“Get Down Tonight” by KC and the Sunshine Band

I was asked the other day what I thought were some of the most influential record labels. There are almost too many to name, but several that immediately popped into my head were King, Sun, Def-Jam, SST, Chess, 4AD, Motown and Stax. One label not on that list was the short-lived but highly influential TK Records. Formed in 1972 by Henry Stone and Steve Alaimo, the Hialeah Florida based label sold millions of Funk and Disco albums throughout the 70’s

One of the major reasons for their success was part time employee Harry Wayne Casey.  After being introduced to Richard Finch, a newly hired recording engineer and bassist, Casey and Finch formed KC and the Sunshine Band. Together, with the help of various TK house musicians, they penned 6 top ten singles and put TK Records on the map.
“Get Down Tonight” was the first single from their second album titled KC and the Sunshine Band. It’s an ageless dance song with an addictive chorus and a perfectly placed rhythm section. It was also their first number one song and although I adore it, I still find the humorous double-timed recorded lead guitar distracting.
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“Get Down Tonight” and “That's the Way (I Like It)” both continue to be featured on soundtracks, in shopping malls and at just about every wedding I’ve ever attended. I think they are timeless dance songs from a monster album that is often overlooked for being “Disco.” KC and the Sunshine Band is especially noteworthy because it was recorded and produced on a shoestring budget by an independent label.