Solid Gold 80-81 / John Stewart

[zachhoran]

Stevie Nicks actually did a non-lip sync version of Edge of Seventeen in May 1982 on Solid Gold, one of the very few non lip sync performances on the show. I also note that some of the songs charted higher on Solid Gold's chart than they did on Billboard. Real Love peaked at #5 in Billboard, Jesse at #11, and Look What You've done to Me at #14. If an artist was on the show and their song was peaking/peaked in the 20s or 30s on Billboard, they'd sometimes call it a top ten hit on their countdown.

[drivinailsinmycoffin]

Wow....forgot how bad this was.

[Ezdduf4kuZ]

I don''t believe I caught this show when it was on tv, anyway I'll never forget the Disco era,,,the great music, half of which were Disco and above all the fashion scene. The gals always dress sharp but it was the guys I took note of, they never dressed so cool & sexy. It was true of all the teens, go-getters and the younger in-crowd. The dancers in this video remind me of the way it was on the dance floor, be it a club or a beer parlour, The platforms, the snug cloths, we looked sharp!

[leemichaelsrocks]

i love this song so much i perormed it with my band at a gig leemichaels-music into gold

[kaboompoop]

Never could figure out Solid Gold...the producers spent the money to bring in the actual singers but wouldn't allow them to sing their songs live...I love how happy John Stewart looks to be there...and when Dionne Warwick comes up there, he's looking like he's sniffing what perfume she's wearing...

[lbCharmed1]

@kaboompoop - Because back in the day the thought was that folks at home wanted to the performer perform, but wanted to hear the what they heard on the radio or record player. Plus live performances were NOT common back then the technology for getting consistent live performance wasn't as common as today and so the 'lip-sync' was an easy way to give the TV audience what they wanted. This was before stereo broadcast.

[FylthyBeest]

@kaboompoop I don't agree at all with what you said regarding John Stewart's composure when meeting with Ms. Warwick. There was nothing untoward. May he rest in peace, John Stewart responded to her gentlemanly. And, I agree with our host, IbCharmed1, in our host's defense of that particular period's technology.

[cnadyapple53]

you see how the dancers danced that was back up dancing. no half naked ass poping, genital grabing dancing like sluts, like the whores dance today. these chicks are classy and yet sexy some of these chicks need to step back and let some professionals step in.

[foppa123]

this song was still a hit in 1981? It's from 1979.

[lbCharmed1]

@foppa123 If you LISTEN to the introduction, John Stewart is introduced as performing his SOLID GOLD CLASSIC hit "Gold". So it wasn't a current hit at the time of this performance.

[gmartinz01]

In '79 he only had one amp on the stage. Two years later, he's got TWO. "Solid Gold" was unwatchable.

[FylthyBeest]

@gmartinz01 Certainly you're entitled to your opinion. But, I believe your opinion is skewed and totally off base.  It's called "entertainment". And, "Solid Gold" was extremely popular in its time. Regardless what you think of this particular performance, John Stewart was a superb musician/singer/songwriter and this song excellent. May John Stewart Rest in Peace.

[lbCharmed1]

Well said, thank you very much!

[gmartinz01]

I thought John Stewart was wonderful and I was happy that he realized commercial success. But I disagree with you about "entertainment." My criticism with "Solid Gold" wasn't the lip-synching, although I can't stand it -even more so now as performers IN CONCERT lip-synch. My criticism was the clueless nature of the show. It could've shown The Dead Kennedys singing "Holiday In Cambodia" and there would still be a grinning MC and Solid Gold dancers.

[FylthyBeest]

We agree to disagree. "Solid Gold" was simply enjoyed by those who wanted to be entertained by popular music, talented and attractive dancers, and contemporary performers. Viewers weren't necessarily demanding "art". "Solid Gold" may not have projected the more artistic side of musical performances, but it provided a harmless, enjoyable format. I'm thankful that artists such as John Stewart saw "Solid Gold" as a fun vehicle to entertain fans and not as "unwatchable". Thanks, IbCharmed1.

[lbCharmed1]

You're welcome and thank you for some very well stated points in favor of one my all time favorite shows. It really is too bad they don't make ENTERTAINMENT like this anymore!

[kodiakfred140]

I always used to wonder - Is that Fleetwood Mac singing in the background?

[blowingharp]

stevie nicks in background vocals

[TexasShooter45ACP]

Yes, and I think Lindsey Buckingham is also playing backing guitar as well.

[cloycebox]

Lindsey Buckingham did play lead guitar on the record. If you look at the guitar John Stewart is playing in this video, it's an early version of the Rick Turner Renaissance, which is a boutique model that Lindsey Buckingham has been playing for eons. It's probably Lindsey's guitar; he and John Stewart were close from what I understand.

[KellyGiftShop]

This is a BLAST from the past!Early 80's ??

I Love it!

[lbCharmed1]

Yes, that was the fall of 1980. Hard to believe, huh?

[KellyGiftShop]

I feel like an old fossil. I love this song though!

[THEHUNGRYVEGETARIAN]

You ever notice how John Stewart is so distracted, by those the dancers, at the very beginning of Gold, that he not only almost trips over his feet, at :49, but because he turns around to check out those hot bodies, he misses his intro to sing "When the lights" at :52. Can't blame him because if I had Kahea Bright coming up behind me, and Deborah Jenssen and Darcel Wynne shaking it in front of me, I would be doing more than just tripping over my feet.

[lbCharmed1]

I'm sure you would be "doing more than just tripping" . . . lol!!

[THEHUNGRYVEGETARIAN]

Yeah, I would...I would! There was once a time, that I thought these women were the sexiest women, on the face of this planet...I still do!

[lbCharmed1]

What makes them even more appealing is that they are truly very nice people in person. Very rare!

[THEHUNGRYVEGETARIAN]

Beautiful, sexy and nice, huh?!!! That is a rare combination!

[KBOH0301]

Bring back Solid Gold! I remember staying up late Friday nights to watch this show. Thanks very much for posting this!

[steveshiffmam]

i'm blow'n away this is great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lbCharmed1]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[denadear]

Is Stevie Nicks singing backup?

[THEHUNGRYVEGETARIAN]

Yeah!!! She sounds great, huh?

[thewindowguy43]

If that isn't lindsey buckingham's guitar it's one just like it!

[lowfreq65]

Johnny CAsh?

[lbCharmed1]

Way harsh! Not one of the BEST performances on Solid Gold, but come on! There are other pluses to this post.......

[zackman86]

Great song for such a cheezy setting of the dancers gettin' in the way for the singer to perform. Ya can tell that He really doesn't want to be on Solid Gold. Great archive!

[bnotesounds]

Actually, that was John Stewart's second appearance, singing "Gold" on Solid Gold. The first appearance was on Solid Gold 79 and he interacted with the dancers then as well. I'm sure he didn't mind the performance because that was more pub for him. Considering his song's title, it was a classic hit for the show of a similar name.