I'm on a quest to collect every song I remember roller skating to back in the 80s. Anyone else roller skate back in the day, and do you have any favorite tunes from then?

Besides the usual singles from that era (80-84), here are a few of mine:

Teena Marie- Square Biz (LOVE this song! Funky as hell!)
Newcleus- Jam On It
Frankie Smith- Double Dutch Bus
Fatback Band- Gotta Get My Hands On Some (Money)
Midnight Star- Freakazoid
Tom Tom Club- Genius Of Love
Vaughan Mason and Crew - Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll
Sugarhill Gang- Jump On It and Rapper's Delight

There are more but they slip my mind at the moment...

In the late 80s when I used to go to the now defunct roller rink that was in my area, I would always hear the songs 'Stay With Me' by Tu and 'Push It' by Salt 'N Pepa

To this day, when I hear those songs, I am reminded of the fun times I had there :)

You've mentioned some great roller disco tunes!  I remember skating to Fantastic Voyage (the original, naturally), although I don't remember who sings it. 

I also remeber skating to "I Love Rock and Roll" by Joan Jett and "Starting Over" by John Lennon

I remember couples skating to the song, Cherish by Kool & The Gang.

You've mentioned some great roller disco tunes!  I remember skating to Fantastic Voyage (the original, naturally), although I don't remember who sings it. 


that was by the group Lakeside in 1981 :)

that was by the group Lakeside in 1981 :)


YEAH!!! I remember that song now. Time to look for that one...

I'm on a quest to collect every song I remember roller skating to back in the 80s. Anyone else roller skate back in the day, and do you have any favorite tunes from then?

Besides the usual singles from that era (80-84), here are a few of mine:

Teena Marie- Square Biz (LOVE this song! Funky as hell!)
Newcleus- Jam On It



Ahhhh, Roller Boogie.  Love it baby!    Square Biz is a great song though I never rollerskated to it.  On the other hand, I skated MANY times to Jam On It.  Here are a few tunes:

Shannon - Let The Music Play (1984) - Has to be the BIGGEST Roller Boogie tune EVER!!!!!!!!!!!  I like "Give Me Tonight" more though.
Freeez - I.O.U. (1983) - AKA Freeze's A.E.I.O.U. - I recently found out that white GUYS sing this. I thought it was a black girl group. A Classic!!!!
Freestyle - Don't Stop The Rock (1985) - Love It! Vocoder Heaven (or Hell).  
Strafe - Set It Off (1984)
Starpoint - Object Of My Desire (1985) - I still LOVE this song.
Sheila E - Glamourous Life (1984) - of course, a no brainer
Shalamar - Second Time Around (1980), Dancing In The Sheets (1984), and my favorite "A Night To Remember (1982)"
Ollie And Jerry - There's No Stopping Us (1984) - from one of the campiest movies of all time: Breakin'.
Junior - Mama Used To Say (1982)
Hashim - Al-Naafiysh (The Soul) (1983) - funny name, but you know the beat.  Classic roller boogie and pop-lock song.

Here's a great roller boogie slow jam for your collection:  Val Young - If You Should Ever Be Lonely (1985)

Enjoy

that was by the group Lakeside in 1981 :)

Thanks!  I should've known you'd come through with that info  ;)

Not mentioned yet:

"Lookout Weekend" and "When I Hear Music" - Debbie Deb

A Little Bit Of Jazz - by the Nick Straker Band was another good one.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll check some of those out.

I've heard some of them, like Starpoint (was a gf at the time's favorite song), but a lot of the others don't ring a bell. I bet there's a good chance that I'll know them once I hear them :)

OK, I've thought of some more:

The Wanderer by Donna Summer
Can't Fake The Feeling - Geraldine Hunt
Best Part of Breaking Up - Roni Griffith
Dancing the Night Away - Voggue

Would anything from the musical Starlight Express be suitable for it was based on a roller skating cast.

  Sea Cruise by Cliff Richard, or any of a number of artists for that matter...

Wired For Sound by Cliff Richard. The video featured roller skaters

OK, I've thought of some more:

Best Part of Breaking Up - Roni Griffith



Obscure, but good.  Did you really roller skate to this one?

