Viola Wills ~ If You Could Read My Mind 1980 Disco Purrfection Version
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- Viola Wills kept the disco spirit alive in 1980 with her signature hit, a high energy disco cover of Canadian artist Gordon Lightfoot's # "If You Could Read My Mind" a #5 hit from 1971. She explored the same territory that Gloria Gaynor did on "Never Can Say Goodbye" in that both songs were covers of downtempo and popular singles that turned into dance floor anthems.
This one came out in the late summer of 1980 and beat a path to #2 and stayed there for five weeks, a feat previously made by Penny McLean and her "Lady Bump" single back in 1975.
Viola was born Viola Mae Wilkerson on December 30, 1939 in the Watts district of Los Angeles. Married as a teen, she had six children by the time she was 21. In 1965 she rose out of the heap with help from Barry White who signed her to Bronco Records. He also suggested she shorten her surname and it became Wills.
Studying at the Los Angeles Conservatory Of Music, she began stints with Joe Cocker and Smokey Robinson who helped her gain a solo contract which got her first disco hit in 1979, "Gonna Get Along Without You Now" and paved the way for "If You Could Read My Mind". She was more popular in the UK where she charted three disco songs there.
The official follow up, "If You Could Read My Mind" brought her more fame in the clubs and everywhere but US radio since the release date was after the "death" of disco. That was a shame as her reading of the Lightfoot classic was perfect. The song lived on in the movie "54" where a new version credited to Stars On 54 was recorded by Ultra Naté, Amber and Jocelyn Enriquez in 1998 that almost matched Viola's version by peaking at #3.
The original song was great, but the Disco version is exceptional. It is magical.
Amen. Killed the dance floor hustling ❤❤
I miss Viola. I had the pleasure of meeting her in the 80s as a DJ when she performed for us. She was a beautiful soul and a lot of fun.
O
She was such a blessing on this Earth. Miss her, too 🥲
I envy you, a great singer & she sounds like a beautiful person who was down to earth & a laff. Not too mention a very sexy woman.
I can also vouch for that. Brought her to Dublin for a few gigs between 1987 and 2002. Sacred memories.
I love how this was transformed into disco!
I know! Slowly I started moving!
I don´t thing that Gordon Lightfood was irritated with the disco version of Viole Wills!
These transformed classics were very popular with more advanced dance couples during disco. Very upbeat with a great melody accompanied by strong silky smooth vocals. She sang the Up on the Roof classic. Very similar. Regenerated classics disco style are my favorites.
Definitely awesome ❤❤
I thought I was the only one who bought this record when it came out.
Thank you for the remix.
Oh My! This track defined the club experience back in the day! Absolute Perfection!
She sang so beautiful ,a really talented vocalist.
I remember older guys introducing me to this. We would go out. I was so young. Underaged. I enjoyed disco. The 80s was my decade for everything good including work and on top of the world.
Danced to this at the Atlantic House in P'Town and Backstreet in Ft. Lauderdale.
The only time I heard this before was in a disco in Paris over forty years ago. I loved it then and I love it now. I heard it once and didn't know who it was by but I have never forgotten it. Now I have just come across it here.
40 years ago where did the time go 😢
Gordon Lightfoot was a favorite of my father.
I learned so much from his beautiful ballads.
He covered every aspect of the human heart and did it so poetically.
Allegedly he loved Violas version.
For my 50th Birthday, we celebrated in Boston. Gordon Lightfoot was performing at Faneuil Hall at Harvard. I looked up “The Edmund Fitzgerald”. It was tested for seaworthiness on the day I was born. Sept 18, 1958. And he performed it and I don’t know if he even knew he was singing it on the 50th birthday of the EM.
Super themed from the 80s, classics, they will never go out of style.
Timeless classic. Thank you Gordon and Viola. You are remembered and celebrated.
I love this cover.
I love the way U take it too a higher ground.....All the time !!!!!!
