Johnnie Taylor, “Disco Lady” | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 94^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on, “Disco Lady” by the iconic soul singer,  Johnnie Taylor. 

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome – we don’t discriminate ‘round here! In the 94^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2022), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Disco Lady”, performed by the iconic soul singer, 🎙 Johnnie Taylor.

Theme & Lyrics ✍

“Shake it up, shake it down / Move it in, move it round, disco lady.” Ooh, wee, 🎙 Johnnie Taylor! That certainly doesn’t sound innocent in the least! It’s not: “Hey sexy lady / Said I like the way / You move your thang / Lord, have mercy, girl.” Indeed Johnnie, indeed! In 1976, “The Philosopher of Soul” earned the biggest hit of his career with 🎵 “Disco Lady”. “Disco Lady” appeared on Taylor’s uniquely titled album, 💿 Eargasm.  This timeless record spent four weeks at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and made history becoming the first single to be certified platinum by the RIAA. “Disco Lady” is well deserving of all the accolades it’s received.  Sadly, Taylor NEVER WON A 🏆 GRAMMY. Yep, it feels da-yum wrong!

Despite being snubbed for a Grammy (he was nominated thrice), “Disco Lady” doesn’t need affirmation from any awards to prove its greatness.  This soulful, sexy single speaks for itself.  Johnnie Taylor is turned on by the way she moves, so much so, he asserts, “Girl, you ought to be on TV on Soul Train.” Okay, that’s a dated reference, but the point is, she dances like a champ and Taylor is enamored by her… switch 😜.  It’s worth noting, that he “Can’t sit still / I’m grooving / I like that funky stuff.” Can you blame him, folks? He’s hypnotized because she’s groovin’ him – WOO! “Disco Lady,” the beloved classic that it is, was penned by 🎼 ✍ Don Davis, 🎼 ✍ Albert Vance, and 🎼 ✍ Harvey Scales.

Final Thoughts 💭

Despite the dated Soul Train reference, 🎵 “Disco Lady” remains a classic to this day! Essentially, Johnnie boy is taken with her, and desires to make the sweetest music ever.  After all, “If it wasn’t for the girl / Sitting next to me / I’d jump right up and outta my safety seat.” Oh, snap!

🎙 Johnnie Taylor • 💿 Eargasm • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment • 🗓 1976

Johnnie Taylor, “Disco Lady”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 94 (2022) [📷: Brent Faulkner, Gerhard G., JL G via Pixabay,  Karl Hörnfeldt via Unsplash,  The Musical Hype, Sony Music Entertainment]