Music of the Day, 1 July 2025

spinning like a top

It’s possible that I heard this British disco hit back in 1976, but I have no memory of it. It was a key element in a British drama series that aired in 2015, which I happened across via a search on an actor’s name. What brought all that up from the depths of my mind today is a mystery, but I’m happy to be reminded of both.

“I Love to Love (But My Baby Loves to Dance)” (“ILTL”) was Tina Charles’ biggest hit, but it—and she—never really caught fire in the US. She was very successful in Europe and elsewhere in the 1970s, and again in the 2000s when her music saw a resurgence, leading her to return to live performances. According to her Wiki page, she’s still active in music and has worked with many well-known artists.

The show that introduced “ILTL” to me is River. I discovered it on Netflix when I searched for Stellan Skarsgård, whose work I’d enjoyed in Melancholia, The Hunt for Red October, and Good Will Hunting, among other films. I don’t remember many details of the series, but I do remember the intense emotions River provoked in me, largely through Skarsgård and costar Nicola Walker’s performances, and deft use of “ILTL.”

Listening to “ILTL” today, I can’t hazard a guess as to why it wasn’t more successful in the US, other than we had so much homegrown talent that it was hard for others to break through. But that seems a stretch, so I dunno. The vagaries of the music industry have always been beyond my understanding.

Somewhat unusually, after hearing this song today, I’d much rather immerse myself in the series rather than the song. Not having access to River now, I’ll have to content myself with something else once my work is done. Any other Tina Charles songs or disco music recommendations are welcome.