Does anyone remember American Bandstand or Soul Train?

I remember watching these two shows in my early teens. Both came on on Saturday afternoons. American Bandstand at 12:30 and Soul Train at 4:00, I believe. I so loved watching American Bandstand in my early teens. It was made in California with all the *cool* California teens and I wanted to be there or be like them.

Soul Train was much harder to catch sometimes. It came on much later in the afternoon and by the time AB went off I really couldn't spend the rest of the day waiting for it to come on. I always thought Don Cornelius was a better emcee than dip Clark. 

Does anyone else remember these two dance shows? Any shows that were your favorites?

:)


P.S. This new subject could have just as easily been placed in "The 1970's" or "The 1980's", but I went ahead and placed it in this group since this one has the lowest number of posts. ;)

Hey,Zcrito,

I definitely remember both shows but American Bandstand was always my favourite by far.Soul Train brings back memories of Neil Diamond and Barbra Striesand singing "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" but I only watched that show a zillionth of the time I watched AB.Absolutely one of my favourite shows growing up,feeding my love of music and teaching me the latest dance moves  :D
Anyway,it was also great to get to see Blondie perform "Heart Of Glass",Touche with "Take A Look(But Don't Touch)" and Madonna when she first broke out with "Holiday" just to name a few. :)

I wrote to Dick Clark Productions a year or so ago asking why they never made available on DVD any of those American Bandstand shows. I always thought the reason they haven't done it so far was due to legal problems getting rights for the songs used in each show.

They wrote back saying they want to and are going to make them available on DVD in the near future but they don't have a distributor as of yet.

???

http://www.soultrain.com/stmedia0304/dorianbio2.jpg


I've never even heard of this guy before.Soul Train isn't the same without Don Corneilius anymore.Everything changed because they want to now please the "black community"with Rap & Today's R & B which I'm not too crazy about.Back then,you had all the good 70's and 80's Classic R & B artists and groups but now it's nothing but Rap Train.



Howard

I remember both of these shows. I didn't watch them all the time but once in a while. I remember when Blondie appeared and everyone in school talked about it so I HAD to watch. When she sang "Heart of Glass" she had this thing which looked a little like a bow-why? Your guess is as good as mine. In the 70s, they tried to have a new show called "Solid Gold" but it just wasn't the same calibar as AB or ST.




Cat

I've never even heard of this guy before.Soul Train isn't the same without Don Corneilius anymore.Everything changed because they want to now please the "black community"with Rap & Today's R & B which I'm not too crazy about.Back then,you had all the good 70's and 80's Classic R & B artists and groups but now it's nothing but Rap Train.

Howard


Here ya go, Howard. Here's some people that agree with you...

http://www.jumptheshark.com/s/soultrain.htm

http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/S/htmlS/soultrain/soultrainIMAGE/soultrain.jpg


They definitely need to bring back this guy right here.Soul Train is dying a slow death. :(



Howard

I remember both of these shows. I didn't watch them all the time but once in a while. I remember when Blondie appeared and everyone in school talked about it so I HAD to watch. When she sang "Heart of Glass" she had this thing which looked a little like a bow-why? Your guess is as good as mine. In the 70s, they tried to have a new show called "Solid Gold" but it just wasn't the same calibar as AB or ST.




Cat


I loved Solid Gold, at least when Dionne Warwick hosted.  When Marilyn McCoo took over it went down hill, IMO.

'Soul Train'...obviously never shown in its original format in the UK, but I think I vaguely remember a British version which surfaced in the 80's, when dance music was really getting a grip here...

It was also the show that gave birth to Shalamar - fittingly enough, Jeffrey Daniels hosted that 'UK version' for a while...

And both this and American Bandstand shown within 4 hours of each other?

Blimey, zcrito...spoiled rotten, you were...!!

And both this and American Bandstand shown within 4 hours of each other?
Blimey, zcrito...spoiled rotten, you were...!!



Spoiled rotton?
Yes, but like most teens when you start watching AB and ST you're more than likely not watching the Saturday morning cartoons any longer. So, if I get up late (around 11am) on a Saturday and eat lunch, by the time AB and ST come on it's really cutting into what's left of my day. I always wished they both would come on at night or at least earlier in the day on Saturdays. During the Spring and Summer months I didn't mind getting up earlier so I probably saw those 2 shows the most then.

