Grease (1978) 3/18/20

Sometimes the path to a "Great Song of the '70s" was kind of "Greasy."

When the musical, "Grease" was being adapted into a film, producers wanted Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, the original songwriters, to add more songs to the show.

They wrote and recorded a new opening theme...which the producers not only rejected...they decided to hire Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees to write one instead.

The film's director, Randal Kleiser, HATED the song. He felt that the "disco style" and instrumentation of the music was completely wrong for the time period in which the film was set.

He was overruled. But there was a compromise of sorts when '60s legend Frankie Valli of the Four Seasons was asked to sing it.

Gibb sang backup, and Peter Frampton played guitar on the track, and regardless of how "out of place" the song sounded, it went to #1 in the US and Canada...and was a top 15 hit in 14 other countries!

Unfortunately for Frankie, it was his last #1 hit. in fact, it was the last song he ever charted with--but what

a way to go out!

From 1978:

TRIVIA #1: There were 3 other songs written for specifically for the film:

"Hopelessly Devoted to You" by John Farrar, and a #3 hit for Olivia Newton-John.

"You're the One That I Want," also by Farrar, a #1 hit for John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John

"Sandy," by Louis St. Louis, a #2 hit in the UK by John Travolta. (It did not chart anywhere else).

TRIVIA #2: When "Grease" was adapted into a live television event in 2016, they tapped Jessi J. to sing it...which she did...while walking through dressing rooms, backstage areas...and outside in the rain. Considering what a difficult feat she pulled off, I thought I'd link it up here for you to enjoy!