I used to go to a club in New Hope,Pa played this song at opening,it was called the Raven.loved this song,ahhh memories they last a life time...❤️
Wow, I never knew this existed. I grew up listening to the great Gordon Lightfoot.
Wow , it brings me Great memories ❤
We have mémories that nobody these days will ever Know we were lucky to have lived it
R.i.p to Mrs. Viola Wills🎤🎤🎤🎵🎼🎶😭😭😭
Absolut genius - the interludes are brilliant.
Always Purrfect love it 😄
Her voice snatches me up and takes me on a wonderful ride ......anywhere my emotions want to take me. 😢Powerful version of Gordon Lightfoot classic👍
I LOVE VIOLA WILLS.
Surprisingly, disco honored Gordon Lightfoot's song. It added a great bassline and synths, and it became an all-purpose musical "glue" that combined well with other dance songs to keep the dancers dancing, Even better, you could double-mix this into a drop dead dance marathon. One of the great late-disco masterworks. We loved it!
Now the late Gordon Lightfoot. Be assured that your music will last forever.
Excelente version, la mejor de todas sin temor a equivocarme, saludos desde Barinas Venezuela.
Memories, memories...💕
THANK You DJDiscoCat, for extending a marvelous track that I never wanted to end... while on the dance floor, 40 years ago...💃
💙💛🌹💜🍎🇺🇸
This is Diva stuff.
Like if you ended up here because the movie 54'. I love this song,specially this mix...❤❤🗽🗽🗽
Viola, Always Present!
Still missed.
What a crowd pleaser this song was. A lot of fun. Thankf ro this post.
I'm not into disco, but i'm starting to like this track. Glad to see some artist to try to keep the genre alive. :)
Beautiful interpretation. I love the way it sounds, it's music to my ears, literally.
I
Love this mix. Thanks Gordon and Viola.
Both great musicians! Unfortunatelly Viola is no more! RIP!
Hey DJ Cat another great song a blast from the past you always know what your listeners and subscribers want. You have an incredible ear for music and where to make the song the best it can be with your magic spin. You always make my day with your music. I'm disabled and can no longer move but your music hits my senses and memories and I forget all about how I can no longer move. I just feel the music and I'm transported to a time that was so special to me. Continue to spin your magic and make my day. And for that I'm truly grateful for your amazing talents and the right mix or right song to make better. Thanks again Kenny
🎶♥️More💜 Then 🖤Beautiful 💚
💛Amazing 🧡Music.💙🎶
☀️💃🏻 Happy Sunday
I love it my son fada always sing it for me but him pass away ❤❤❤❤❤❤
Vert nice,😁😁
San Francisco, Studio West, 1980...fond memories
OMG you’re older than dirt 😅😅😅
Gordon Lightfoot funky style!
I love that song and I really like this version too!
Love Viola's voice! Thanks! DJDiscoCat 🐱
The Doctor is in and keep up the great job that you do for The 🎵 music lovers and everything you do in life as well too!✌😸✌
Thank you Disco Cat, Viola's talent is awesome, just like the exclusive 80's. A time define by nuances and new innovations. Music has no boundaries, the sky is the limit. How blessed we are to hear and listen to dynamic sounds. Thanks, again !!!
Stunning !
Spectacular disco version of the old ballad by Gordon Lightfoot, 1969. What a disco blast. Club fave. Extended version is disco heaven, horns and sidebar singers too. Great effort. Danceable & memorable. Fresh disco 1980. Perfect mix. Thanks, Viola Wills and Ariola records. Gordon too for the fab lyrics. Vive les pop rock, ballad, and disco freaks ....
Viola Wills, puedes leer mi mente? la escuchaba con mucho sentimiento tenía en ese tiempo 25 años y hoy 2022 la sigo escuchando ahora con mucha nostalgia a mis 67 años
Amazing basslines! 😌 good vibes from 🇧🇷😉💚💛
amazing!!
Thx🎶❤️
Un maravilloso viaje al pasado!👏💕
Gracias por compartir buena Música Saludos de la colonia san José insurgentes Sur México,D.F.🇲🇽🤠
Smooth
Thanks.
