ROCK THE BOAT BY FORREST M. THOMAS

A lot of disco re-makes are hokey.  This isn't one of them.  It was awfully brave to even consider doing this song over.  After all it was one of the first huge disco hits on the pop charts.  Back when the word disco was not even being used The Hues Corporation shot up to #1 with Rock the Boat.  It also charted in other countries especially the U.K. where it went Top 10.  Unfortunately it's release came just a few months before the Disco charts had even been instituted.

It was 1982 and disco wasn't exactly in vogue but the Ben Liebrand produced release out of Holland brought us right back to Studio 54.  Sung by Forrest Thomas a Texan transplanted to Holland it proved to be a disco smash taking it up to #9 on the Billboard Dance Charts in the states only 8 years after the success of the original.

ROCK THE BOAT EXTENDED DANCE MIX
HOT TRACKS 14 MINUTE MIX
HOT TRACKS REMIX MEDLEY

B.T. Express 2 Hot Ones from 1980

B.T. Express was formed in Brooklyn in 1972.  They were first known as King Davis House Rockers but made a smart choice with the name change suggested by Mel Cheron.  The B and T actually stand for Brooklyn Transit and why not?  Their sound came to be known as the Brooklyn sound.

They remained active for 15 years and were right in the middle of things during the proto disco period.  Luckily they were finally signed to Scepter where Mel Cheron championed the disco sound which led to back to back #1 hits on the r&b charts with Express and Do it (til you're satisfied), their own brand of funky disco was THE SOUND OF 1975.  Though they continued to release quality material yearly, none of it ever really reached their early peak.

1980 would have been a very promising year for them.  But it also came to be known as the year disco fell out favor.  So even though they released some amazing tracks like Give up the Funk (let's dance) and Does it Feel Good it didn't translate into much chart success.  The promo twelve inch of both of those songs have become quite collectible.  I'm providing them for you here. B.T. Zip

 The mighty Billy Nichols did come up with a solo track that was a favorite at The Paradise Garage with Give Your Body up to the Music on West End Records.