The Unlikely Soundtrack of a Summer 50 Years Ago
As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, memories of the Bicentennial summer of 1976 are flooding back. The era was marked by corporate patriotic branding, a plethora of variety specials, and a very memorable version of Schoolhouse Rock. However, one pop/folk song stood out as the soundtrack to that summer, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard charts just after Independence Day: The Starland Vocal Band’s ‘Afternoon Delight.’
The song, released as part of the band’s eponymous debut album, was written by Bill Danoff, who had already achieved a degree of fame. Danoff and his then-wife Taffy Nivert, along with John Denver, co-wrote ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads,’ which in 1971 became one of Denver’s biggest hits. The song’s title ‘Afternoon Delight’ was inspired by the name of a menu at Clyde’s of Georgetown, where Danoff and Nivert sometimes performed.
According to Danoff, the songwriting process wasn’t linear. He told the Washington Post in 2011, ‘Lines and metaphors just started coming. I don’t know where ‘skyrockets in flight’ came from — maybe a comic book. My songwriting process isn’t linear.’
‘Afternoon Delight’ was released as a single months before the album, but it seemed to land at the right moment, in a summer of celebration. The song is quintessentially of its time, capturing the sunnier side of the ’70s. Despite its innuendo of a nooner, it got endless radio airplay, was covered by aspiring singers throughout the year, and the Starland Vocal Band even performed at Oral Roberts University, Danoff told the Post.
The band won best new artist at the Grammys the following year, and ‘Afternoon Delight’ was nominated for song of the year and record of the year. That summer, it headlined its own CBS variety show, short-lived but featuring regulars who included David Letterman. The first episode was partially shot in Georgetown, not too far from where ‘Afternoon Delight’ got its start.
The Legacy of ‘Afternoon Delight’
‘Afternoon Delight’ has become a nostalgic staple, featured in movies like Anchorman and on shows like The Simpsons. However, its lyrics, despite invoking patriotic ‘skyrockets in flight,’ largely have a sexual meaning: ‘Gonna find my baby, gonna hold her tight / Gonna grab some afternoon delight.’
Today, the song remains a reminder of the carefree spirit of the 1970s. Its enduring popularity is a testament to the power of music to evoke memories and emotions. As America continues to celebrate its 250th anniversary, ‘Afternoon Delight’ stands as a nostalgic tribute to a bygone era.