All Fall Down by Five Star

Obscure, but good.  Did you really roller skate to this one?

Sure! This was all over the radio in New York.  I'm actually surprised that many people have been listing tunes past 1985.  All of the roller skating rinks were closed in Brooklyn by then and roller skating was a bit passe.

Really?  I grew up a few minutes outside of the City and didn't know Roni Griffith until I rediscovered 80's music a few years back.  I may be a few years younger though (no offense).

I agree that around '85 to '86 it was uncool to roller skate and that most the the rinks shut down in our area.

How about Xanadu by Olivia Newton-John and ELO?  That was the title track from a movie she starred in about roller disco, albeit one that bombed.

Really?  I grew up a few minutes outside of the City and didn't know Roni Griffith until I rediscovered 80's music a few years back.  I may be a few years younger though (no offense).

I agree that around '85 to '86 it was uncool to roller skate and that most the the rinks shut down in our area.


92 KTU was New York's disco station in the late 70's, early 80's and played almost every song (to death) that has been mentioned.  They went off the air in the late 80's but came back on a different frequency (although the numbers slip my mind presently).

Anyhoo, your profile tells me that you are only 2 years younger which makes you and old fart also  :D ;D  Karma.

I wasn't the best roller skater as a kid, but those evenings I spent at the skating rink was a lot of fun!  :)

The skating rink I used to go to played a lot of Michael Jackson, Prince, some Madonna, and various freestyle artists.

The last time I went to a skating rink (about 12 years ago), they played mostly 70's disco! The rink itself didn't quite have a 70's feel to it, but it was still fun to skate along to "Night Fever" and "Ring My Bell", among many other disco songs.  :)

How about Xanadu by Olivia Newton-John and ELO?  That was the title track from a movie she starred in about roller disco, albeit one that bombed.

Good choice.  And while this did bomb in the theaters, it has become a cult classic and its' great score has now made it a hit on Broadway.

Yeah... skating fell out here around 1984 or so. I do remember being at the rink when Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet came out, but it was pretty sad by then.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions. Some great songs listed here; many of which I've forgotten until I heard them again!  ;D

Maybe nowadays they have roller blading rinks where people skate to rap and hip hop and things like that.  :)

They recently opened a roller skating rink in my area, though I haven't been.  Falling on my a$# has lost its appeal.  :)

Dancing the Night Away - Voggue


8)

I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down ~ Elvis Costello And The Attractions ?

I cannot believe nobody here mentioned Jonzun Crew!!! Their Lost In Space album is the best rollerskating music of all time!

http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Space-Jonzun-Crew/dp/B000056O09/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1209993095&sr=8-1

:D  This thread has really made me dig into my brain.

"First True Love Affair" by (don't quote me) Jimmy Ross

I cannot believe nobody here mentioned Jonzun Crew!!! Their Lost In Space album is the best rollerskating music of all time!

http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Space-Jonzun-Crew/dp/B000056O09/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1209993095&sr=8-1


Sheesh! You see the price on that thing? $59.00!!

Listening to some of the samples, I don't recall ever hearing any of that. But I like it! Thanks for pointing this one out!

Sheesh! You see the price on that thing? $59.00!!

Listening to some of the samples, I don't recall ever hearing any of that. But I like it! Thanks for pointing this one out!



Yeah, I was lucky to get my CD right after it was released (it went OOP after about a year)...still have the original vinyl record album too (after 24 years!)!

One Way - Cutie Pie

One Way - Cutie Pie


Oh, I love this song! This song was just slightly before my time, roller rink-wise, but I can definitely imagine myself skating along to this song!  :)

Miquel Brown - So Many Men, So Little Time.    Just because I mention this song, doesn't mean I endorse it.

George Clinton - Atomic Dog

Yay!! I have some great ones. I used to skate from 1980 to 1983, See if you remember these ones!!!

