Rod Stewart ~ Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? 1978 Disco Purrfection Version

I finally got around to doing something with Rod Stewart's 1978 "sellout" disco song "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy" four years after I first thought about doing it. I got my paws on the instrumental and a capella tracks to come up with this Disco Purrfection version. The original disco remix is a classic in itself and there was nothing new I could have brought to the turntables using that version.

Back in da day, Rod took a LOT of heat for this one. I don't get it since the Rolling Stones had also succumbed to the disco beat with "Miss You" and were not subjected to the same vitriol. I don't agree that "Rod Stewart has completely betrayed his talent" by recording this one. His songs have always been telling a story and this is no different except that it is sexually charged, but not unlike "Tonight's The Night" that had previously spent 8 weeks at #1.

I remember it more because of the copyright lawsuit filed on behalf of worldbeat jazz guitarist Jorge Ben who had recorded a song he called "Taj Mahal". That song is a 1972 disco stomper with the simplest of disco production, most memorable for the "doo doo doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo doo doo" wordless chorus that effectively is the same six syllable phrasing of "If you want my body, and da ya think I'm sexy, come on baby let me know" with the identical melody.

Rod knew a good hook when he heard one and that one was big enough to hang his hat on. He capitulated to the suit and then turned around and donated all of the royalties of "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy" to UNICEF and performed it on "Song For UNICEF" on January 10, 1979 which happened to be his 34th birthday.

He smartly moved on the smouldering rock of "Passion" in 1980 then was on to the next thing and issued "Tonight I'm Yours" a new wavish affair that hit with "Young Turks" and the title track going Top 20. "Baby Jane" was a loping tune that also went Top 20. He got all the way to #6 pop with the gritty and nastily fun "Infatuation", a song produced by Michael Omartian.

He has maintained a connection with the record buying public since then, especially after having signed with Clive Davis then new "J" label, his last release was 2015's "Another Country". He signed with Capitol Records in 2013 and still remains a formidable concert draw as evidenced by his Las Vegas stint which ends this September 1st, 2017.

[mustangjuliew]

I loved being a teenager in the 70’s, best times, best music ever!

[David_USF]

RIP Phil Chen, who was Rod's bassist from 1977-1980. He just passed away at the age of 80. I loved the bass line in this one.

[fk]

This track always suffered from terrible remixes, this version is pure heaven.

[lakeeriesailor]

sellout?? The man's a legend! His career covers many genres of music!

[lisafudd]

My mom was so in love with Rod Stewart and still is. She is 71 now. I grew up listening to Rod Stewart. I’m 50 now. My mom had this on 8 track.

[ScherryWilliams]

My brother in law loved Rod Stewart and I think he's sexy and I'm 72 years young and I'm still listening 🎧🎧🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉😂😂😂

[silvestersze]

This’s what I called ‘music’. Not the ones from nowadays. Period!

[evapalosdelarosa]

Fell in love with this song when it first came out. Still love it!❤❤😊😊

[spinespindle]

That juicy funk guitar, rods husky voice, that cute and fruity rhodes e-piano, those catchy Asian pentatonic strings and of course that thumping bass line 👌🏻

[williamhenry]

I turn 93 next month and still love this music, can still disco to the beat like how I did when I was a spring chicken back in the day.

[anthonycbrown]

Rod Stewart surprised a many artists when he knocked this out the park. Shifting from a rock genre and stepping into a disco beat was not a guaranteed success but he did it.

[bang-bangtv]

Hey Youth ! wake up ! a glimpse of what we had... and what is so much missing today ! I danced so much on this one ! ahah

[TheFevernight]

It was a classic disco to dance claping our hands in 1979!!! Great memories 💓💜💚💙💃🎼💃🎶💃🎵💃🎹💃🎧👍🤩😍

[carloscarcamo]

Me recuerdo que esta canción estuvo todo un año en los primeros lugares al rededor del mundo, cuando la ponían en los bailes salíamos todos a bailarla, haciendo los pasos del cantante, hermosa canción y hermosa época, éramos felices y no lo sabíamos, saludos desde El Salvador, para todos los que nos gusta este tipo de música.

[tubigeekyhbar]

Timeless classic! (I'm just 50 and first heard this sometime in the 80s, not the 70s - so 10 years later, but still cool)

[MarcosHernandez-nejx]

RIP Phil
A master of his craft!
His bass line for this song was
fire...🔥🔥🔥

[martcichocki]

STILL one of The Best disco tunes, ever!!

[lightblueeyedgirl]

Saw Rod Stewart at the Red Parrot in NYC, in the 80s.  He was hanging in the shadows while his then girlfriend, Kelly Emberg, was awarded Model of the Year.  He was too cool.

[billyjoecobra]

I'm 20 and I freaking love this song!

[James-ipuh]

I. Still remember. This. Song. Do. You. Think. I'm. Sexy. 46. Years. Later. I. Enjoyed. It. Since. I. Was. Only. 17. And. I still enjoy it. Forever