Grease (song)

"Grease"
Single by Frankie Valli
from the album Grease: The Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture
B-side	"Grease (Instrumental)"
Released	May 1978
Format	7"
Recorded	April 1978 Criteria Studios, Miami, Florida, United States
Genre	Disco, rock
Length	3:21
Label	RSO, Polydor
Writer(s)	Barry Gibb
Producer	Barry Gibb, Albhy Galuten, Karl Richardson

"Grease" is the title song for the musical motion picture Grease, which was based on the stage play of the same name. The song was sung by Frankie Valli and was featured twice on the film's soundtrack, as the first track and reprised as the final track. It became a No. 1 single in the United States in 1978 and also reached No. 40 on the R&B charts in the same year. The song was written by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees. The Bee Gees would later perform the song in concert, as captured on their live offering One Night Only.

History

Barry Gibb wrote a title song to order for the Robert Stigwood film of the stage music Grease, Since it is heard only in the animated opening credits, it did not need to be recorded before filming. The song was recorded shortly after filming for the 1978 musical film Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, which was probably when Gibb invited Peter Frampton to the session, The other uncredited musicians were some of those from the Andy Gibb album that was being made around the same time.

Cover versions

"Grease" was covered by experimental rock band Dog Fashion Disco and included as a hidden track on their album Committed to a Bright Future and sampled in the track "I Want You" by Paris Hilton on her debut album as well as "Rock The Party", a 2001 single by UK boy band Five.

The song's chorus is sung by Mike Patton on the Mr. Bungle song "Travolta" from the band's self-titled major label debut album.

Part of the song was interpolated in "Joints & Jam", a 1998 single by The Black Eyed Peas as well as being heard in the song Blue Angels by Pras released in the same year. The song was covered by UK girl group Girls Aloud. It was also sampled by De La Soul on their 1991 song "A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays".

The song "The Word", with album artist as Paul Oakenfold, is an electronic dub remix of "Grease" on the 2001 soundtrack to the motion picture Swordfish (film). This could be considered a remixed sample since it contains few lyrics; mainly repeating "it's the word" throughout the song.

In 2011, the song was parodied by The Fringemunks to recap Fringe episode 3.07, "The Abducted."

References

Preceded by "Three Times a Lady" by Commodores

Billboard Hot 100 number one single August 26, 1978

Succeeded by "Boogie Oogie Oogie" by A Taste of Honey