So glad i subscribed. I love the 'oldies but goodies'. Really like 👍the history that is provided with some of the singles. Job well done! ( some prove: your never too old to learn something. )
Brings back great memories of when I was a kid, with 2 record players and a big sack full of singles ( 45's ) that was given to me by my Aunty Cheryle.... #Dance like theres nobody watchin!
There's no such thing as boredom when you've got music in yoyr head. Disco still lives. 🙆
Ariola records stood out on the top of the mound. All the way around the tip of the mound.
Luvvv This ... It’s Beautiful!
Reminds me of Hollywood Disco Calle Taka 203 Old San Juan Puerto Rico
Very very good. I love this song!!!
This one goes for me to the category delicates 🎶🎧
Love the original, this is brilliant too..
At The Gemini Club in Huddersfield UK around 1979-81 they had a DJ who sometimes played bits of well known disco songs like this backwards over dubbing the original version, it was a freaky listen but he had a very interesting way of experimenting with certain records by doing something similar to you, extending the song with the instrumental before taking it back to the beginning of the vocal thus making us sweat hard on the dancefloor, years before high energy began making us sweat really, really hard on the floor. I did try doing reversing on this Viola Wills mega hit myself back then and couldn't get it right. I bet you could tho Cat. I have done it on a few of the songs I produced for my current artists more recently but not on older disco stuff, as yet. I'll have to give it another go someday. Take it EZ buddy. Hugs, Clive.
Nice Maxi Single. Love it.
The instrumentals are soooo groovy 👏
Such delight!
O tempo passa muito muito rápido . ❤️
Wonderful !!!
YES!!! ❤️
Also I got to see and meet her back in the day when she was touring clubs promoting this song
Me too. Her version of Stormy Weather is great! Lena loved it.
Merci merci merci Dj Cat ça fait des années que je me repasse le son dans la tête et me rappelle qui c'est qui chantai!!!!! VIOLA WILS!!!! VOILAAAAA MERCIIIII @DJ CAT 💋💋💋💋❤❤❤
Fascination with these kinds of beats since early 80s
old dance power
I have the disco green one… 🎉🎉
Masterpiece!! ❤
thanks Viola Wills i pray for u peace in heaven
Love this disco remix
Stars on 54 ~ If You Could Read My Mind 1998 Pop Purrfection Version
Hi DJ Cat,
As always a great upload. Keep on ur good work. Tnx
Great remix of a great song.
Wow, the passion and power in that last chorus....
Bonita🌻
Viola wills
Thank you for this one! I love this song! I love the original by Gordon Lightfoot & the remake by Stars45. Viola Wills did an excellent job!
Hope one day you can do the disco version of “Touch Me In Me In The Morning” by Marlena Shaw. It’s a disco version of the original slow version by Diana Ross Thanks! Keep up the great job DJDiscoCat 👍🏾
ABSOLUTELY “Touch Me In The Morning ‼️” 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I agree That concept album by her is one of my all time favourites too.
Marlena's 1979 dance version is sublime and runs rings around Ms. Ross. The original 12" has a great percussion intro before it break down into Marlena's spoken word. A classic. Interested to see what DJDiscoCat could do with it.
❤️😪
Top version 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻😎
If you could read my mind
MUHTEŞEM TEŞEKKÜR EDİYORUM.
Waouh
Thanks!❤👑👍
Luv this ❤
Supreme..!
Love it♥️🎶🎶🎶
👍🇧🇪❤️❤️
No nasty language, no reference to ugliness.
Great song! The version on the 54 soundtrack is good, too. But it's clearly a cover of this cover.
🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋... . . .
🇨🇦 🇺🇸 Collaboration!
THE Saint
glassyyyyyy :)
La versión original con Gordon Lightfoot es nostálgica y con dolor
Uau 💃
😘
Faz parte da trilha sonora do filme STUDIO 54, beleza de música bem dançante. Amazônia-Brasil