music friday: 1977

The Bee Gees, "How Deep Is Your Love". One of several contributions by the Bee Gees to the iconic soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever, which was for several years the best-selling album in history. The Bee Gees had been recording since 1963, and were prolific enough that their international debut album, Bee Gees' 1st, was actually their third album. I remember hearing songs like "Holiday" and "New York Mining Disaster 1941" in the early days of FM Underground radio. 

The Emotions, "Best of My Love". The mid-70s were the peak period for the R&B group The Emotions, and "Best of My Love" was their only #1 hit. It was written by Maurice White and Al McKay of Earth, Wind & Fire.

Debby Boone, "You Light Up My Life". A monster hit from the 70s, this was originally the title song to a movie written, directed, and produced by Joseph Brooks, who also wrote this song. In the film, actress Didi Conn lip-synced to a recording by Kasey Cisyk. There were shenanigans with Brooks (google it), and he went into the studio and recorded a new version with Debby Boone, the daughter of Pat Boone (Cisyk's version was on the original soundtrack album). Boone's version was the biggest single of the 1970s ... it was also voted #4 by Rolling Stone readers on a Worst Songs of the 70s poll. Boone's version won a Grammy as Song of the Year ... the song also won an Oscar for Best Original Song.

You Light Up My Life" has been covered many times, by artists as diverse as Johnny Mathis, LeAnn Rimes, and Whitney Houston. But perhaps the most remarkable cover was this one: