Saturday, July 16, 2016

Song #343: "If I Can't Have You"--Yvonne Elliman (1978)

"Saturday Night Fever" was everywhere as 1977 turned into 1978, the height of the disco era, and the soundtrack that carried the torch for an entire genre of music.

And while we best remember the work of the Bee Gees for that movie, their version of today's song only appeared on the B-side of the single for a little number you may have heard of called "Stayin' Alive".

It would be Yvonne Elliman, who enjoyed a hit single of her own earlier in 1977, "Hello Stranger", who would end up recording the version that had the biggest success. Saturday Night Fever executive producer Robert Stigwood, who also managed the Bee Gees, made a switch before the "SNF" soundtrack was finished.

Elliman was pegged to record "How Deep Is Your Love", which is why there was already a Bee Gees version of this song in the can. But Stigwood swapped songs and artists, which is why there are two versions of "If I Can't Have You", and one unforgettable version of "How Deep Is Your Love" from the Brothers Gibb.

Got all that?  :)  Enjoy Yvonne's Top 500 contribution, which came when I was, ahem, in the fifth grade.  :)

P.S.--Today's video is a bit, well, interesting. Of course, we only mean to use it to feature the song. Tell your kids or young grandchildren the featured machinery is a "record player" or "turntable".  :) :)


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