Music Banter - View Single Post - What (Soul/R&B) Are You Listening To Right Now?

Saulaac · 10-19-2022, 06:23 PM

I couldn't find a disco thread so I'm putting this in the Soul/R&B thread.

Night Rider is a really great disco track by Venus Dodson in 1979. What a Diva. Does anyone remember hearing or dancing to this? To me, it sticks out as different to many others. I can’t really remember if this exact track was played in Manchester UK in the 90s where I spent my college years, but these kind of tracks were guaranteed floor fillers. We were all jumping in sync with our jumpers (sweaters) tied around our waists as it would be getting too hot. Often these heavier tracks would be played in the latter part of the evening, probably to give the DJ a bridge into more house, D&B, techno tunes later on in the evening.

The rhythm and bass plays around different key centres, so it was really groovy to get thrown around the cadences. I guess the main key is A. But it moves so quick. Sometimes the verse is based around C, B flat and D, and then the chorus goes down to A, F and G, with a plunge down to D then back up again. And the vocals are brilliantly syncopated so you just get lost in it all. The backing vocalists sing in octaves throughout which gives a really lush, strong and rounded delivery (think also “Ain’t no mountain high enough” by Ashford and Simpson).

I read that the producers were Leroy Burgess, Patrick Adams and Ken Morris from New York. Does anyone have any more info on them? Did this track start out in NY discos before spreading around the world? I can’t believe Venus Dodson didn’t get as much recognition in Europe as Gloria Gaynor, Donna Summer, Chaka Khan etc., or did she? Were many of these tracks actually sung by Venus without us realising it?

This to me is a real disco gem. Her webpage is Venus Dodson Home Page for anyone interested in reading more about her.

Ooh, night rider
Take me higher, higher higher
Ooh, night rider
By your side, I'll let you fly

{Verse 1}
Your day begins at sundown
You're a creature of the night
And in every corner uptown
You rendezvous where light's all bright

{Pre-Chorus}
In my fantasies, you are all over town
Master of ecstasy, you captivate my mind
Whoa yeah

{Chorus}
Ooh, night rider
How I want to be there with you
Ooh, night rider
By your side, I'll let you fly

{Verse 2}
Center of attraction
Good times seem to follow you
I watch you from a distance
I know you're only passing through

{Pre-Chorus}
In my every dream, our love is one of a kind
But in reality, I know you'll never be mine, no, no

{Chorus}
Ooh night rider
How I want to be there with you
Ooh night rider
By your side, I'll let you fly
Night rider, yeah

{Instrumental}

{Chorus}
Ooh night rider
Ooh night rider
Ooh night rider
Ooh night rider
By your side, I'll let you fly
Ooh night rider

{Instrumental}

{Chorus}
Ooh night rider
How I want to be there with you
Ooh night rider
By your side, I'll let you fly
Ooh night rider
Ooh night rider
Ooh night rider
Ooh night rider
Ooh night rider
By your side, I'll let you fly
Ooh night rider
By your side, I'll let you fly
Ooh night rider
Ooh night rider
Ooh night rider
Ooh night rider

10-19-2022, 06:23 PM	#402 (permalink)
Saulaac Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2022 Location: Montauban, France Posts: 132	Venus Dodson - Night Rider I couldn't find a disco thread so I'm putting this in the Soul/R&B thread. Night Rider is a really great disco track by Venus Dodson in 1979. What a Diva. Does anyone remember hearing or dancing to this? To me, it sticks out as different to many others. I can’t really remember if this exact track was played in Manchester UK in the 90s where I spent my college years, but these kind of tracks were guaranteed floor fillers. We were all jumping in sync with our jumpers (sweaters) tied around our waists as it would be getting too hot. Often these heavier tracks would be played in the latter part of the evening, probably to give the DJ a bridge into more house, D&B, techno tunes later on in the evening. The rhythm and bass plays around different key centres, so it was really groovy to get thrown around the cadences. I guess the main key is A. But it moves so quick. Sometimes the verse is based around C, B flat and D, and then the chorus goes down to A, F and G, with a plunge down to D then back up again. And the vocals are brilliantly syncopated so you just get lost in it all. The backing vocalists sing in octaves throughout which gives a really lush, strong and rounded delivery (think also “Ain’t no mountain high enough” by Ashford and Simpson). I read that the producers were Leroy Burgess, Patrick Adams and Ken Morris from New York. Does anyone have any more info on them? Did this track start out in NY discos before spreading around the world? I can’t believe Venus Dodson didn’t get as much recognition in Europe as Gloria Gaynor, Donna Summer, Chaka Khan etc., or did she? Were many of these tracks actually sung by Venus without us realising it? This to me is a real disco gem. Her webpage is Venus Dodson Home Page for anyone interested in reading more about her. Ooh, night rider Take me higher, higher higher Ooh, night rider By your side, I'll let you fly {Verse 1} Your day begins at sundown You're a creature of the night And in every corner uptown You rendezvous where light's all bright {Pre-Chorus} In my fantasies, you are all over town Master of ecstasy, you captivate my mind Whoa yeah {Chorus} Ooh, night rider How I want to be there with you Ooh, night rider By your side, I'll let you fly {Verse 2} Center of attraction Good times seem to follow you I watch you from a distance I know you're only passing through {Pre-Chorus} In my every dream, our love is one of a kind But in reality, I know you'll never be mine, no, no {Chorus} Ooh night rider How I want to be there with you Ooh night rider By your side, I'll let you fly Night rider, yeah {Instrumental} {Chorus} Ooh night rider Ooh night rider Ooh night rider Ooh night rider By your side, I'll let you fly Ooh night rider {Instrumental} {Chorus} Ooh night rider How I want to be there with you Ooh night rider By your side, I'll let you fly Ooh night rider Ooh night rider Ooh night rider Ooh night rider Ooh night rider By your side, I'll let you fly Ooh night rider By your side, I'll let you fly Ooh night rider Ooh night rider Ooh night rider Ooh night rider Last edited by Saulaac; 10-19-2022 at 09:52 PM. Reason: The backing vocalists sing in octaves during most of their parts.