October 11, 1976
The #1 song on this day in 1976 was the novelty hit recorded by radio DJ Rick Dees called Disco Duck.
Astoundingly, almost 40 years later, it’s the last true novelty hit to reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100.
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Besides on the radio that year, the song was heard in 1977’s mega-hit film Saturday Night Fever, but didn’t make it onto its soundtrack album.
Having replaced another future song from the SNF movie (and soundtrack) at #1, A Fifth Of Beethoven by Walter Murphy, ‘Disco Duck’ was chased from the top just one week later by the group Chicago‘s huge hit If You Leave Me Now.
‘Disco Duck’ was initially released in the south by veteran music executive Estelle Axton on her Fretone label (below) but it was subsequently picked up by RSO Records for national and worldwide release.
[Note] Estelle Axton, along with brother Jim Stewart was the co-founder of Stax Records in Memphis in 1961 – the label name derived from the first two letters of one another’s surnames (ST) and (AX); STAX.
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[Note] Some audio song files may not play on smartphones, tablets or connected devices. A laptop, desktop PC or Mac may be required for optimal enjoyment.
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DISCO DUCK
Rick Dees And His Cast Of Idiots
[1976]
Despite its single week at the top, it remained in Billboard’s Top 10 for ten weeks – eight of them in the Top 5.
It also made the top 20 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart, peaking at number 15.
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DEEP TRAK!
Rick Dees, now a nationally-syndicated radio host and TV personality, was a jock at WMPS/Memphis – doing a show known for his self-voiced “characters” – when he conceived and recorded ‘Disco Duck, and ostensibly was inspired to write the song by the 1965 dance hit (#14) by Jackie Lee called The Duck.
THE DUCK
Jackie Lee
[1965]
Born in Lake Charles, LA, Lee, who’s real name was Earl Nelson, derived that performing name from a combination of his wife’s first name (“Jackie”) and his middle name (“Lee”).
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DEEP(er) TRAK!
Earlier, with Bobby Relf, Earl Nelson was part of the duo Bob & Earl, who in late 1963 recorded the original version of another dance-themed song released on Marc Records titled Harlem Shuffle (1964 • #44). 23 years later, a cover version of the song was released by The Rolling Stones (1986 • #5).
HARLEM SHUFFLE
Bob & Earl
(Original Version)
[1963]
[Below] Bobby Relf (L) and Earl Nelson
[Notes] Although the record label lists Gene Page as the arranger, in fact, it was a young protegé of Page’s named Barry White (yes, that BW).
Both Rick Dees’ ‘Disco Duck’ and Bob & Earl’s ‘Harlem Shuffle’ incorporated the line “Shake A/Your Tailfeather” in their lyrics.
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Bobby Relf, who joined Nelson in 1962, was not the original “Bob” in the duo; it was Bobby (Robert) Byrd (left – in photo), who was with Nelson from 1960-1962. Prior to joining Nelson in the duo, he had scored a big solo hit in 1958 as Bobby Day with Rock-in Robin (#2).
[Note] Byrd-Day also wrote and recorded the original version of Little Bitty Pretty One (1957 • #57) with the group Bobby Day and The Satellites. The song later became hits for Thurston Harris (1957 • #6), Clyde McPhatter (1962 • #25) and The Jackson 5 (1972 • #13).
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DEEP(est) TRAK!
BUZZ-BUZZ-BUZZ
The Hollywood Flames
[1957]
Going back even further, Earl Nelson and Robert Byrd were together as members of the Los Angeles vocal group The Hollywood Flames. On their 1957 hit for the Ebb label called Buzz-Buzz-Buzz (#11), Nelson sang lead on the song, and Byrd, who founded the Flames in L.A.’s Watts district in 1950, co-wrote it.
[Below]
Robert “Bobby Day” Byrd [Upper Left] – Earl “Jackie Lee” Nelson [Lower Left)
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Songs Source: The Music Vault of HouseoftheHits, Inc.
Billboard® Chart Data: Joel Whitburn’s Record Research (eBook Editions)
Record Sleeve & Label Graphics: Courtesy of 45cat
