THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

380-Tina Charles-I Love to Love (But My Baby Loves to Dance.)

1976-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 2.29. The dilemma is, she loves to love, but he just loves to dance. If only they could multitask.

Tina Charles was born Tina Hoskins on March 10th, 1954, in Whitechapel, London, England. Prior to her international success with this song she had released seven singles, none of which had made the UK chart. Her 1969 debut single ‘Nothing in the World’ featured a then unknown Elton John (see also best songs 946-481-237 and 62) on the piano. During the early 1970’s she supplied vocals for the ‘Top of the Pops’ series of Albums which featured cover versions of contemporary hits. In 1975 she was the unaccredited lead vocalist on the UK Number 4 hit ‘I’m on Fire,’ by the British Disco act ‘5000 Volts,’ of which she was an official member, and also in that year she provided backing vocals on the UK Number 1 single ‘Make Me Smile’ (Come Up and See Me’) for Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel (see best songs 410 and 2.) The discography of Tina Charles who chose her stage ‘Charles’ as it was her fathers name, and because ‘Hoskins’ sounded too similar to ‘Hopkin,’ (Mary Hopkin see also best songs 692) includes six studio Albums released between 1976-1977, and 44 singles released between 1969-2016, there are also eight official compilation Albums available. In the UK, seven of her singles have reached the top 40, with I Love to Love (But My Baby Loves to Dance) peaking the highest at Number 1.

‘I Love to Love (But My Baby Loves to Dance’) was the eighth single release from Tina Charles as a solo artist, it was her breakthrough hit as all of her previous seven releases had failed to chart. The song was the second of two singles issued from her debut studio Album ‘I Love to Love,’ from 1976, and was co-written by Jack Robinson, (lyrics) and James Bolden, (1948-1997) (music) and was produced by Biddu Appaiah. Jack Robinson was born on January 17th, 1938, in Seattle, Washington, United States, he is a music producer as well as a songwriter. Among his best known productions is the original version of ‘Dancing in the Moonlight,’ by the French/American Rock band King Harvest, which reached Number 13 on Billboard in 1972, he was also involved with other hits recorded by Tina Charles, including ‘Love Me Like a Lover,’ (UK-Number 31-1976) and ‘Rendezvous’ (UK-Number 27-1977.) ‘I Love to Love (But My Baby Loves to Dance’) was also co-written by James Bolden, who was born Jacques Pepino, in Tarare, France, on January 1st, 1948, he committed suicide on May 11th, 1997, at the age of 49, following the accidental death of his 11-year-old daughter Julia. As well as being a songwriter he was also a performer, using the stage name ‘David Christie,’ releasing seven studio Albums, and 21 singles, his biggest success as a recording artist came in 1982 when his song ‘Saddle Up’ co-written with Robinson reached Number 9 in the UK. Another notable co-write by the duo was ‘Strut Your Funky Stuff,’ for the American Philadelphia International Records, ‘Disco’ female trio Frantique (UK-Number 10-1979.)

‘I Love to Love (But My Baby Loves to Dance’) was produced by Biddu Appaiah, who is considered to be one of the pioneers of Disco Music. Biddu was born on February 8th, 1945, in Bangalore, Madras Presidency, British India, (now Karnataka, India) he first arrived in England in the early 1960’s. His major international breakthrough came in 1974 when producing the Carl Douglas hit ‘Kung Fu Fighting,’ which went to Number 1 in the UK, and also in America on Billboard, and has sold in excess of 11 million copies worldwide, making it at the time of writing the 34th best selling single of all time. Biddu has always embraced the latest technology, moving in to ‘Electronic’ music after the decline of Disco. In the 1980’s he became heavily involved in ‘Bollywood,’ producing soundtracks, and in the 1990’s he was very influential in popularising ‘Indian Pop’ music. As well as shaping the careers of many other artists worldwide, Biddu Appaiah has released 12 studio Albums as the ‘Biddu Orchestra,’ between 1975-2004. In the UK two of his singles as the Biddu Orchestra have reached the top 40, ‘Summer of 42,’ (1975-Number 14) and ‘Rain Forrest,’ (1976-Number 39.) He has also scored the music for 11 movie soundtracks, including the British drama film ‘The Stud,’ in 1978, and the Indian Bollywood movie ‘Star,’ in 1982.

‘The minute the band begins to swing it, he’s on his feet to dig it, and dance the night away. Stop, I’m spinnin’ like a top, we’ll dance until we drop, but if I have my way.’