Que Sera, Mi Vida (If you should go) - Gibson Brothers (played EVERY time!!! I still love it.)
Fly Robin Fly - Silver Convention
I see Red - Split Enz (always used for speed skates)
Stars on 45 - Stars on 45
Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet - Gonzalez
Heart Of Glass - Blondie
Good Times - Chic
Ca Plane Pour Moi - Plastic Bertrand
Rock with you - Michael Jackson
I love you - The Climax Blues Band (played a lot for couple skates)
I was made for loving you - KISS
Rapture - Blondie
Hip, Shake, Jerk - The Quick
Born to be Alive - Patrick Hernandez
Electronix (Roller Dancin') - Bob Esty

But the first song on my list is what makes me think of roller skating. Takes me back instantly!!!

Yay!! I have some great ones. I used to skate from 1980 to 1983, See if you remember these ones!!!

Que Sera, Mi Vida (If you should go) - Gibson Brothers (played EVERY time!!! I still love it.)
Fly Robin Fly - Silver Convention
I see Red - Split Enz (always used for speed skates)
Stars on 45 - Stars on 45
Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet - Gonzalez
Heart Of Glass - Blondie
Good Times - Chic
Ca Plane Pour Moi - Plastic Bertrand
Rock with you - Michael Jackson
I love you - The Climax Blues Band (played a lot for couple skates)
I was made for loving you - KISS
Rapture - Blondie
Hip, Shake, Jerk - The Quick
Born to be Alive - Patrick Hernandez
Electronix (Roller Dancin') - Bob Esty

But the first song on my list is what makes me think of roller skating. Takes me back instantly!!!



I know them all but the very first and last songs.  I youtube'd the Gibson Brothers song.  The video is kinda funny.  Interesting song.  I couldnt find the Bob Esty song.

the answer to the question:   skateway from dire straights..............................................  http://youtube.com/watch?v=jjDD30FjwdM

I remember way back when we used to skate to Gary Puckett and the Union Gap. And the skates had four wheels.. It was great fun.

Pointer Sisters - Automatic (1984)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_86SgNhDgwA

I always thought a guy sang this until recently.  Hahaha.

I have been a skate DJ for 24 years and I have all of the OLD School.

By the way, I noticed (ATARI) posted jump on it by Sugarhill Gang.  It is actually called APACHE.  Unless, you were meaning the Sir Mix A Lot song, it sounds alot like Apache.

Locomotion and I Should Be So Lucky - Kylie Minogue

Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now - Starship

Popcorn - Hot Butter

You Spin Me Around - Dead or Alive

Axel F - Harold Faltermeyer

(Boom Boom) Let's Go Back To My Room - Paul Lekakis

Aldo Nova - Fantasy
Was one of my faves.

Yay!! I have some great ones. I used to skate from 1980 to 1983, See if you remember these ones!!!

Que Sera, Mi Vida (If you should go) - Gibson Brothers (played EVERY time!!! I still love it.)
Fly Robin Fly - Silver Convention
I see Red - Split Enz (always used for speed skates)
Stars on 45 - Stars on 45
Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet - Gonzalez
Heart Of Glass - Blondie
Good Times - Chic
Ca Plane Pour Moi - Plastic Bertrand
Rock with you - Michael Jackson
I love you - The Climax Blues Band (played a lot for couple skates)
I was made for loving you - KISS
Rapture - Blondie
Hip, Shake, Jerk - The Quick
Born to be Alive - Patrick Hernandez
Electronix (Roller Dancin') - Bob Esty

But the first song on my list is what makes me think of roller skating. Takes me back instantly!!!


You even remembered:
Patrick Hernandez: Born to be Alive

Don't Forget:

REO Speedwagon: Take it on the Run
John Lennon & Yoko Ono: Woman
John Lennon: Starting Over
Billy Squier: The Stroke
Buckner & Garcia: Pacman Fever
Joel Dolce: Shaddap You Face
Men At Work: Down Under

