The Smooth Operators Present 'Mellow Disco Moods Vol. 2'

Laura-Lynn Petrick

Yvonne Elliman achieved world fame as a singer when 'If I can't have you' reached number one on Billboard in 1978. While she was in high school in Hawaii, Elliman sang in a group called We Folk. When a London club owner heard her voice on tape, he asked her to sing at the Pheasantry folk club, located on Kings Road in Chelsea. Songwriters Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice discovered her there around 1969/1970. The duo offered her the role of Mary Magdalene for their musical 'Jesus Christ Superstar', which first came out only on album. Elliman won a Golden Globe award for her character in the film version of it. The musical also gave her a hit with 'I don't know how to love him'. The single became the title of her debut album in 1972. A year later Pete Townshend (The Who) helped Elliman with  'Food of love', her next album. During this time, she appeared in the American production of 'Jesus Christ Superstar' on Broadway, where she met later husband Bill Oakes, the president of RSO Records. He introduced her to Eric Clapton, who asked her to sing backup vocals on 'I shot the sheriff'. 'Love me' written by Barry and Robin Gibb (Bee Gees) became a worldwide hit in 1976, paving the way for her greatest chart success, the 'Saturday Night Fever' soundtrack. After one more disco-oriented album (with hit single 'Love pains') in 1979, she suddenly stopped making records. Being not happy with her disco turn (she was more into classic rock), her marriage and her L.A. life style, Yvonne Elliman moved back to Hawaii later. She there picked up her singing career and released an album in 2004.

Enjoy this new Mellow Moods episode by The Smooth Operators!

Tracklist:

Michael McDonald – Sweet Freedom (1986)
Myron & E – Do It Do It Disco (2013)
Steve Watson – Born To Boogie (1981)
A Taste of Honey – Rescue Me (1980)
Roosevelt – Hold On (2015)
Skip Mahoney – Janice (Don’t Be So Blind To Love) (1980)
Dexter Wansel – The Sweetest Pain (1979)
Lamont Dozier – Sight For Sore Eyes (1977)
Narada Michael Walden – I’m Ready (1982)
MFSB – Summertime And I’m Feeling Mellow (1976)
Change – A Lover’s Holiday (1980)
Greg Phillinganes – Girl Talk (1981)
George Duke – I Love You More (1979)
Daft Punk – Digital Love (2001)
Scott Smith – The Prince of The Dark (1984)
American Gypsy – I'm O.K. You're O.K. (1979)
Discothèque – Disco Special (1979)
Thunderstorm – Funky Grandpa (1981)
Cheyenne – Ev’ry Time I See You (1982)
Chaplin Band – Il Veliero (1982)
The President – You’re Gonna Like It (1984)
Matt Covington ‎– We Got One (?)
Deniece Williams – It’s Your Conscience (1981)
Yvonne Elliman – If I Can’t Have You (1978)
Maggie MacNeal – (I Want The) Night Time (1979)
Jesse Green – Flip (1976)
Sammy Davis Jr. ‎– Baretta's Theme (1976)
Brisa Roché – Disco [Black Cracker Remix] (2016)
Viceroy Feat. Gavin Turek – Fade Out (2016)