A little while ago, I posted a photo on Instagram that referenced the 70s pop band Starland Vocal Band. Let me tell you a little story about The Starland Vocal Band. It's a story you could have gone the rest of your life without hearing, but here you are, so make the best of it.
The Starland Vocal Band are a prime example of the denigrating term "one hit wonder." In the early 1970s, the husband and wife songwriting team of Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert collaborated with country music superstar John Denver to pen Take Me Home Country Roads, a song that was eventually named the official state song of West Virginia (narrowly beating out I'm My Own Grandpa by just a few votes). Danoff and Nivert recorded two albums of their own compositions under the name "Fat City," as well as two more using the name "Bill & Taffy." All four albums — released between 1969 and 1974 — attracted little to no attention.
As America was celebrating its Bicentennial, Danoff and Nivert formed the Starland Vocal Band and released their debut album. Now a foursome with the addition of keyboardist-singer Jon Carroll and his soon-to-be girlfriend Margot Chapman, the breezy popsters unleashed the seductively-sweet Afternoon Delight on the Top 40 airwaves. With its light melody, honeyed harmonies and cryptic but obvious euphemisms, Afternoon Delight was a ubiquitous hit across the country, peaking at Number One on the Billboard charts just days after the United States wished itself a Happy 200th Birthday.
Riding the wave of its popularity, the Starland Vocal Band seemed to be poised for greatness. They were given their own variety show on CBS that ran for six weeks as a summer replacement series in 1977. The show, a typical 70s romp with corny comedy and musical numbers, featured comedian Mark Russell and a writing staff that included April Kelly (of later Boy Meets World fame) and a young David Letterman.
When the Grammy Awards rolled around, the group had garnered four nominations, including the coveted Record of the Year and Song of the Year. On the night of the award ceremony, they won Best New Artist, much to everyone's surprise — especially the heavily-favored Boston, whose debut had moved a whopping 31 million units. They also took home a Grammy for Best Vocal Arrangement for their aforementioned harmonies.
Winning two Grammy Awards had a decidedly opposite effect on the fledgling quartet. Their follow-up album "Rear View Mirror" never broke the Top 100 and their next five singles never even charted. Then things within the band went south. They all decided to go their separate ways in 1981. Carroll and Chapman, who became a couple and married during the band's formation, divorced in 1982. Danoff and Nivert followed suit soon after. Afternoon Delight, at one time a popular hit among the bubblegum set, did a complete 180, becoming a reviled earworm and showing up on "most hated songs" lists compiled by critics and music listeners alike. However, in recent years, the song has been featured prominently on the soundtracks of a number of popular movies.
I was 15 when Afternoon Delight was a radio staple. I liked it. It was a dirty song about having sex in the afternoon. What 15 year-old didn't giggle at the very thought? What 15 year-old didn't stifle laughter when they caught their mom singing "Rubbin' sticks and stones together makes the sparks ignite" as she was making dinner? The song was cute. The band was cute. What was there not to like? Yeah, yeah... I know. 1976 also brought the world heavy hitters like Blue Oyster Cult's Don't Fear The Reaper and Led Zeppelin's Nobody's Fault But Mine, as well as Blitzkrieg Bop from the Ramones, a bunch of hardened punks who could easily wipe the floor with the Starland Vocal Band. But, I liked the song, no matter what peer pressure dictated.
Now I am 62. I have a subscription to Sirius XM Satellite Radio. With just over a gazillion channels catering to every possible musical niche taste, I find myself listening to the "70s Gold" channel, where favorites from my formative years stream on a daily basis. While I do change the station when certain songs begin, I am surprised by which songs and which bands prompt that action. As soon as I hear the opening strains of any — any! — Who song, I mash that touchscreen button as quickly as I can. I have also caught myself changing the channel away from Van Morrison, Rod Stewart, Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band (If I went the rest of my life without hearing another Bob Seger song, that would not be horrible) and The Doobie Brothers. I will, however, stick around for the completion of songs by Chicago (a band I never liked), Led Zeppelin (another band I never liked) and any number of bubblegum-y, pop hits and so-called "one hit wonders." I hear Afternoon Delight at least once a week during the forty minute commute on my way home from work. I still like it. It makes me think of fun times and just how stupid and carefree the 70s were for me.
On the way home from picking up dinner, I took this picture of my dashboard at a stoplight....
...and later posted it on social media. It received 10 "likes" and several comments, including one person who felt it was his internet-policing duty to tell me the song was about fornication. But, another of my connections — one who I don't know personally, but who "gets" my slightly skewed sense of humor — noted very astutely...
I couldn't have said it better myself.
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If you like the Starland Vocal Band as much as I do, why not get a t-shirt and show the world!