I remember skating in a Roller Disco  to -------

Take Your Time  by the SOS Band

Genius of Love  by the Tom Tom Club

Love Come Down by Evelyn Champagne King

Upside Down and The Boss by Diana Ross

Heartbeat by Tanya Gardener

The Breaks by Kurtis Blow

I remember skating in a roller rink to where they played no Disco music------

Another One Bites the Dust by Queen

Cars by Gary Numan

Magic  by Olivia Newton John

Bette Davis Eyes  forgot the name of the artist

Sailing  Christopher Cross

I remember skating in a Roller Disco  to -------

Take Your Time  by the SOS Band

Genius of Love  by the Tom Tom Club

Love Come Down by Evelyn Champagne King

Upside Down and The Boss by Diana Ross

Heartbeat by Tanya Gardener

The Breaks by Kurtis Blow

I remember skating in a roller rink to where they played no Disco music------

Another One Bites the Dust by Queen

Cars by Gary Numan

Magic  by Olivia Newton John

Bette Davis Eyes  by Kim Carnes

Sailing  Christopher Cross


Karma.  I remember rollah-skatin' to all those songs.  Mind you, only the lame roller rink played ONJ or Christopher Cross.  S.O.S. Band "Take Your Time do It Right" is still one of my favorite disco songs, even though it arrived after the classic disco years (1974-1979).  Tom Tom Club's "Genius of Love" was more chic in the early '80s as a kind of fusion of Funk, Afro-Pop, and New Wave Minimalism.  "Cars" made Gary Numan synonymous with New Wave!  

"Bette Davis Eyes" was performed by Kim Carnes, written by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon.  

Karma.  I remember rollah-skatin' to all those songs.  Mind you, only the lame roller rink played ONJ or Christopher Cross.  S.O.S. Band "Take Your Time do It Right" is still one of my favorite disco songs, even though it arrived after the classic disco years (1974-1979).  Tom Tom Club's "Genius of Love" was more chic in the early '80s as a kind of fusion of Funk, Afro-Pop, and New Wave Minimalism.  "Cars" made Gary Numan synonymous with New Wave!  

"Bette Davis Eyes" was performed by Kim Carnes, written by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon.  


Thank you for naming the artist (Kim Carnes)  I wonder whatever happen to her?

Another honorable mention is "Funkytown" by Lipps Inc . I think it was the Summer of 1980/81 that song was all over the airwaves and our Roller Disco had a contest for the best roller skater and the song was played.

Looking back my roller rink had "Rock and Roll Night" on  Thursdays for people who didnt want to skate to Disco music.  I went skating n  Thursday  and I didnt have too much of a good time skating to The Strole by Billie Squier or Back in Black by AC/DC. 

lol

Rock Lobster - The B-52's.  ;D

Rock Lobster - The B-52's.   ;D


RL was treated like a novelty record.  It's actually far more complex than most pop songs.
8)

Love train - O'Jays
Heart of glass - Blondie

Love train - O'Jays
Heart of glass - Blondie



Heart of Glass was HUGE in the roller rinks!

A few tunes from my own roller rink experiences:

Don Henley "Dirty Laundry"
Pseudo Echo "Funkytown"
The Fat Boys w/ Beach Boys "Wipeout"

Wired For Sound by Cliff Richard. The video featured roller skaters


Yes, that video features Cliff Richard looking pretty uncomfortable on rollerskates. I think that was his mid-life crisis, lol.

Here are a few that come to mind.  Some are "danceable" some are for Moonlight couples skating only :)

Babe - Styx
I Love Rock n' Roll - Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Keep On Loving You - REO Speedwagon
Rapper's Delight - Sugar Hill Gang
Funkytown - Lipps Inc.
Open Arms - Journey
No Parking On The Dance Floor - Midnight Star
Upside Down - Diana Ross
Call Me - Blondied
I Wanna Be Your Lover - Prince
When I Need You - Leo Sayer

Boy, does this bring back memories of my teenage days!  In our town, if you were not yet of driving age; weekend activities were restricted to hanging out at the skating rink or the arcade at the mall; and my friends and I spent many a Friday and Saturday night @ the local roller rink.  Some of the tunage included:

For "All (free) skate"

We Built This City - Starship
Lovin’ Every Minute Of It - Loverboy
I Feel For You - Chaka Kahn
Money For Nothing & Walk of Life - Dire Straits
Loverboy - Billy Ocean
Be Near Me - ABC
Burning Heart - Survivor
Object of My Desire (one of my favorite tunes) - Starpoint
Obsession - Animotion
Party All The Time - eddie Murphy
West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys
Never - Heart
Let’s Go All The Way - Sly Foxx
Living In America - James Brown
anything on Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet album (which was played into the ground, I might add)
Sleeping Bag - ZZ Top
Election Day - Arcadia


