Disco Duck

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"Disco Duck" was a satirical disco novelty song performed by Memphis disc jockey Rick Dees and His Cast of Idiots and released in 1976, where it became a number-one hit (and ranked as the ninety-ninth most popular song of the year according to Billboard Magazine). Combining orchestral disco styles with a Donald Duck-esque character as the main plot point, the song's story concerns a man at a disco party who is overcome with the urge to dance in a duck-like manner, and is soon emulated by the rest of the crowd.

The Walt Disney Company asserts that Clarence Nash, the traditional voice of Donald Duck, did not voice-act as Disco Duck (according to the label, the duck vocals were arranged by Ken Pruitt, who was a friend of Dees). However, the 1979 album Mickey Mouse Disco, a late entry in the genre, did feature the track "Macho Duck," (which is also inspired by "Macho Man" performed by Village People) and the voice of Nash on the track.

"Disco Duck" written by Dees, was inspired by a 60s novelty dance song "The Duck", recorded by Jackie Lee in 1965.

The song made a "cameo" appearance in Saturday Night Fever, in a scene at the dance club in which some some senior citizens were learning to dance disco-style. The song was out of character with the rest of the film's music, and was not included on the soundtrack album.

Rick Dees found out through bitter experience that the song was not included on the soundtrack album. He said (talking about the experience back in the 80's) that the soundtrack album did not include the song, though the film did. It sold over 25 million. Song royalties at the time for inclusion on an album were approximately 10 cents a track, so he lost 2.5 million. Since those remarks he has lost even more, as the worldwide album and CD sales now top 40 million!

Preceded by "A Fifth of Beethoven" by Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band

Billboard Hot 100 number one single October 16, 1976

Succeeded by "If You Leave Me Now" by Chicago