Saturday Night Fever

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The double-disc soundtrack to the blockbuster Saturday Night Fever (available on a single CD) marks both the zenith and the nadir of disco. It was such a popular sensation that it catapulted the music to stratospheric levels of mainstream popularity, and the album was the bestselling movie soundtrack of all time (until The Bodyguard, and then Titanic). But “Disco Fever” became so hot, it could only flame out just as quickly (along with the careers of the Bee Gees). With this record, disco became a phenomenon and a fad. The Bee Gees’ contributions are the strongest, especially the once-ubiquitous “Stayin’ Alive” and “Night Fever,” and they still hold up. Then there’s Walter Murphy’s “A Fifth of Beethoven,” a trivial piece of pop ephemera that may have set new standards for ephemeral triviality. How often will you listen to this record–and how much will you play when you do? There’s no telling–but it remains a classic piece of pop history, and when you’re in the mood it’s a good thing to have around. –Jim Emerson