Album: Starland Vocal Band (1976)

Charted: 18 1

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• Gonna find my baby, gonna hold her tight
  Gonna grab some afternoon delight
  My motto's always been 'when it's right, it's right'
  Why wait until the middle of a cold dark night?
  When everything's a little clearer in the light of day
  And we know the night is always gonna be there any way
  
  Thinkin' of you's workin' up my appetite
  Looking forward to a little afternoon delight
  Rubbin' sticks and stones together makes the sparks ingite
  And the thought of lovin' you is getting so exciting
  Sky rockets in flight
  Afternoon delight
  Afternoon delight
  Afternoon delight
  
  Started out this morning feeling so polite
  I always though a fish could not be caught who wouldn't bite
  But you've got some bait a waitin' and I think I might try nibbling
  A little afternoon delight
  Sky rockets in flight
  Afternoon delight
  Afternoon delight
  Afternoon delight
  
  Please be waiting for me, baby, when I come around
  We could make a lot of lovin' 'for the sun goes down
  
  Thinkin' of you's workin' up my appetite
  Looking forward to a little afternoon delight
  Rubbin' sticks and stones together makes the sparks ingite
  And the thought of lovin' you is getting so exciting
  Sky rockets in flight
  Afternoon delight
  Afternoon delight
  Afternoon delight
  
  Afternoon delight! Writer/s: BILL DANOFF
  Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Songtrust Ave, Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 57

• Killgrow from 28031My dad would always change the channel when this song came on the radio but I did not know why then as I was too young. He change the song "Go all the Way" by the raspberries even as my brothers an I sang it. I think 'Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood got by him however. :)
• AnonymousYou don’t know what you got til its gone...
• Jeanne from St. Ann, MoDid the original group record other songs?
• James Spencer from Mudgee, AustraliaThe song was originally used on Simon Townsend's Wonder World, a children's show from Australia that first aired in 1976 (according to Wikipedia). Simon Townsend (the show's host) is probably one of the most gentle and polite TV personalities you're ever likely to see on the TV. As soon as he found out the meaning behind the song, he created a custom theme song.
  I personally remember seeing this song when the show originally aired and i'm sure it's archived somewhere.
• Kenny Jenkins from Savannah, GaThis song brings back a lot of memories for me. Their summer replacement show on CBS was great.
• Smitty from EarthIn the second verse, it sure sounds like they sing "Rubbin' sticks and stones together makes the sparks ignite And the thought of RUBBIN' you is gettin' so exciting."
• Seventhmist from 7th HeavenI never knew this group was the "Fat City" that backed up some of John Denver classics in the early 70s.
• Pete Mcducklet from The MoonAndrew from Birmingham, United States says"...It's not encouraging any sexual immorality that I can tell. If it is, it's obscure..." So, the lyric 'rubbing sticks and stones together make the sparks ignite and the thought of rubbing you is getting so exciting' is obscure?
• Rockpiler from Joe, MtRich in LA: Van Halen and Elvis Costello were not nominated for a Grammy in 1976. Van Halen's first album was released in 1978. Costello's first album was released in the UK in 1977, but he didn't get any U.S. radio airplay until the year after.
• Bill from UsYou must admit the line "Thinkin' of you's workin' ......up my appetite" is kind of hard to fit it the melody without a little tongue twisting the first dozen times, how many times did you sing it before you got it right?
  
