Burning The Ground Exclusive 1978
I could not close PRIDE month without showcasing one of the greatest PRIDE Anthems ever recorded Y.M.C.A. recorded by Village People.
Village People reign supreme as gay-anthem chart toppers. Songs like ‘Macho Man’, ‘Go West’ (covered brilliantly by the Pet Shop Boys), ‘Cruisin’’ and ‘In the Navy’ are full of double entendres, and 1978’s ‘Y.M.C.A.’— which became one of the most popular singles of the 1970s — is no different. The Young Men’s Christian Association was so appalled at the song’s implications that it threatened to sue until it noticed that membership had significantly increased in the wake of the tune’s success. Turns out any press is good press — eh, boys?
In 1978 Casablanca Records released a double A-side 12″ which included the Diso Mixes of “Y.M.C.A.” along with “Macho Man”. Both tracks appear only on one side of the record.
“Y.M.C.A.” is a song by American disco group Village People, written by Jacques Morali (also the record’s producer) and singer Victor Willis and released in October 1978 by Casablanca Records as the only single from their third studio album, Cruisin’ (1978). A medley with “Hot Cop” reached No. 2 on the US Billboard Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart, while the song reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1979, placing behind both “Le Freak” by Chic and “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” by Rod Stewart. Outside the US, “Y.M.C.A.” reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart around the same time, becoming the group’s biggest hit. It has sold 12 million copies worldwide.
“Macho Man” was released as the second single and title song of their album of the same name (1978). The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 on June 24, 1978 (when the album had already been charting since March) before picking up more airplay that August. It became the Village People’s first charting hit in the United States, peaking on the Hot 100 at number 25 on the week of September 2.
A medley with “I Am What I Am” and “Key West” reached number four on the Billboard Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart. On the survey of Chicago radio superstation WLS-AM, “Macho Man” spent two weeks at number three.
SIDE A1:
Y.M.C.A. (Disco Mix) 6:47
Written-By – Henri Belolo, Jacques Morali, Victor Willis
SIDE A2:
Macho Man (Disco Mix) 5:15
Written-By – Henri Belolo, Jacques Morali, P. Whitehead*, Victor Willis
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Casablanca – NBD 20144
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single Sided, Single, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1978
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Disco
CREDITS:
- Arranged By [Strings & Horns], Conductor – Horace Ott
- Executive-Producer – Henri Belolo
- Mixed By [Disco Mix] – Michael Hutchinson
- Producer – Jacques Morali
NOTES:
Produced for Can’t Stop Productions, Inc.
Manufactured and Distributed by Casablanca Record and FilmWorks, Inc.
Made in U.S.A.
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black PnP MkII
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 3.0 (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
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Thanks for the great post, Paul! Being 8 years old when this was released, I never thought of this as a gay anthem. Granted I likely did not know what gay was at that age, but even until my early teens I likely did not attribute it. I always just loved the song, clean lyrics, and peppy music and horns! At some point in this song’s life, it was associated as a gay anthem but I’ve read numerous times that the song was never intended to be a gay anthem…simply a fantastic song! Regardless of how and when things ended… Read more »
This is great, I have been watching a 3 part documentary on Disco on PBS, and it has definitely made me dig through my old disco records. It also makes me flashback to a time long long ago when a record store I haunted frequently acquired the mother lode of disco 12″ singles and promos, 100’s being it was out of fashion they were all about 25 cents a piece. My limited knowledge at the time meant I had no idea what they were and passed on them, not knowing even where to start… Back to this selection, This one… Read more »
Thank you, Joey. I am sorry for your loss. I appreciate you sharing this story so much. I need to locate that documentary.
Tidbit: “Y.M.C.A.” is listed as the 22nd best selling physical single of all time with 12 million copies; #41 on the list of certified sellers with 7.3 million. Not bad for what started out as a “gay” song…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_singles
Nothing wraps up Pride Month better than “Macho Man”, “Y.M.C.A.”, and The Village People! Incidentally, the special 12″ remix of “Y.M.C.A.” Paul has posted here was issued many months after it was already a monster smash in the clubs. [“Macho Man”, included here, is just the longer LP version]
I find it hilarious that a large number of their fans assume that the Village People have a certain sexual orientation based on the group’s association with a particular area in San Francisco. It is called show business, people! Everything in entertainment is not necessarily true in real life. At the end of the day, the big corporations and labels want to maximize their profits and will use any means to do so.
They most definitely are gay oriented marketing wise and in origination. Producer Jacques Morali created the music specifically with the gay club dance market in mind. In addition, the idea for the lineup of characters came from a gay bar he both frequented and observed – in the village, of course, as that area was known as. The bulk of the actual performers for concert and stage came after the success of the project from a casting notice he published when he realized he would need to capitalize on the success, much like some other group lineups were created after… Read more »
Village People would not have become the Icons that they are today without the Gay community. We certainly bought their records and made them millions. Thanks for your comment, Rodney.
You’re so right Paul, how could you close Pride month without showcasing Y.M.C.A. and the perfect double bill, Macho Man! Thank you for these disco mixes. No party would be complete without them. And thanks as always for mixing it up this month and really thinking outside the box from the usual fare. Hope you have a great weekend Paul, Jeff, Martika, Fred and everyone else here!
There were several records that I was considering to close Pride month but this record stuck because it is so fun and uplifting. We need to be uplifted 🙂 Have a great weekend 🙂
lol … I can’t hear Macho Man anymore without thinking of Trump jerking off two guys at once (if you don’t get this reference, just google Trump and Macho Man). Anyways, thank you for this amazing 12″!!! Did Casablanca release this record after each respective single already dropped off the charts or was this a promo?
LOL, I frickin’ love that! They also sent him a cease and desist notice. Thank you for reminding me of this. Have a great weekend 🙂
Instead of the cease and desist, they should have released a video of their song with a collage of all his “dances” … lol
Martika, Casablanca released this remix of “Y.M.C.A.” way after the single and album were already big hits. FYI: This is the first 12″ with “Macho Man” from back in the day. All DJs played cuts from the LP, with Billboard‘s listing usually being “all cuts” like the first album was listed.
An extraordinary posting for the end of Pride Month, DjPaulT!! I so much remember how these two songs blared out from the airwaves on AM and FM radio. As an adolescent during the 70’s, I thought these songs were a great motivator, for me, with working out and, desperately wanting to be a macho man!! I was a bit naive at the time and didn’t really understand the gay subtext to the songs. I just loved what I was hearing and that’s all that mattered to me. My mom adored their “Y.M.C.A.” song so much that every time it would… Read more »
Jeff, I had their poster in my room as a little kid because I loved their awesome costumes. I mean what kid wouldn’t love a band dressed as cowboys and indians…lol… I actually saw them perform live a few years ago. Always a good time. Their music is so infectious, I can’t imagine even the most conservative person not shaking their hips to their disco grooves.
Martika,
This is such a cool reminiscence!! I love what you share with us!!
Enjoy your weekend!!
Jeff
Love your anecdotes Jeff!! You help make this community special.
Just these two songs alone helped define the 70s and the Disco era. I love that your mom loved the song it’s amazing that even the most conservative people were into it. Have a great weekend 🙂
awesome
Thank you 🙂
Have a great weekend, everyone in the BTG community!