::)

Spoiled rotton?
Yes, but like most teens when you start watching AB and ST you're more than likely not watching the Saturday morning cartoons any longer. So, if I get up late (around 11am) on a Saturday and eat lunch, by the time AB and ST come on it's really cutting into what's left of my day. I always wished they both would come on at night or at least earlier in the day on Saturdays. During the Spring and Summer months I didn't mind getting up earlier so I probably saw those 2 shows the most then.

::)



No, no, no, my good man...spoiled rotten insofar as being fortunate enough to have a feast of top music TV dished up so close together...pre-MTV days, of course...!

'Soul Train'...obviously never shown in its original format in the UK, but I think I vaguely remember a British version which surfaced in the 80's, when dance music was really getting a grip here...

I remember when Soul Train was on the air, but I never really watched it.  I loved American Bandstand AND that crazy show where people showed off their disco talents...Dance Fever!

It was also the show that gave birth to Shalamar - fittingly enough, Jeffrey Daniels hosted that 'UK version' for a while...

"Second Time Around" is a favorite Shalamar tune.  When I hear it, I instantly recall 1980 and going to the roller rinks with my friends.  ;D

I do!  I hated both of them when I was a young kid.  Why?  Because it meant that Saturday morning cartoons were over.  :D  When I was a little older, I'd watch both if someone I liked was on. 


My mother was actually on Bandstand when she was a teen (it was filmed in Philadelphia then)  Ike and Tina Turner were on the show she went to. 

I remember when Soul Train was on the air, but I never really watched it.  I loved American Bandstand AND that crazy show where people showed off their disco talents...Dance Fever!



"Second Time Around" is a favorite Shalamar tune.  When I hear it, I instantly recall 1980 and going to the roller rinks with my friends.  ;D



ok,CeramicsFanatic,it's confirmed,we MUST be around the same age..I LIVED for Dance Fever along with American Bandstand...rollerrinks in 1980?Absolutely!!!! :)

No, no, no, my good man...spoiled rotten insofar as being fortunate enough to have a feast of top music TV dished up so close together...pre-MTV days, of course...!


No problem, Paul, I knew what you meant the first time.  ;)

Pre-MTV days? Yes, definitely. Most of my AB and ST watching days were from 1972-1975. After that I caught them when I could.

As for "Dance Fever", do I ever remember that one too. I think that show was popular from like 1978-1981 (or 1982). I can still remember the dance contest shows they had in 1979. Wild stuff! :o

Hmmm...I might need to write to the Dance Fever gang and see if those will ever be available on DVD?

:)

ok,CeramicsFanatic,it's confirmed,we MUST be around the same age..I LIVED for Dance Fever along with American Bandstand...rollerrinks in 1980?Absolutely!!!! :)


Hee hee!  Well I peeked at your profile and it turns out that I'm just 3 years older than you!  That's pretty close!  ;)

As for "Dance Fever", do I ever remember that one too. I think that show was popular from like 1978-1981 (or 1982). I can still remember the dance contest shows they had in 1979. Wild stuff! :o

Hmmm...I might need to write to the Dance Fever gang and see if those will ever be available on DVD?

:)


Please let us know what you find out, zcrito!  8)

My mother was actually on Bandstand when she was a teen (it was filmed in Philadelphia then)  Ike and Tina Turner were on the show she went to. 



Way cool!




Cat

http://www.eonline.com/Facts/People/Photos/fs.clark.d.jpg


They need to bring this guy back on a newer version Of American Bandstand. :)


Howard

I remember when Soul Train was on the air, but I never really watched it.  I loved American Bandstand AND that crazy show where people showed off their disco talents...Dance Fever!




Yeah,now look at the women.They've been showing more cleavage and butt. & I remember when Soul Train was just a pleasant program.Now,it looks too gangsta.  >:( :P


Howard

I remember when Soul Train was on the air, but I never really watched it.  I loved American Bandstand AND that crazy show where people showed off their disco talents...Dance Fever!

Yeah,now look at the women.They've been showing more cleavage and butt. & I remember when Soul Train was just a pleasant program.Now,it looks too gangsta.  >:( :P

Howard


Wasn't it Dance Fever that had the weekly dancers called "The Disco Dance Dimension"? ;D

As for Soul Train, I've only seen it once (part of it) since Don Corneilius left, so I really can't say anything about its current look. I am surprised that it's still on television. ???

