Deep Groove Encylopedia - Bruce Johnston

Bruce Johnston

Click here for a sample of Bruce Johnston:

During disco's domination of pop music, many artists tried to hitch their wagons to the disco train. But few records have as genuine a leftfied origin as "Pipeline."

Johnston was a member of the Beach Boys and later wrote the horribly saccharine "I Write the Songs" for Barry Manilow. For his solo debut, Going Places, it was more of the same bland melodies that had already made him rich, until "Pipeline" rose from the speakers as the album's last song. Whether conceived as an experiement or cynical attempt to cash in on the disco scene, the song rocked and continues to rock dancefloors across the globe. It has been sampled on numerous house records. After "Pipeline," though, it was back to the pop life for Johnston.

Bruce Johnston's Deepest Groove

Going Places (Columbia, 1977)
The album is nothing like "Pipeline," try to find the song on 12 inch or on a compilation. You'll be happy you did.