For the "Chase Race" game

Celebrate Youth - Rick Springfield
Naughty Naughty - John Parr
Danger Zone - Kenny Loggins
I Can’t Drive 55 - Sammy Hagar


For "Couples" skate

Cherish - Kool & The Gang
Always - Atlantic Starr
Saving All My Love For You - Whitney Houston
Say You, Say Me - Lionel Richie
Power of Love - Air Supply
Tender Love - Force M.D.s

anything on Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet album (which was played into the ground, I might add)
Sleeping Bag - ZZ Top
Election Day - Arcadia


Interesting - tracks from 85/86.  Most of us (myself included) have memories of roller skating playlists that end abruptly around 81/83 at the latest.

Those periods coincide with either the invention (early-80s) or widespread popularization (86+) of the rollerblade/inline skate over the quad skate design - rollerblades enabled the wearer to skate on asphalt/concrete, rather than the rink surfaces of the roller skating arenas.  I'm wondering how long it took for the blade design to eclipse the older quad-skate design.  (Did the roller skating rink die because disco/early new wave died, or did it die because people switched to blading on the street?)

If your rink was still functioning as late as 85/86, were most people using traditional quad skates, or inline skates?

Only went skating a couple times (mostly hung onto the wall, gently pushing myself around the rink)

The only song I remember them playing "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang.

Only went skating a couple times (mostly hung onto the wall, gently pushing myself around the rink)



I remember doing that for weeks when I began going... the back wall was carpeted so when I reached that part; I'd just grab on to the edge of the carpet and pull myself along until I got back onto the regular concrete wall.  Boy, were my wrists sore for a few days after that.  ;D

Foo Bar:  When I was going, everyone still used the quad skates.  The rink stayed open into the '90's (I believe it closed in 1998 or 1999).  I stopped going shortly after I began driving so I do not know if they switched to rollerblades.

Here's a few from the 1970's when I skated.

Flashlight-Parliment
Double Dutch Bus-Frankie Smith
Emotion-Samantha Sang
Rollercoaster-Ohio Players
Fire-Ohio Players
Brick House-Commodores

New York Groove by Ace Freley always felt like a roller skating song to me.

Bounce Rock Skate Roll By Vaughn Mason And Crew

Bounce Rock Skate Roll By Vaughn Mason And Crew


Yes, Howard!  This one was big in NY!

Yes, Howard!  This one was big in NY!



It was one of the funkiest hits in 1982.

Hi Guys

Really pleased to come across this site, and hoping that perhaps my years of wondering may well be over.

I'm originally from Aberdeen, Scotland and in the late 70's early 80's went to a roller skating disco.  There's one song that I distinctly remember from this time, have tried to find it on many occasion over
the years, but don't know who it's by or what it's called, I only remember a few of the lyrics.  It was sung by a woman, had a New York disco sound (as far as I remember).  The lyrics went something along
the lines of:  'When I'm rolling, all around the floor, when I'm ro-o-o-o-ling.......  'Who could ask for more'.

Sorry, that's all I remember - but it would be fantastic if someone could recognise this song as it's been driving me mad forever now, probably the only song that remains a mystery to me!!!

Thanks you all in advance.

Audra

Vin Zee Funky Bebop

8)  Buttermilk Biscuits - Sir Mix A Lot

There were some other rap songs, & songs with "space age" sounds I can't think of.

Im thinking all the above.....has anyone said the whispers?  ROCK STEADY? well and  shining star? just sayin... cuz thats some of our couples competition songs and thats from the 80'S.......o yea!

OMG-the memories!!!! Here are a few I remember skating to back in the days, there are more, but these were some of the best....thanks for the skate down memory lane!

