Hot Butter ~ Popcorn 1972 Disco Purrfection Version

This is one of the goofiest yet hypnotizing songs I ever heard, it was only missing a bass drum to help it realize its full potential. Its a dumb fun song and it was quite the diversion in 1972.

As a kid one of the coolest songs I heard was Telstar by The Tornadoes the 121st number one of the rock era released in 1962."Telstar" was the first US communications satellite that relayed television signals between the US and Europe.

"Telstar" was a futuristic sounding synthesizer rock tune that conquered the UK and US charts and made the Tornadoes the first and only British Band to do so before the onslaught of the Beatles in 1964. I mention this as the sound of "Popcorn" owes every thing to the syncopated synthesized music pioneer of "Telstar" and even has a similar synthesizer in the bridge.

There is no way that this song was ever anything but a novelty hit, nothing you could build a career on and with a name like Hot Butter are not many album titles you could come up and not sound corny. And just like that the song burned out at #9 on the Hot100, an amazing feat for a debut single that effectively ended his career. He would have had to keep coming up with new and amazing layered synth rhythms and that was not to be. A true one hit wonder.

"Popcorn" was written by Gershon Kingsley and recorded by Stan Free who played the MOOG synths here. Stan had played on albums by John Denver, Arlo Guthrie and even the Boston Pops and helped to develop their live sound.

Stan was born in Brooklyn, NY April 12, 1922 and became a jazz musician, composer, conductor and arranger who got a classical music education at Julliard. He was a Staff Sergeant in World War II and became musical director on one of the first live television variety shows in New York after he completed his responsibility. His Stan Free Trio played jazz in the 40's and 50's and was a session player on hits by The Four Seasons, The Monkees and The Association. He was married and had grandchildren he left behind when he passed in New York August 17, 1995 at the age of 73.

This is the song Donna Summer was referring to when Giorgio brought her "I Feel Love", she did not take is seriously at first scoffing that it was a "popcorn" tune. She did however, change her mind and professional that she was recorded the greatest dance record ever. Giorgio Moroder had started working on synths in pop music around 1972 but did not get commercially recognized until he started working with Donna Summer in 1974.

[donnalins]

I was 15 years old in 1972. I'm 15 again and filled with all those good and great happy feelings. Thank you.

[bubbaschwartz]

It was all over the radio in 1972 as a child I loved it and still do.

[gilbertmoreno]

Great and kooky song for our crazy times. 6.2.22. Enjoying it.

[pursang]

I'm in my mid-60s and I remembered the song name and artist. Now I wish I could remember what I had for dinner yesterday.

[carltwidle]

I would go to the ice rink back in 1972, when I was young and skate to this tune as fast as I can. Now fifty years on I'm 62 years young, but I don't think I could speed skate on ice again.

[Rickstartattooman]

1972 Hot Butter now even hotter I've always loved this song one of my late mum's records she brought back in the day x

[vigeram]

Popular 80'S today's world music thanking you on your excellent service. I

[komalkumar]

My Favorite Music Friend Thank You
🤝🤝🤝🌹🌹🌹

[sergiosalas]

Oh my one of my favorite songs from my childhood. I first heard this song when it was used as a theme song for a local game show here in the Philippines. I still keep the 45 RPM copy and this song was only available in cd form as part of a compilation of rare songs from the 70s. I don't think the album ever came out on cd. Great to hear Popcorn after all these years in extended form!

[marcjacobscontinued]

Ooooh
Almost every gig I played as a DJ this went in!
Greatest ever!
Always wanted a version like this!
Great great choice!

[klausbassman]

this was a TOP 100 hit in Germany in 1972, I was 8 and this was the first song I can remember as an entire "synth" song, I liked T Rex and The Sweet in those days and at that age....I remember my tiny FM and "Mittelwelle" Grundig-Radio with a mono ear-plug-in

[mickfloydrguez]

Ahhh! Que buena rola!!!
Pegaba mucho en las discotecas!
Fuegooo en la pistaaaa!
Diría el locutor de radio y voz emblemática de las discotecas setenteras y ochenteras.
Excelente mix!!! Cómo siempre 👌

[elle]

Oh my gosh...I haven't heard this song in years...I never knew their name was "Hot Butter"....Trippy...Thanks for the

[rsands]

One of the best of all time—I put the headphones on and it tickles my brain! Like hearing a new mix!

[cesario]

Es un tema, que en esos años no sabías que instrumentos utilizaban, y eso lo hacía interesante y hermoso, después 50 años aún sigue vigente gracias saludos.

[lauder]

Thats 70s... what a memories...!!!
From: Caracas, Venezuela.

[steverakes]

I grew up with a 1955 Wurlitzer juke box in our basement, and this was one of our favorite songs we would play back in 1972.

[thomastarwater]

Recorded way back in 1972, yet sounds like it was recorded tomorrow. Thank you DiscoCat for working on this instrumental classic and making it t way better. I just got my weekend off to a good start.

[leonidasrosales]

love this “corny” tune, no pun intended!, among the many songs peppered sparingly in my chilhood years that emphasized cool synthesizer arrangements, which brings me
to share the sad news of losing not 1
, but 2! real TITANS in the electronic genre, Klaus Shulze in april amd, Vangelis in may 😔.
i’m sure heaven is sounding more ethereal with them geniouses of the spacy sound going at it . may both rest in peace.and thanks for their magnificent contribution to timeless music.

[patriciotello]

Mil gracias por este hermoso recuerdo 👍🙏🙏
En los 70 fue lo más tecno que tenía en vinilo
Saludos cordiales desde Chile 🇨🇱👍