The “Golden Hits Of The 70s”
Main MenuConcept Refinement The Author..Wayne JancikGolden Age Of The 50sGolden Age Of The 60s1970s and There After
STARLAND VOCAL BAND
“AFTERNOON DELIGHT”
(Bill Danoff)
Windsong 10588
No. 1 July 70, 1976
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Lead singer Kathy “Taffy” Danoff of the Starland Vocal Band explained to Rolling Stone just how
”Afternoon Delight” was conceived. “[My husband] Bill wrote it after having lunch at Clyde’s in
Washington, DC. It seems Clyde’s has a menu called ‘Afternoon Delight’ with stuff like spiced shrimp and
hot Brie with almonds. So Bill ate it … [then] explained to me what an ‘Afternoon Delight’ should be.”
Oh sure, it was naughty, but nice. Conservative AM radio stations played it and consumers bought it up by
the million. The group was awarded Grammys for “Best Arrangement for Vocals (Duos, Group or
Chorus)” and “Best New Artists of the Year.” Their Star/and Vocal Band (1976) album sold well, and
later 45s charted modestly–“California Day” (#66, 1976), “Hail! Hail! Rock and Roll” (#71, 1977), and
“Loving You With My Eyes” (#71, 1980).
These Mamas & Papas clones were given a six-week CBS summer replacement TV show–a major shot at
big-time stardom. “Major mistake,” said keyboardist/guitarist Jon Carroll (b. Mar. 1, 1957, Washington,
DC). “To make a long story short, it was a bad show, and we knew it early on.” The show did feature, as a
comedy regular, one David Letterman. The Starland Vocal Band remained together through 1980, issuing
predictable musical products.
Taffy (b. Kathleen Nivert, Oct. 24, 1944, Washing ton, DC) and co-lead singer Bill Danoff (b. May 7, 1946,
Springfield, MA) had been working the DC music scene for some years before their meteoric rise. During
the late ’60s, Bill was the light and sound man at the Cellar Door. It was there that he met Chad Mitchell
Trio member John Denver. Danoff slipped Denver some of his songs, and a friendship grew. Later, Bill
and Taffy wrote “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” a colossal hit for John. Years later, after the Danoff’s
recorded failed efforts as both Fat City (Reincarnation [1969]; Welcome to Fat City [1971]) and as Bill
and Taffy (Pass It On; Aces), Denver returned the favor by signing the duo to his Windsong label.
”Afternoon Delight” was the first single for Windsong.
Jon Carroll continued to write songs. In 1982, he was particularly successful when Linda Ronstadt had a
hit with his “Get Closer” (#32, 1982). Jon and the Starland Vocal Band’s fourth member, singer Margot
Chapman (b. Sept. 7, 1957, Honolulu) have since married. Bill and Taffy have since separated, though
they have reappeared as Fat City during the late ’80s in Washington, DC.