Ain't No Stopping Us Now-McFadden & Whitheead
Shame; Love Come Down; I Don't Know If It's Right-Evelyn "Champagne" King
Hollywood Swinging; Ladies' Night-Kool & the Gang
One Nation Under the Groove-Parliament Funkadelic
This Time, Baby-Jackie Moore
There But For The Grace of God, There Go I-Machine
Spring Affair; On The Radio; Heaven Knows; Dim All The Lights-Donna Summer
Give Me The Night-George Benson
Boogie Wonderland-Earth, Wind, & Fire
Cream Always Rises to the Top-Bionic Boogie
You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else-The Jones Girls
I'm Caught Up (In A One Night Love Affair)-Inner Life
And The Beat Goes On-The Whispers

Favorite skating song ever:  Eddy Grant's Electric Avenue. 

And a couple others no one's mentioned:

Rebbie Jackson: Centipede
Mary Jane Girls: In My House

Both solid early/mid 80s skating standards where I'm from.  I haven't heard Centipede since then, probably!

Wow... this over-3-year-old thread is still alive! I haven't been here for a looooong time (busy with life and family; hardly any internet time anymore) but a private message spurred me to pop in. I'm amazed at how large this thread has grown! Some GREAT songs that I definitely need to hands on! Thanks to everyone for their suggestions over the years.

You can view my entire roller skating/arcade game playing collection in PDF format (and other 80s stuff) over at my new blog at http://80s-stuff.blogspot.com/. My MTV Myspace page was taken down by Viacom, unfortunately; I need to change my sig...

You can view my entire roller skating/arcade game playing collection in PDF format (and other 80s stuff) over at my new blog at http://80s-stuff.blogspot.com/. My MTV Myspace page was taken down by Viacom, unfortunately; I need to change my sig...


Welcome back!  

And now a tribute to Bowling For Soup's 1985:

WYf6mVTIWmg

  - Palette Swap Ninja, Arcade Gaming Shrine, featuring footage from California Extreme 2010.

Slightly on-topic: Well, we nerds had to go somewhere when the DJ at the roller rink played a slow song.

Situation - The Yaz
High Energy - Evelyn Thomas

If I could roller skate this is what I would be rollerskating to.

Planet Earth: Duran Duran
Mad world: Tears For Fears
Video Killed The Raido Star: The Buggles
I Don't Like Mondays: The Boomtown Rats
Pop Muzik: M
I'm A Star In New York And A Star In LA: Patsy Gallant
Situation Critical: Platinum Blonde
Safety Dance: Men Without Hats

Wow, this brings back some memories.  One of my very first jobs was at a DJ at a roller rink in 1982.  Skate World, in Boise, Idaho.

I always opened my sets with the same song, I'm Alright, by Kenny Loggins.

Abracadabra - Steve Miller Band
Centerfold - J. Geils Band
Freeze Frame - J. Geils Band
Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor
Tainted Love - Soft Cell
Rosanna - Toto
Shake It Up - Cars
Eye In The Sky - Alan Parsons Project
Open Arms - Journey
Private Eyes - Hall & Oats
Hooked On Classics (along with the Stars on 45 medleys)
I Ran - Flock Of Seagulls
Arthur's Theme - Christopher Cross

For me the list just goes on and on.  And often times I can't hear those songs without remembering back to those days.

Yep... back again :)

The blog that was in my signature was taken down as well, some time ago. I guess they didn't like me posting samples of even obscure songs, and they're cracking down on the many Blogspot sites that post mp3s. Oh well...

TONS of great suggestions here, and lots of stuff I've never heard before. The memories posted here are great to read as well, and it's nice to see this almost-4-year-old thread still going! Keep it coming!

I recently took my son to the same skating rink that I used to go to as a teen (Kentwood Arena, now known as Kentwood Fun Spot, in Michigan). It was quite surreal, even though much of the interior had changed. It definitely brought back some great memories. The coolest part was that Double Dutch Bus by Frankie Smith was playing when we walked in! Throughout the time we spent there, they played quite a few songs from the days that I used to hang out there, including the version of the Hokey Pokey that I spent many years hunting down (and bought from the original composer; the entire CD is corny skating songs). We'll have to go back again soon!

The coolest part was that Double Dutch Bus by Frankie Smith was playing when we walked in!


This may be of interest to you: I think we're still the only place with complete lyrics to Double Dutch Bus. (EDIT: Correction: one of two, thanks Hollalee!)