saturday night
Gonna rock it up, roll it up
Do it all, have a ball
Saturday night, Saturday night
It’s just a Saturday night
It’s just a Saturday night
It’s just a Saturday night
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night!
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night!
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night!
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night!
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night!
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night!
[Outro]
It’s just a Saturday night
It’s just a Saturday night
It’s just a Saturday night
It’s just a Saturday night
Meet Me In Montauk 