Bay City Rollers – “Saturday Night” (UK 45) (Bell) 1973

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Written and produced by Bill Martin and Phil Coulter. Arranged by John Drummond.

The fourth UK single from Bay City Rollers was released in June 1973 but failed to chart. Later that year, lead singer Gordon “Nobby” Clark left the band and was replaced by Les McKeown. The group re-recorded “Saturday Night” with Les singing lead.

Two years later Arista label exec, Clive Davis, was keen to break the group in the US. He arranged for the group to perform the song by satellite link on the US TV show, “Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell” (not the same show as currently airs on NBC TV). That did it – and the song with Les McKeown singing lead went to #1 on the Hot-100.

This version, though, is the original UK 45 featuring “Nobby” Clark.