Skatt Bros ~ Walk The Night 1979 Disco Purrfection Version

This song is not for the faint of heart. I think its fairly dark and menacing funk elicits the set up for a scene in a 70's porn movie/film noir. I really love it, when it played in the club, the lights were dimmed with a slight blue tinge over the floor and when the slam comes after "slap across your face" there was a camera flash that went red before quickly fading away...like did I really see that? The guy working the lights was very in tune with that one. I was treated to some amazing light shows by this guy named Yanick who worked along my favorite DJ Daniel F. at my favorite disco club. The deep voiced hyper masculine sound is underlined by the the shrieks way down in the mix, danger danger Will Robinson! After the first few years of disco, the focus turned to the female voices over those 4/4 beats. The Village People gave a much needed shot of testosterone during that era, something to counter the platinum sounds of the Bee Gees and those disco divas. The Village People started out as six stereotypes of gay macho in the 70's and their deep voices graced more than a few hit singles. The Skatt Bros. took that idea one step further and came up with a gay club classic that made you want to walk the night. This song reeks of sex, the dirty, back alley kind that includes leather and denim in dark rooms, arresting you with the pulsing bass and steady beat pounding in the background. I think that Frankie Goes To Hollywood's "Relax" has a lot in common with this one, a similar hypnotic bass line that pulses on the beat, reminding you that funk is really meant to sound dirty. They share that "hypnotic what's making me so horny" vibe that is the very definition of "sleaze" and added rock to the mix that made it hit harder. It's hard to imagine that there is a musical connection they share with 70's pop group Looking Glass, who had a #1 single with the squeaky clean "Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)" from 1972. That connection is bassist Pieter Swerval, who did the fabulous bass on "Brandy" and that amazing bass line for this 1980 song "Walk The Night". The Skatt Bros. were a Los Angeles based band with Richard Martin-Ross on vocals, Pieter Swerval on bass, David Andez on guitars, Sean Delaney keyboards and Richie Fontana on drums. It was Delaney who began putting the band together after he gained some experience in the Casablanca studios while working with KISS and it was Andez that provided the sinister and foreboding lead vocal on their biggest hit. The group was signed to Casablanca near the end of that label's chart life and released "Walk The Night" in late 1979. It was far from the string laden disco music I was used to, but the rough sounding beat certainly had an energy that was punctuated with heavy guitar licks that lent an rock and roll sound that proved to be irresistible, peaking at #9 on the disco/dance chart in February of 1980. According to Rockstar Games, they thought the song was important enough to include on Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack. Sean Delaney had passed away in 2003, so they hired a private investigator to locate the surviving relatives so they could secure the rights for its inclusion.

[andrewpavolilloiii]

I haven’t heard this song since 1980, God this brings back memories. Love this song

[maddieroxxeva]

As a disco goth I want to say that I've found my anthem.

[AgentXRifle]

First heard this on GTA IV and loved it.
Listen to this song often, I'm very straight but I can't ignore a good beat and dark lyrics! Classic song!

[Danzamagu]

I knew this song since before 🤸🏻‍♂️Megan🤸 but loved that they keep using great music in today's movies and tv.

[pxnoumz]

Just heard this song on The Righteous Gemstones and I’m instantly hooked. Been listening to it all day. Bassist murdered this one

[jacketofthes]

rockstar had to hire a private investigator for the rights to this song they wanted it that bad and god damn it fits

[ShellMartijn]

Still love this song in 2025! Thanks M3gan :)

[Moonlava]

My sister and I would dance to this back in 79 80 we lived in Chicago so funny!!!

[kevinjamesmckee]

The twelve inch version of this is so powerful you have to manhandle the bass all during the mix or risk blowing the bass out. But, its is a blast to mix into a hoot sweaty crowded dance floor of dancing men at 4am. That ride the pulsing driving baseline takes you on as the guitar licks crawl over top of the previous track…killer song. This is Mineshaft music. NYC 1970’s.

[djinduck]

This was by far the best song on the AHS NYC soundtrack. I'm obsessed.

[norman]

Who knew disco could be spooky...perfect for Halloween night. Right up there with Michael Jackson's "Thriller"

[nitabigham]

Heard this on AHS last week and it brought back so many good memories from my deep house music days. ❤️❤️

[gregb]

loved this song since it came out in the late 70's

[dignerds]

I'm 53..So I remember this hot tune..But M3gan brought me back here

[amesanscible]

Discovered this in the show “Fellow Travelers” and absolutely loved it ! (The show and the music !) Besides, it you see this comment, go watch Fellow Travelers ! One of the best shows I’ve ever seen !!!

[MelancoliaI]

"He's got a rod beneath his coat he's gonna ram right down your throat!"

Some of the most cryptic lyrics ever written.

[michaelbeal]

I was going to house party back in my old school time, In Chicago an that song never stop in the 80's an it was a party I will never for get!!!

[michaelschmitt]

WOW I thought this was a new song; its from 1979 - again proving it was the best year for music

[sebastianoc]

Cuante volte lo abbiamo ballato nelle oscure balere nei sabato sera era un tormentone da sballo per noi di cuel epoca di fine anni 70 cuanti ricordi e nostalgia di cuel così bel periodo ormai sbiadito dal tempo che fu😂😅😢😢😊😮❤❤❤❤❤

[josephsanchez]

Classic tune Very ahead of it's time