Burning The Ground Exclusive
NEW 2025 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration
Original post date: September 27, 2013
This Disco Friday, we take flight with a sparkling piece of dancefloor nostalgia just in time for the release of the brand-new Superman film, directed by James Gunn, hitting U.S. theaters today! While the big screen introduces a fresh take on the Man of Steel, we’re rewinding to 1977 when Celi Bee & The Buzzy Bunch gave us their own disco-powered tribute to the iconic hero.
Celi’s powerful vocals soar over a bed of swirling strings, Moog-fueled synths, and funky guitar riffs, declaring her undying love for a superhero lover “stronger than a locomotive” and “able to leap tall buildings.” The Buzzy Bunch back her up with soaring harmonies, while the arrangement keeps things bold and cinematic—just like its namesake.
A favorite in disco clubs and underground dance floors alike, “Superman” reached #3 on the Billboard Disco chart and helped cement Celi Bee’s place among the disco divas of the era. It also appeared on the debut LP “Celi Bee and the Buzzy Bunch”, which featured other dancefloor faves like “One Love” and “Smile.”
While it might not have the same cultural weight as Donna Summer’s classics or the polish of Moroder’s productions, “Superman” is pure 70s disco fun—over-the-top, dramatic, and entirely irresistible. And with a new Superman film flying into theaters this weekend, what better time to revisit this dancefloor gem?
So dust off your glitter boots, crank up the disco ball, and let Celi Bee rescue your soul with a little boogie-powered kryptonite.
SIDE A:
Superman 5:11
SIDE B:
One Love 8:10
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Superman | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #41 |
| 1977 | Superman | U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles | #86 |
| 1977 | Superman | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance/Disco | #3 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: T.K. Disco – 37
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1977
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul
Style: Disco
CREDITS:
- Arranged By – H. Garrido*
- Co-producer [Produced In Association With] – T. Rossi*
- Producer, Written-By – P. L. Soto*
NOTES:
From the LP “Celi Bee & The Buzzy Bunch”
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for burningtheground.net
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 25 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!
Password: burningtheground
You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.
Like Dean I only knew the Herbie Mann version of Superman before and didn’t know it was a cover version. And after listening to the original version I must say, I prefer Herbie’s version… it’s more driving and the flute plus there’a a harp at the beginning. But the B-Side here is quite nice, I really like the instrumental break with the percussion starting after around 3 minutes into “One Love”. The female voices sound a little bit to generic disco for my taste, though. But overall “One Love” is a good disco groove I will surely add to a… Read more »
I was actually listening to your 2013 rip of this just the other day comparing it to the Hot Tracks remix of it on a Hot Tracks Classic compilation I had recently acquired a copy of. Thank you for the new rip!
You’re welcome 🙂
Just want to say something more general on your posts: People rave about various rippers who share online, but almost none are sharing rips that are consistently perfect like yours. Clean fades, no re-eq-ing, no pops or clicks but all done without dampening the sound. A certain very prolific gentleman from California for instance is cited by many as the best. Not so people. He often doesn’t clean all the silences and fades and the automatic ‘on the fly’ declicking he uses leaves defects and does sometimes takes that edge off the sound. I am grateful for what he does… Read more »
Wow, Ian—your words truly mean a lot. Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed and thoughtful feedback. It’s incredibly validating to hear that the care I put into each rip is coming through on your end. I’ve always believed that preserving the warmth and punch of the original vinyl without stripping away its soul is the key to a proper needledrop. It took a lot of trial, error, and listening to way too many test rips in the early days (as you noted!), but I’m proud of how far it’s come. Hearing that you don’t have to… Read more »
There we go we have a seconder so consider yourself crowned.
I’ll second it! Paul’s transfers are second-to-none – the attention to detail, superior quality equipment.. so many times I was going to dub my own 12″ of something, only to discover Paul already did it, so no point in me trying to match perfection. Thank you Paul – we don’t always say it but the work you put into your transfers is greatly respected and appreciated.
Paul is a godsend!! I love it when he gets well deserved praise and adoration. I really appreciated what you and others have to say about his work!!
Have a great day!
Jeff
How timely, Paul, for you to post this record. It’s just in time for the latest, “Superman” film! I’ve always liked this record ever since I’ve seen her perform it on one of those old Disco television programs. I’m not sure if it was, Hot City or Dance Fever, but I thought her performance was quite sexy, especially for a young guy on the verge of sexual awakening! It was enough to put the buzz in my “stinger!” I admit I had sensual flights of fantasy being a “superman” myself in a bedroom one day just by listening to her… Read more »
Jeff, your comment had me grinning from ear to ear—you definitely put the “buzz” in Buzzy Bunch with that one! 😄 I love that you remember seeing Celi perform this track on one of those classic disco TV shows—Hot City or Dance Fever both feel right! There was definitely a certain magnetic energy in her stage presence that left an impression on many of us “supermen in training.” 💥🩵 And yes, great catch on the Herbie Mann cover! His version definitely made waves and gave the song a whole new groove with that signature jazz-funk twist. You’ve got a killer… Read more »
I haven’t heard this before but remember Herbie Mann’s recording of it well, which I think was a year or so after this one. Hadn’t known it was a cover before now.
Hey Dean! Glad you brought up the Herbie Mann version—it’s a great take and definitely the one that got more mainstream exposure. His cover came out in 1978, about a year after Celi Bee’s original release in ’77.
It’s always fun when a familiar track turns out to be a cover—you get to rediscover it with a whole new appreciation. Celi’s version is pure disco glitter, full of that late-’70s theatrical flair. Definitely worth a spin if you haven’t heard it before!
Thanks for chiming in—always great to connect over these musical surprises!
—Paul