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Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Cusp Song of the Day: (Are You Ready) Do The Bus Stop

Just as "The Twist" was both a song and a dance craze, multiple disco songs were tied to specific dances: the Hustle and its many iterations, and a series of line dances including the Bus Stop and the Electric Slide. The Fatback Band's "(Are You Ready) Do The Bus Stop" didn't make the Top 40 when it was released in 1975, but it's credited with updating line dancing for the disco era. In fact, the band's "Spanish Hustle" appears on the B side of a special disco release of the "Bus Stop."

In Cusp, Craig teaches the Bus Stop to Mark and Karen. "On the dance floor, it’s way too loud for real conversation, so I just give in and try to get my thoughts together while Craig teaches us the step. He yells over the music that the Hustle is passé and the Bus Stop is the hot new thing. I place my purse on the floor where I can keep an eye on it and try to focus."

Fun fact: Besides disco line dances, The Fatback Band is also credited with the first hip hop single release, "Kim Tim III," which came out about six months before "Rapper's Delight," the Sugarhill Gang song credited with launching the rap/hip hop genre.

Curious about the Bus Stop's steps? Well, they're pretty basic. You can get an idea here.

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