“Le Freak” is a 1978 funk / disco song by American R&B band Chic. It was the band’s third single and first Billboard and R&B number-one hit song. Along with the tracks “I Want Your Love” and “Chic Cheer”, “Le Freak” scored number one on the disco charts for seven weeks. The single achieved sales of 7 million and also scored number seven in the UK. The lyrics mention “Stompin’ at the Savoy”, a 1933 song composed by Edgar Sampson. They also invite the listener to “Come on down to 54”, that is, Studio 54, a popular nightclub in New York City at the time. Billboard magazine ranked it as the number 3 song for 1979. The song was ranked number 21 on Billboard magazine’s top 100 songs of the first 55 years of the “Hot 100” chart. In 2018, it was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or artistically significant.”
“The Witch Queen of New Orleans” is a 1971 song by Redbone. The single was released from Redbone’s third album Message from a Drum, which is also titled The Witch Queen of New Orleans in its European release. “The Witch Queen of New Orleans” is about a 19th-century practitioner of voodoo from New Orleans named Marie Laveau, referred to in the song lyrics as “Marie la Voodoo veau”. The song was written by the two Native American brothers of the group Redbone, Lolly Vegas and Pat Vegas. It shows influences from New Orleans R&B and swamp pop. The song peaked at No. 2 in the United Kingdom and No. 21 in the United States.
“Love Is Like Oxygen” is a song by the Sweet and released in January 1978. It was co-written by the group’s guitarist Andy Scott, and Trevor Griffin, a musician who had played with various unsuccessful bands before becoming a roadie and sound engineer. The song was a departure from earlier recordings by Sweet, which were more guitar-driven, and featured high vocal harmonies. The extended album version of the song (6 minutes 57 seconds), which appeared on their album Level Headed, incorporates strings and has some disco elements. Their first release on Polydor, it was also their last Top 10 hit, no. 9 in the UK, as well charting in as most of Europe. It peaked at No.8 in Canada and US. Later that year it was honoured with a Song of the Year nomination at the Ivor Novelo Awards, The song is frequently included on greatest hits compilations, usually in its edited single version.
“Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” is a song written by Miles Gregory and originally recorded by Rose Royce. It was produced by songwriter and producer Norman Whitfield. Lead vocals were sung by Gwen Dickey and the song was released as the second single from their third studio album Strikes Again. The song was developed as a result of producer Whitfield’s interest to work with Paul Buckmaster, the British arranger and composer. Together they asked songwriter Miles Gregory to write a song for them. Gregory’s undergoing medical care for his deteriorating physical health became the inspiration behind the song. “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” incorporated the use of the Electronic LinnDrum machine, and was one of the first songs to effectively use the sound reverbs of the instrument. After its release, the song was critically appreciated, but was only moderately successful commercially. It reached a peak of 32 on the Billboard chart. It achieved its highest position in both New Zealand and the United Kingdom, where it reached No. 2.
“The Night” is a song by Frank Valli and the Four Seasons that was originally released in 1972. Although it failed to chart when first released, it became a popular track on the northern soul circuit, which led to a successful UK re-release in the spring of 1975, when it reached no. 7 on the Official Chart. The song sees Frankie Valli pleading with a girl that he admires to resist the advances of another guy. The album version features the group singing the opening two lines “Beware of his promise, believe what I say” before Valli joins in. The original single version has Valli singing those first two lines.