• Camille from Toronto, OhThis was a big favorite of mine when it was popular in '76. Over the years, I decided it was kind of hokey. It surprised me, then, how I immediately loved it when I listen to it on my ipod with my earbuds! Through the ipod/earbuds I hear all the amazing blending of the voices; it's actually quite an experience. They gave themselves the perfect name: Starland VOCAL Band.
• Peterm from Birmingham, United KingdomI never had any hangups about the meanings of songs like slow hand (pointer sisters)or night moves (Bob Seger) This is just another fun song that's well presented and at least they look like they are enjoying singing it. It was also the year we were married at university (still together)so it was a good time too. Why make heavy weather of it all? It's fun to trawl through and listen.
• Belinda from Cresskill New Jresey, NjLet's give a big "thank you" to Bill,Taffy,Margot and John for making the summer of 1976 the greatest summer ever.Whenever I fall in love I sing the words to that special lady.Brings me back to summer 1976 when we lived in a dreamlike paradise as compared to today.Taffy is extremely good-looking and look at Margot-she's Hawaiian-american.The Starland Vocal Band is another example of the musical genius dreamlike paradise unbeleivably unreal fantastic talent that ONLY came from the 1970's.We love you Bill,Taffy,Margot and John.
• Camille from Toronto, OhI gotta agree with Julie about associating this song with less complicated times; I was also a senior the year this came out. Of course, all the references about rubbing sticks and stones together and making sparks ignite...doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out you can't really see fireworks that good in the afternoon, so the song must be about.......
• Reed from New Ulm, MnLove the harmony on this one!!!!
• Mixermatt from Bloomington, MnI did a gig a few years ago and somebody got up set when I played this song at a dance. The person went on telling me the song had to do with drugs..and sex.. i told the person that the song was requested.. The person still got up set. I was told drop the song and play another song.. BOOOO to that person
  Top of that I did the gig for free
• Bruce from Boston , MaMy memory of this song and I think about it almost everytime I hear it is, when I was a teenager hearing this song at the beach and actually listening to the lyrics for the first time. I cant believe today how incredibly horny this simple jester in this song made me. I guess when your that age it doesnt take much. Lets just say I had to stay lying face down on my towel for while. I cant imagine being a kid today and hearing the things on the radio that they hear.
• Robert from Denver, CoThis song was also used as the "Horrible" song that was used to torture a room full of captive party goers in the movie "PCU". Funny stuff.
  I still love the song though.
• Rich from La, CaGreat Song... But when they won the Grammy Award for best new act in 1976... among the others up for that same award were Elvis Costello & Van Halen!
• Michelina from The Mountains, Co[Shana, you must be a mere baby!] Yes, yes, it's a corny song. But sometimes you can't get past your own subjective view of a song connected with an event/time period of note in your life. And like a lot of the 70's AM radio staples, the harmonies are pretty darn good.
• Dave from Baltimore, MdI think of this song every summer!
• Polly from Anna, IlThis song reminds me of swimming all afternoon at the city pool; feeding my cousin "Hawaiian Delight" baby food and sneaking bites and; of course I thought it was about fireworks. I was a bit young for me to realize the sexual theme. Nevertheless; it was one of the all time great songs of the summer in 1976! WRAJ radio station played it constantly. I can now understand why my parentes HATED this song.
• Richard from Talladega, AlJazz drummer Billy Cobham played the drums on this.
• Mark from Grafton, United StatesThis song belongs on the jukebox in hell. 'Nuff said.
• Andrew from Birmingham, United StatesWhere did this song come from? Is it derived from Song of Solomon? It conveys roughly the same message - at least I think it does. It's not encouraging any sexual immorality that I can tell. If it is, it's obscure. I used to think this was about either fireworks or launching a satellite.
• Cyberpope from Richmond, Canada"Asftyernoon Delight" = going home for a "nooner"
  "star rockets in flight" = traditional Hollywood movie representation of climax
  Nicely snuck past the censors! *LOL*
  (Why do we, as adults, NEED censors, anyway?)
• Bubba Zanetti from Austin, TxHippies trying to trick us into making sex wholesome with a pretty melody and sneaky lyrics? How shocking!
• Joe from Dublin"i dunno Ron. it sounds like you've got mental problems. yeah. you've got mental problems man. yeah"
  .....
  "...Afternoon Delight"
• Mike from Hueytown , AlMy Dad hated this song with a passion when it first came out and still does hahahaha
• Darrell from EugeneI have this song on every medium save reel-to-reel and MP3. This is one of the songs that got my girlfriend to like "70s afro music".
• Paul from Sacramento, CaI saw Bill Danoff perform a solo acoustic version of this in a seedy hole-in-the-wall Durango Colorado bar in the summer of 1986 - it's a shame it wasn't released like this, because stripped of the sickly overproduction, it was actually pretty powerful.
• Terry from Northampton, EnglandWhen i saw the version of this song on Anchorman it brought it all back to me just how good this song was in that very hot summer of 1976.It's a pity the song reached only no.18 here in England.
  While the UK charts had 'The Real Thing' at the top The Starland Vocal Band were singing about
  'The Real Thing' at the top of the US charts.
  Oooooh! very naughty.
• Julie from Midland, MiI guess it all depends on your history with the song...Senior in highschool, lunch time with your boyfriend...pretty good memories of fun, uncomplicated times for me.
• Jesus from Binghamton, NyThis is a great song, period. It's a rare song that treats sexual pleasure as something natural, healthy, loving and fun. The vocals, which seem to contrast so sharply with the subject matter, only underscore the message that sex is wholesome (or can be). It also has a lovely melody. People who are embarrassed by this song or think it's "hoaky", "corny" and "cheesy" just have a lot of hangups.
• Clarke from Pittsburgh, PaCheesy but delightful (pun intended). I remember their short-lived variety show. Taffy Danoff was a looker.
• Mel from South Australia, Australiahow funny was it in 'arrested development' when michael and maybe are singing it to each other (relation: uncle and niece) then lindsay and george michael sing it (aunt and nephew)! made me laugh...
• A.j. from Chicago, IlPlus Anchorman and Starsky & Hutch are both Frat Pack "productions."
• Mike from Tokyo, JapanA search for music shows this song by Captain and Tenille, Starland vocal band, Seals and Crofts and of course, Will Ferrell. Either they are mis-named or I missed some versions of it.
• Johnny from Los Angeles, CaI liked this song..............for all of about 2 minutes. Yeah, I know that's too long. I apologize and pray to God for forgiveness. (If you get on my case for that because it's not "politically correct"
  STOP WHINING
• The Prynce from Dillon / Hamer, ScIts kind of odd that Suzie is from Myrtle Beach, SC 'cause I've heard this song was about a ride at the Pavillion. Odds are, it has nothing to do with the ride in any way. The person that told me must have been mistaking this song for another one.
  
