THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

798-Fatback Band-(Are You Ready) Do The Bus Stop.

1975-Number 18 single.

Best Bit-At 2.53. I would queue for a lifetime to catch this tune.

The Fatback Band (see also best songs 217) are the brainchild of Bill Curtis, who formed the group in 1970, in New York City, United States. Since their inception, there have been 27 personnel changes, with Curtis being the one constant. Their last Album of original material was was released in 1988, but they still continue to tour to this day. Prior to forming The Fatback Band, Bill Curtis had already been an experienced session drummer in the 1950’s, and 1960’s, and wanted to merge the ‘Fatback Jazz Beat’ sound of New Orleans, into a streetwise ‘Funk’ band. In 1977 they dropped the ‘Band,’ and just called themselves ‘Fatback.’

The Fatback Band have released 23 studio Albums between 1972-1988, there is also remix Album that was issued in 2003, and a best of called ’21 Karat Fatback.’ They have also issued 42 singles between 1973-2005, and although they have never charted on the Billboard Hot 100 in America, 11 of their singles have reached the Billboard R&B top 40 chart. In the UK six of their singles have made the top 40, with ‘I Found Lovin” charting the highest at Number 7 on it’s second re-release in 1987.

(‘Are You Ready) Do The Bus Stop’ was the first of three singles released from The Fatback Band’s sixth studio Album ‘Raising Hell,’ from 1975, and was their second studio Album release of that year, with many reviewers at that time writing that is was a far superior Album than their previous release ‘Yum Yum.’ ‘Raising Hell’ proved to be The Fatback Band’s most commercially successful Album, as it also contained the UK hit singles (‘Do the) Spanish Hustle,’ which reached Number 10, and ‘Party Time’ which made Number 41, both songs charting in 1976. (‘Are You Ready) Do The Bus Stop’ was co-written by Bill Curtis, and Johnny Flippin, who was a member of The Fatback Band between 1971-1983, playing bass, percussion, and also providing vocals. The songs production is credited to all the band members at that time. Other songs written by Johnny Flipin include The Fatback Band’s biggest UK hit single ‘I Found Lovin’,’ which on it’s 1987 re-issue in the UK, reached a peak of Number 7. (‘Are You Ready) Do The Bus Stop’ is typical of The Fatback Band’s ‘Funky’ sound, although by this stage of their career they were becoming more commercial. and they had already embraced the ‘Disco’ explosion. (‘Are You Ready) Do The Bus Stop’ is a song about a certain type of dance, that has it’s own dance moves, which unfortunately appear to have been lost in the annals of time, but the song is credited with helping popularise ‘Line Dancing.’

Although not credited with being a major influence on the development of ‘Rap,’ or ‘Hip-Hop’ music, The Fatback Band were involved in the release of what is cited as the first commercially released ‘Hip-Hop’ song. Issued on March 25, 1979, the track ‘King Tim III (Personality Jock’) by The Fatback Band, with ‘Rap’ vocals by Tim Washington, beat ‘Rapper’s Delight,’ by the ‘Sugarhill Gang’ (see also best songs 17) by very nearly six months, as that single was released on September 16, 1979. ‘King Tim III (Personality Jock’) is often overlooked, as it only peaked at Number 26 on the American Billboard Hot ‘R&B’ chart, whereas ‘Rappers Delight’ was the commercial breakthrough for the genre, peaking at Number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, and reaching Number 3 in the UK. ‘King Tim III (Personality Jock’) was written by Bill Curtis, and Fred Demery of The Fatback Band, who wrote the music, with Jerry Thomas producing. The story goes that Bill Curtis wanted to try something a bit different on a track, and when Thomas asked him what he wanted to do, Curtis suggested a Rap. One of the people in the studio knew Washington, and Curtis agreed to give him a try, and the rest is history.

Bus Stop, bus stop, are you ready to do the bus stop. Bus stop, Bus stop, form a line to the front, form a line to the back. Are you ready to do the bus stop.’