Continuing a countdown of my favorite albums of 1977…
#6 – Saturday Night Fever soundtrack
It goes against my long-held principles to include a soundtrack album on a list of favorites, but I do allow some exceptions. And if ever an album is worthy of an exception, it’s the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever.
In fact, it’s probably a bigger outrage that this seminal recording didn’t crack my top five. But that’s just a testament to how incredible 1977 was for new music.
Surprisingly, the Bee Gees’ involvement in Saturday Night Fever didn’t start until after the film was shot. So John Travolta was actually dancing to completely different tunes than the ones we know and love.
When the Gibb brothers got involved in the project, they dusted off some old songs and wrote several new ones, crafting what was to become the most iconic recording of the disco era.
Only six of the album’s 17 tracks are performed by the Bee Gees, but this is undoubtedly their album. Three of those six songs — ‘How Deep Is Your Love,’ ‘Stayin’ Alive,’ and ‘Night Fever’ — reached #1 on the Hot 100, and the fourth #1 single — Yvonne Elliman’s recording of ‘If I Can’t Have You’ — was written by the Gibbs.
Those hits, and the movie’s success, pushed the soundtrack to unprecedented commercial heights. The Saturday Night Fever soundtrack was the highest-selling album of all-time until it was unseated by Michael Jackson’s Thriller and the highest-selling soundtrack before The Bodyguard claimed that crown.
Saturday Night Fever and The Bodyguard are also two of three soundtrack albums to win Grammy’s Album of the Year award. Bonus points for anybody who can name the third in the comments.
I know your eyes in the mornin’ sun
I feel you touch me in the pourin’ rain
And the moment that you wander far from me
I wanna feel you in my arms again
[Pre-Chorus]
And you come to me on a summer breeze
Keep me warm in your love, then you softly leave
And it’s me you need to show
How deep is your love?
[Chorus]
How deep is your love? How deep is your love?
I really mean to learn
‘Cause we’re livin’ in a world of fools
Breakin’ us down
When they all should let us be
We belong to you and me
[Verse 2]
I believe in you
You know the door to my very soul
You’re the light in my deepest, darkest hour
You’re my saviour when I fall
[Pre-Chorus]
And you may not think I care for you
When you know down inside that I really do
And it’s me you need to show
How deep is your love?
[Chorus]
How deep is your love? How deep is your love?
I really mean to learn
‘Cause we’re livin’ in a world of fools
Breakin’ us down
When they all should let us be
We belong to you and me
[Bridge]
Na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na-na-na
[Pre-Chorus]
And you come to me on a summer breeze
Keep me warm in your love, then you softly leave
And it’s me you need to show
How deep is your love?
[Chorus]
How deep is your love? How deep is your love?
I really mean to learn (I really mean to learn)
‘Cause we’re livin’ in a world of fools
Breakin’ us down
When they all should let us be
We belong to you and me
(Na-na-na-na-na)
How deep is your love? How deep is your love?
I really mean to learn
‘Cause we’re livin’ in a world of fools
Breakin’ us down
When they all should let us be
We belong to you and me
(Na-na-na-na-na)
How deep is your love? How deep is your love?
I really mean to learn
‘Cause we’re livin’ in a world of fools
Breakin’ us down
When they all should let us be
We belong to you and me
Meet Me In Montauk 