I'm on a quest to collect every song I remember roller skating to back in the 80s. Anyone else roller skate back in the day, and do you have any favorite tunes from then?

Besides the usual singles from that era (80-84), here are a few of mine:

Teena Marie- Square Biz (LOVE this song! Funky as hell!)
Newcleus- Jam On It
Frankie Smith- Double Dutch Bus
Fatback Band- Gotta Get My Hands On Some (Money)
Midnight Star- Freakazoid
Tom Tom Club- Genius Of Love
Vaughan Mason and Crew - Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll
Sugarhill Gang- Jump On It and Rapper's Delight

There are more but they slip my mind at the moment...

In the late 80s when I used to go to the now defunct roller rink that was in my area, I would always hear the songs 'Stay With Me' by Tu and 'Push It' by Salt 'N Pepa

To this day, when I hear those songs, I am reminded of the fun times I had there :)

You've mentioned some great roller disco tunes!  I remember skating to Fantastic Voyage (the original, naturally), although I don't remember who sings it. 

I also remeber skating to "I Love Rock and Roll" by Joan Jett and "Starting Over" by John Lennon

I remember couples skating to the song, Cherish by Kool & The Gang.

You've mentioned some great roller disco tunes!  I remember skating to Fantastic Voyage (the original, naturally), although I don't remember who sings it. 


that was by the group Lakeside in 1981 :)

that was by the group Lakeside in 1981 :)


YEAH!!! I remember that song now. Time to look for that one...

I'm on a quest to collect every song I remember roller skating to back in the 80s. Anyone else roller skate back in the day, and do you have any favorite tunes from then?

Besides the usual singles from that era (80-84), here are a few of mine:

Teena Marie- Square Biz (LOVE this song! Funky as hell!)
Newcleus- Jam On It



Ahhhh, Roller Boogie.  Love it baby!    Square Biz is a great song though I never rollerskated to it.  On the other hand, I skated MANY times to Jam On It.  Here are a few tunes:

Shannon - Let The Music Play (1984) - Has to be the BIGGEST Roller Boogie tune EVER!!!!!!!!!!!  I like "Give Me Tonight" more though.
Freeez - I.O.U. (1983) - AKA Freeze's A.E.I.O.U. - I recently found out that white GUYS sing this. I thought it was a black girl group. A Classic!!!!
Freestyle - Don't Stop The Rock (1985) - Love It! Vocoder Heaven (or Hell).  
Strafe - Set It Off (1984)
Starpoint - Object Of My Desire (1985) - I still LOVE this song.
Sheila E - Glamourous Life (1984) - of course, a no brainer
Shalamar - Second Time Around (1980), Dancing In The Sheets (1984), and my favorite "A Night To Remember (1982)"
Ollie And Jerry - There's No Stopping Us (1984) - from one of the campiest movies of all time: Breakin'.
Junior - Mama Used To Say (1982)
Hashim - Al-Naafiysh (The Soul) (1983) - funny name, but you know the beat.  Classic roller boogie and pop-lock song.

Here's a great roller boogie slow jam for your collection:  Val Young - If You Should Ever Be Lonely (1985)

Enjoy

that was by the group Lakeside in 1981 :)

Thanks!  I should've known you'd come through with that info  ;)

Not mentioned yet:

"Lookout Weekend" and "When I Hear Music" - Debbie Deb

A Little Bit Of Jazz - by the Nick Straker Band was another good one.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll check some of those out.

I've heard some of them, like Starpoint (was a gf at the time's favorite song), but a lot of the others don't ring a bell. I bet there's a good chance that I'll know them once I hear them :)

OK, I've thought of some more:

The Wanderer by Donna Summer
Can't Fake The Feeling - Geraldine Hunt
Best Part of Breaking Up - Roni Griffith
Dancing the Night Away - Voggue

Would anything from the musical Starlight Express be suitable for it was based on a roller skating cast.

  Sea Cruise by Cliff Richard, or any of a number of artists for that matter...

Wired For Sound by Cliff Richard. The video featured roller skaters

OK, I've thought of some more:

Best Part of Breaking Up - Roni Griffith



Obscure, but good.  Did you really roller skate to this one?

All Fall Down by Five Star

Obscure, but good.  Did you really roller skate to this one?

Sure! This was all over the radio in New York.  I'm actually surprised that many people have been listing tunes past 1985.  All of the roller skating rinks were closed in Brooklyn by then and roller skating was a bit passe.

Really?  I grew up a few minutes outside of the City and didn't know Roni Griffith until I rediscovered 80's music a few years back.  I may be a few years younger though (no offense).

I agree that around '85 to '86 it was uncool to roller skate and that most the the rinks shut down in our area.

How about Xanadu by Olivia Newton-John and ELO?  That was the title track from a movie she starred in about roller disco, albeit one that bombed.

Really?  I grew up a few minutes outside of the City and didn't know Roni Griffith until I rediscovered 80's music a few years back.  I may be a few years younger though (no offense).

I agree that around '85 to '86 it was uncool to roller skate and that most the the rinks shut down in our area.


92 KTU was New York's disco station in the late 70's, early 80's and played almost every song (to death) that has been mentioned.  They went off the air in the late 80's but came back on a different frequency (although the numbers slip my mind presently).