:)

Wasn't it Dance Fever that had the weekly dancers called "The Disco Dance Dimension"? ;D

As for Soul Train, I've only seen it once (part of it) since Don Corneilius left, so I really can't say anything about its current look. I am surprised that it's still on television. ???

:)






Soul Train is a joke.I mean now they have guys like Jay Z,Nelly,Mya,R-Kelly as part of their lineup. >:(


Howard

Wasn't it Dance Fever that had the weekly dancers called "The Disco Dance Dimension"? ;D



hi zcrito,
"The Disco Dance Dimension" meant nothing to me so I just searched it..could that be from a show called
"Disco Step-by-Step"?  :)      (sounds like a fun show,wish my stations had carried it    :\'( )

hi zcrito,
"The Disco Dance Dimension" meant nothing to me so I just searched it..could that be from a show called
"Disco Step-by-Step"?  :)      (sounds like a fun show,wish my stations had carried it   :\'( )



I may be getting my late '70s dance shows all mixed-up. The DDD may have been on a show called "Soap Factory". And that incredible dance contest I was thinkin of *may* have also been on that show and not Dance Fever. ???

:)

http://www.x-entertainment.com/stuff/l1.jpg


Wouldn't it be great if they could re-vamp this show again?^ :)


Howard

Does anyone remember American Bandstand









I don't know anyone who doesn't know of  or remember American Bandstand.

http://www.x-entertainment.com/stuff/l1.jpg


Wouldn't it be great if they could re-vamp this show again?^ :)


Howard




Um...no.



Cat

Um...no.



Cat


Why Not Kat?  :(


Howard

http://timstvshowcase.com/abtvg5.jpg


Dick Clark from December of 1978 and he still looks good these days. ;D



Howard

'Soul Train'...obviously never shown in its original format in the UK, but I think I vaguely remember a British version which surfaced in the 80's, when dance music was really getting a grip here...

It was also the show that gave birth to Shalamar - fittingly enough, Jeffrey Daniels hosted that 'UK version' for a while...



I think I also remember Leee John presenting it.  He was in some group or other, can't remember which though.

I was more a Tube fan at the time.

MTA a quick google search reveal he was in Imagination

I don't know anyone who doesn't know remember American Bandstand.


I don't, only because it wasn't shown here in Aus. :)

We had our own version which ran from 1958 until 1972. Then in 1974....so began the Sunday night ritual 'Countdown' ! :D 8)

So,I guess American Bandstand doesn't want to go the way that Soul Train is doing right now.I don't think Richard Clark wouldn't want that.



Howard

OMG, I used to think the Solid Gold Dancers were cool.  That picture shows me that they were just plain scary.

I never understood what R&B music was about until I watched Soul Train. It was never really shown that much where I live. The radio stations only played top 40. But, when I saw groups like "The Ohio Players", "Brick", "Slave", "Confunkshun", "BT Express", and countless others that I had never heard of, (they never played these groups on the radio where I'm from) I was sprung. These were the days where you might have 10 to 12 or more band members in the group(Parliament, Cameo, KC & the Sunshine Band, etc). Sure they were no doubt lip syncing for television but it was entertaining. Sure would like to find, maybe a box set of Soul Train dvd's from those times. They have these infomercials from Time-Life trying to sell all the hits from the 70's or 80's and what not...why not compile the actual groups singing there hits on dvd, that way you not only get to hear the music, you can watch the group perform it too. Oops! Sorry for getting off topic.

I'm just sick and tried of this newer version of Soul Train.It just ticks me off that I have to hear Rap and not the old school that we used to grow up listening to. >:(


Howard

I remember these shows. Soul Train (pre-1990) was a staple on our Saturday entertainment line-up. AB I enjoyed b/c of Madonna and to get my pop fix. Soul Train has gone down considerably, though. It will never be the same.

I do agree than Don Cornelius was a cooler emcee than Dick Clark. But, Dick tried his best.

Love, Peace, and Soooooul
Tanya

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70s episodes on "Best of Soul Train"...

Worst decade of fashion  8-P :P

The animated train intro is cool though

So,I guess American Bandstand doesn't want to go the way that Soul Train is doing right now.I don't think Richard Clark wouldn't want that.

The "Soul Train" should've been derailed in 1993, when Don left the show...