Disco Songs

This song of love lost and found,  via a letter read on the radio, was written by Donna Summer and her producer Giorgio Moroder for the film Foxes, which starred Jodie Foster, Scott Baio, and Cherie Currie.  It was released as a single in November, 1979, backed with “There Will Always Be a You.” It was also on Summer’s 1980 album On the Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes 1 & II. This song was released in several formats, which included the following versions:

• Radio disco 45rpm single
• Slightly longer 5:50 one on On the Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes 1 & II.
• DJ Promo 7+ minute version 12″ single, which was released on Summer’s 1979 album Bad Girls.

The disco version was never used in Foxes, but rather one at a ballad tempo. The soundtrack features an instrumental by Moroder, which is used throughout the film, with Summer’s vocals added.

In 1979 and 1980, the song was an international hit. It rose to #5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #4 on Cash Box, #8 on the U.S.  Billboard Dance Music/Club Play Singles, #2 in Canada, #6 in Norway, and #9 in Spain. It was in the Top 40 in Australia, The Netherlands, Ireland, New Zealand, the U.K., and Germany.

Here are the lyrics to “On the Radio” by Donna Summer:

Someone found a letter you wrote me on the radio
And they told the world just how you felt
It must have fallen out of a hole in your old brown overcoat
They never said your name
But I knew just who they meant

Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
I was so surprised and shocked, and I wondered, too
If, by chance, you heard it for yourself
I never told a soul just how I’ve been feeling over you
But they said it really loud, they said it on the air
On the radio
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, on the radio
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, on the radio
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, on the radio
Whoa-oh-oh-oh

Now, now, don’t it kinda strike you sad when you hear our song?
Things are not the same since we broke up last June
The only thing that I wanna hear is that you love me still
And that you think you’ll be comin’ home real soon

Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
Yeah, it kinda made me feel proud when I heard him say
You couldn’t find the words to say it yourself
And now in my heart, I know I can say what I really feel
‘Cause they said it really loud, they said it on the air
On the radio
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, on the radio
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, on the radio
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, on the radio
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, on the radio

If you think that love isn’t found on the radio
Then tune right in, you may find the love you lost
‘Cause now I’m sitting here with the man I sent away long ago
It sounded really loud, they said it really loud
On the radio
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, on the radio
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, on the radio
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, on the radio
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, on the radio

For another song by Donna Summer: “Hot Stuff.”

For More 70s Tunes

The System has daily featured music from all sorts of genres of 1970s music. You’re welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections in The System. Thank you for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed “On the Radio” by Donna Summer.