You Make Me Feel Like Dancing - Leo Sayer (1977) 12/17/21

Today, we present a "Great Song of the '70s" that was created during an impromptu jam session...and was luckily caught on tape by an alert producer.

One day in 1977, Leo Sayer was in the studio jamming with legendary session drummer Jeff Porcaro (later of Toto) and guitarist Ray Parker Jr. ("Ghostbusters!"). Songwriter Vini Poncia was also in the room--as was producer Richard Perry.

They were riffing on a "Great Song" by Shirley and Company: 1975's "Shame, Shame, Shame," (which we may highlight at a later date), when things started morphing into an entirely new song.

Leo, Vini and Ray came up with some new riffs and lyrics...and Richard ran to the control room and started recording it.

By the time the jam session was done, "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" had taken shape...and with some extra added instruments, background vocals and some clever mixing by Richard, the song hit the charts running--reaching the Top 10 in 9 countries, including #1 in the US, Canada and New Zealand...and #2 in the UK and Australia.

The song won the 1978 Grammy for "Best R & B Song," and was credited to Leo and Vini...making it one of the very few R & B Grammy winners credited to two white guys. For some reason, Ray was not credited as a co-writer--which would have added some "color" to the mix.

You Make me Feel Like Dancing by Leo Sayer (et al): A "Great Song of 1977).

For those wondering about the source material, here's "Shame, Shame, Shame" by Shirley & Company: