My first awareness of this German group was in print only; I don't recall hearing their only US hit (a cover of the Melodians' reggae classic "Rivers Of Babylon") in 1978, but I did see them mentioned in the music press here and there. The mentions weren't necessarily positive; I think a review in The Syracuse New Times awarded their album Night Flight To Venus a mere one star. The Rezillos also received the same single-sun rating in those same local tabloid pages; I loved The Syracuse New Times (and much, much later did some SNT freelancing myself), but I say both Night Flight To Venus and Can't Stand The Rezillos deserved a few more stars than what SNT said.
No idea when I finally did hear Boney M's music. In the '80s? Probably not. More likely it was in the '90s or even in the Naughty Aughties, but I was instantly taken with their Eurodisco cover of UK psychedelic pop group the Smoke's '60s nugget "My Friend Jack."
Although I was already familiar with the original version, I didn't have any specific affinity for it. I later came to appreciate the Smoke's version, but bear that context in mind when I say I still prefer Boney M's unlikely cover. Boney M's take is amazing, adding slick grandeur to the Smoke's electric sugar lumps, bringing it to the club crowd with extra swagger while retaining its freak-flag legacy.
Ultimately, Boney M's sound is closer to ABBA than it is to, say, the Trammps, though it's not all that far removed from Ammi Stewart's pumpin' rock-disco remake of Eddie Floyd's "Knock On Wood." But "Dancing Queen," "Disco Inferno," and "My Friend Jack" all fit within disco's parameters, suggesting a dancefloor much wider and more accepting than we may have deemed likely in the fever of a Saturday night.
If you like what you see here on Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do), please consider a visit to CC's Tip Jar.
Carl's book Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation With The Ramones is available, courtesy of the good folks at Rare Bird Books. Gabba Gabba YAY!! https://rarebirdlit.com/gabba-gabba-hey-a-conversation-with-the-ramones-by-carl-cafarelli/
If it's true that one book leads to another, my next book will be The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1). Stay tuned. Your turn is coming.
This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl airs Sunday nights from 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse at SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM, streaming at SPARK stream and on the Radio Garden app as WESTCOTT RADIO. Recent shows are archived at Westcott Radio. You can read about our history here.
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