"Devil's Gun" is a 1977 song by
C. J. & Company from the
album of the same name. "Devil's Gun" was written by
Barry Green (also known as Barry Blue),
Ron Roker
Ronald Ernest Alfred Roker (born 23 January 1941) is an English songwriter, singer and record producer.
Roker has written UK chart hits for Jackie Lee, The Fortunes, Barry Blue, Tina Charles, Polly Brown, The Pearls, The Real Thing and Swe ...
, and Gerry Shury and produced by Mike Theodore and
Dennis Coffey
Dennis James Coffey (born November 11, 1940) is an American guitarist. He was a studio musician for many soul and R&B recordings, and is well known for his 1971 Top 10 hit single " Scorpio".
Biography
Coffey learned to play guitar at the a ...
.
Along with the tracks "We Got Our Own Thing" and "Sure Can't Go to the Moon", the song went to number one for five weeks on the
''Billboard'' disco/dance chart. The single also peaked at #2 on the
R&B chart
The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...
. and at #36 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100.
The song's longevity had it barely cut the 1977 year-end chart despite its low peak position, at #100. The song would remain the lowest peaked song to appear in the year end for 37 years, and even unmatched for 20 years.
Chart performance
Popular culture
*The song is notable for being the first record played at the opening of
Studio 54
Studio 54 is a Broadway theatre, Broadway theater and former nightclub at 254 West 54th Street (Manhattan), 54th Street in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City, New York, U.S. Opened as the Gallo Opera House in 1927, it served ...
on April 26, 1977, by DJ
Richie Kaczor.
"Disco-Disco: A history of Studio 54"
*The instrumental portions of "Devil's Gun" were featured prominently in the International version of ''Crocodile
Crocodiles (family (biology), family Crocodylidae) or true crocodiles are large, semiaquatic reptiles that live throughout the tropics in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia. The term "crocodile" is sometimes used more loosely to include ...
''.
*It was also featured in the documentary '' The Real Bruce Lee''.
*In 2016 the song was rediscovered due to its inclusion in ''The Get Down
''The Get Down'' is an American musical drama television series created by Baz Luhrmann and Stephen Adly Guirgis. The series debuted on Netflix on August 12, 2016, and was cancelled after one season.
Produced by Sony Pictures Television, the s ...
'' soundtrack.
*In 2017 it was featured in the film "BORG Vs McENROE" on General release in the UK and Europe and due out in 2018 in the USA.
*Devil's Gun is the fight song of the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils and Devilettes
The Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils and Devilettes (also MVSU and Mississippi Valley) represent Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, Mississippi in intercollegiate athletics. They field thirteen teams including men and women's ...
athletic teams of Mississippi Valley State University
Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU, The Valley or Valley) is a Public university, public Historically black colleges and universities, historically black university in Mississippi Valley State, Mississippi, adjacent to Itta Bena, Mississ ...
, an HBCU
Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the intention of serving African Americans. Most are in the Southern U ...
in Itta Bena, Mississippi
Itta Bena is a city in Leflore County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 2,049 at the 2010 census. The town's name is derived from the Choctaw phrase ''iti bina'', meaning "forest camp". Itta Bena is part of the Greenwood, Mississipp ...
.
*The song's latest inclusion will be in the documentary being made of "Studio 54" due soon.
See also
* List of number-one dance singles of 1977 (U.S.)
References
{{authority control
1977 singles
1977 songs
American disco songs
Songs written by Barry Blue
Songs written by Ron Roker
Songs written by Gerry Shury