Anyhoo, your profile tells me that you are only 2 years younger which makes you and old fart also  :D ;D  Karma.

I wasn't the best roller skater as a kid, but those evenings I spent at the skating rink was a lot of fun!  :)

The skating rink I used to go to played a lot of Michael Jackson, Prince, some Madonna, and various freestyle artists.

The last time I went to a skating rink (about 12 years ago), they played mostly 70's disco! The rink itself didn't quite have a 70's feel to it, but it was still fun to skate along to "Night Fever" and "Ring My Bell", among many other disco songs.  :)

How about Xanadu by Olivia Newton-John and ELO?  That was the title track from a movie she starred in about roller disco, albeit one that bombed.

Good choice.  And while this did bomb in the theaters, it has become a cult classic and its' great score has now made it a hit on Broadway.

Yeah... skating fell out here around 1984 or so. I do remember being at the rink when Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet came out, but it was pretty sad by then.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions. Some great songs listed here; many of which I've forgotten until I heard them again!  ;D

Maybe nowadays they have roller blading rinks where people skate to rap and hip hop and things like that.  :)

They recently opened a roller skating rink in my area, though I haven't been.  Falling on my a$# has lost its appeal.  :)

I have one major roller skating memory involving music. In the 4th grade we spent our last full day in school first at a rollar skate rink and then a bowling ally. Anyway I remember seeing my classmates go around in the rink while Starships' Nothing is Going to Stop us now. That was 1987.

Dancing the Night Away - Voggue


8)

I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down ~ Elvis Costello And The Attractions ?

I cannot believe nobody here mentioned Jonzun Crew!!! Their Lost In Space album is the best rollerskating music of all time!

http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Space-Jonzun-Crew/dp/B000056O09/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1209993095&sr=8-1

:D  This thread has really made me dig into my brain.

"First True Love Affair" by (don't quote me) Jimmy Ross

I cannot believe nobody here mentioned Jonzun Crew!!! Their Lost In Space album is the best rollerskating music of all time!

http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Space-Jonzun-Crew/dp/B000056O09/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1209993095&sr=8-1


Sheesh! You see the price on that thing? $59.00!!

Listening to some of the samples, I don't recall ever hearing any of that. But I like it! Thanks for pointing this one out!

Sheesh! You see the price on that thing? $59.00!!

Listening to some of the samples, I don't recall ever hearing any of that. But I like it! Thanks for pointing this one out!



Yeah, I was lucky to get my CD right after it was released (it went OOP after about a year)...still have the original vinyl record album too (after 24 years!)!

One Way - Cutie Pie

One Way - Cutie Pie


Oh, I love this song! This song was just slightly before my time, roller rink-wise, but I can definitely imagine myself skating along to this song!  :)

Miquel Brown - So Many Men, So Little Time.    Just because I mention this song, doesn't mean I endorse it.

George Clinton - Atomic Dog

Yay!! I have some great ones. I used to skate from 1980 to 1983, See if you remember these ones!!!

Que Sera, Mi Vida (If you should go) - Gibson Brothers (played EVERY time!!! I still love it.)
Fly Robin Fly - Silver Convention
I see Red - Split Enz (always used for speed skates)
Stars on 45 - Stars on 45
Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet - Gonzalez
Heart Of Glass - Blondie
Good Times - Chic
Ca Plane Pour Moi - Plastic Bertrand
Rock with you - Michael Jackson
I love you - The Climax Blues Band (played a lot for couple skates)
I was made for loving you - KISS
Rapture - Blondie
Hip, Shake, Jerk - The Quick
Born to be Alive - Patrick Hernandez
Electronix (Roller Dancin') - Bob Esty

But the first song on my list is what makes me think of roller skating. Takes me back instantly!!!

Yay!! I have some great ones. I used to skate from 1980 to 1983, See if you remember these ones!!!

Que Sera, Mi Vida (If you should go) - Gibson Brothers (played EVERY time!!! I still love it.)
Fly Robin Fly - Silver Convention
I see Red - Split Enz (always used for speed skates)
Stars on 45 - Stars on 45
Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet - Gonzalez
Heart Of Glass - Blondie
Good Times - Chic
Ca Plane Pour Moi - Plastic Bertrand
Rock with you - Michael Jackson
I love you - The Climax Blues Band (played a lot for couple skates)
I was made for loving you - KISS
Rapture - Blondie
Hip, Shake, Jerk - The Quick
Born to be Alive - Patrick Hernandez
Electronix (Roller Dancin') - Bob Esty

But the first song on my list is what makes me think of roller skating. Takes me back instantly!!!



I know them all but the very first and last songs.  I youtube'd the Gibson Brothers song.  The video is kinda funny.  Interesting song.  I couldnt find the Bob Esty song.

the answer to the question:   skateway from dire straights..............................................  http://youtube.com/watch?v=jjDD30FjwdM

I remember way back when we used to skate to Gary Puckett and the Union Gap. And the skates had four wheels.. It was great fun.

Pointer Sisters - Automatic (1984)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_86SgNhDgwA

I always thought a guy sang this until recently.  Hahaha.