"San Francisco (You've Got Me)" is the debut
single by the American disco group
Village People
Village People is an American disco group known for its on-stage costumes and suggestive lyrics in their music. The group was originally formed by French producers Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo and lead singer Victor Willis following the re ...
. It was released in 1977 as the lead single from their
self-titled debut studio album. The song reached number fifteen on the Australian
Kent Music Report
The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music historian David Kent from May 1974 through to January 1999. The chart was re-branded the Australian Music Report (AMR) in July 19 ...
and peaked at number two on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.
''
Record World
''Record World'' magazine was one of three major weekly music industry trade magazines in the United States, with ''Billboard'' and '' Cashbox''. It was founded in 1946 as ''Music Vendor''. In 1964, it was changed to ''Record World'' under the ...
'' said that it is "based upon a driving dance beat, with a good, male r&b vocal."
''Classic Rock History'' critic Brian Kachejian rated it the Village People's 10th greatest song, saying that it "is pure disco right from the opening cowbell."
Music video
The song quickly became a hit and requests for the "group" to perform on shows such as
Dick Clark
Richard Wagstaff Clark (November 30, 1929April 18, 2012) was an American television and radio personality and television producer who hosted ''American Bandstand'' from 1956 to 1989. He also hosted five incarnations of the Pyramid (game show), ...
's
American Bandstand
''American Bandstand'' (AB) is an American Music television, music performance and dance television series that aired in various iterations from 1952 to 1989. It was hosted by Dick Clark who also served as the program's Television producer, pr ...
began pouring in. At that time, the "group" was only lead singer
Victor Willis
Victor Edward Willis (born July 1, 1951) is an American singer, songwriter and a founding member of the disco group Village People. He performed as their lead singer and was co-songwriter for all of their most successful singles. In the group, h ...
. Producer Jacques Morali hastily assembled a group around Willis to perform in a video for the song. Willis brought in
Alex Briley
Alexander Briley is an American singer who was the original "G.I." in the disco recording act Village People.
Early life and education
Briley was the son of a Christianity, Christian minister. Raised in Harlem and later Mount Vernon, New York ...
who eventually became the group's G.I. character. Morali brought in a few friends, songwriter Peter Whitehead and dancer
Felipe Rose who would become the group's
Indian character.
Chart positions
Weekly Charts
Year-end charts
References
1977 debut singles
Village People songs
Casablanca Records singles
Songs about San Francisco
Song recordings produced by Jacques Morali
1977 songs
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