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Live and Sleazy (1979)

Where the lyrics of Live and Sleazy take you, and where it was really made.

The live disc was sung entirely by Victor Willis, who had already left the group after the album Go West.

Key places

The Greek Theatre in the reissue plan (1979)

Live show Greek Theatre — In 2018 Victor Willis announced a stand-alone reissue of this album's live portion, titled after the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Live and Sleazy is the first live album and fifth studio album by Village People
• The album mixes live and studio recordings
• Released as a double LP in September 1979 on Casablanca Records
• Two discs: "Live" and "Sleazy"
• Musicians are credited under the name Bittersweet
• Horace Ott is credited as arranger and conductor of the string and horn sections
• Some songs were performed on the 1979 tour but left off the original release

Background

• Victor Willis, the original cop, left the group after the album Go West, the previous release
• From this album onward, Ray Simpson took over the cop role
• Victor Willis sang lead on the entire "Live" disc
• The "Sleazy" disc has several lead singers, not one
• David Hodo, a construction worker character, sings lead on track 1 of the "Sleazy" disc
• Ray Simpson sings lead on tracks 2, 3, and 5 of the "Sleazy" disc
• Alex Briley, the G.I. character, sings lead on track 4 of the "Sleazy" disc
• Songs left off the original release despite being performed on the 1979 tour include "Key West", "Go West", "Village People", and "I Wanna Shake Your Hand"
• Victor Willis announced plans to remaster and reissue the live portion as a stand-alone album in 2018

Recording

• All music on the album is credited to composer Jacques Morali
• The song "Sleazy" is credited to J. Morali, H. Belolo, B. Whitehead, and P. Hurtt
• The live disc and the studio disc were both released together as one double LP

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ja.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com · fr.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Disc 1

Disc 2

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Village People is an American disco group known for on-stage costumes and suggestive lyrics.
• The group was formed by French producers Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo and lead singer Victor Willis after the debut album Village People, which targeted disco's large gay audience.
• The name refers to Manhattan's Greenwich Village, long associated with a gay neighborhood reputation.
• The characters symbolized American masculinity and macho gay-fantasy personas.

Members

• The classic six-member lineup of 1978 featured Victor Willis (policeman/naval officer), Felipe Rose (native American), Alex Briley (soldier), Glenn Hughes (leatherman/biker), David Hodo (construction worker) and Randy Jones (cowboy).
• Membership changed many times over the decades, and Victor Willis later returned as lead singer with a new group of background singers.

Career

• The group scored international disco and dance hits including "Macho Man", "In the Navy", "Go West", and "Y.M.C.A.", their biggest hit.
• Their 1979 peak included a North American tour, appearances on The Merv Griffin Show and American Bandstand, and a Rolling Stone cover.
• The 1980 film Can't Stop the Music was a box office failure outside Australia.
• In March 2020 the Library of Congress added "Y.M.C.A." to the National Recording Registry.
• In 2017 Victor Willis regained the Village People name and characters after legal disputes.
• Victor Willis died on June 30, 2026, at age 74.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Cash Box called the song "Sleazy" an amusing self-parody that relies more than ever on the group's choral singing
• Cash Box's comment points to the zealous choral work as the element carrying the vocals
• Record World called the song great dance music
• Record World's comment praises the track in dance-floor terms

Reappraisal

• Victor Willis announced plans to remaster and reissue the live portion as a stand-alone live album titled "Village People Live At The Greek Theatre" in 2018
• Songs performed on the 1979 tour but left off the original release include "Key West", "Go West", "Village People", and "I Wanna Shake Your Hand"

Records

• Released as a double LP, the group's first live album and fifth studio album
• Two discs, "Live" and "Sleazy", each mixing live or studio material
• The Rebound Records CD release placed the studio tracks before the live tracks
• Live disc track list: "Fire Island", "Hot Cop", a medley of "San Francisco (You've Got Me)" and "In Hollywood (Everybody Is a Star)", "Macho Man", "In the Navy", and "Y.M.C.A."
• Sleazy disc track list: "Sleazy", "Rock and Roll Is Back Again", "Ready for the 80's", and two versions of "Save Me"
• Released in September 1979 on Casablanca Records

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ja.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Victor Willis announced a 2018 stand-alone reissue of the live portion, titled "Village People Live At The Greek Theatre"
• Songs performed on the 1979 tour were left off the original release, including "Key West" and "Go West"
• The Rebound Records CD release placed the studio tracks before the live tracks
• Horace Ott is credited for the string and horn arrangements and for conducting

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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