  But the performance on 'Anchorman' (I haven't seen the video on the DVD. Only the part in the actual movie) was soooo funny!
  
  I absolutely love this song, though!
  
  -=The Prynce
• Jason from Nowhereville, FlThis song was actually listed as an 11 year old little league baseball player's favorite on ESPN in the national semifinals. Poor kid.
• Brian from Saco, Mein my all time favorite movie, "good will hunting", this is the song that is played at the end of the movie when the credits roll.
• Gregg from Denver, CoI swear I remember John Denver singing this with the Muppets on some kind of Halloween special (I was in Kindergarten--early/mid 70's) -- JD was dressed like Frankenstein---I thought the song was about fireworks when I was 5, go figure...I loved the video for it on the Anchorman DVD--hilarious!!!!
• Ben from Philly, PaThe reason everyone in Arrested Development was giving the people singing the strange looks is b/c each duet was between family members who had no idea what the song was about...
• Mike from Cloverdale, CaThis song was also used in the movie "Starsky and Hutch."
• Luke from Pittsburgh, PaThis song was also used in the TV show Arrested Development. When it is sung at a karaoke twice in the episode, is brings strange looks from the crowd (being a "double-entendre" song).
• Shana from Pembroke, CanadaOmg i thought this song was a joke that Will Ferrell did! i didnt think it was an ACTUAL song...that is TOO funny. Will Ferrell has a video for it and everything, its hilarious!
• Nick from Arlington Heights, IlHomer Simpson had a "Starland Vocal Band" tatoo in one episode of the Simpsons. The tatoo has since mysteriously disappeared.
• Angelica from La Puente, CaThis song was also in Good Will Hunting.
• Billy from Pittsburgh, PaThis song was used in the 2004 movie "Anchorman" with Will Ferrell. He's trying to describe being in love to his buddies and they break into this song out of nowhere.
• Astrid from Quincy, Ilthis song is blatantly about a noon time quickie. theres no two ways about it.
• Charles from Charlotte, NcThis song gets mentioned often on many "Worst song of all time" websites.
• Rob from London, EnglandThe title gave its name to a Saturday afternoon radio show on a commercial station in London, UK-probably 1978/9ish?
• Rodrigo from Guatemala, OtherThe song comes from a special dish in a menu, at a restaurant called Clyde's in Washington D.C. The Afternoon Delight, which according to the songwriter was a plate of "shrimp with Brie and almonds", is the main inspiration of this song, and that's why in the lyrics you hear "fishing" mentioned along with some sort of raunchy-sex related subject... Must be one hell of a dish then!
• Kelly from Orange, CaThis song was also used early in the movie "Boogie Nights" when Mark Wahlburg is hanging out & having sex with his girlfriend.
• Chet from Saratoga Springs, NyThis song as used in the movie PCU when Jeremy Pivens character locked the dean of his college in a room with this song repeating over and over again
• Suzie from North Myrtle Beach, ScI grew up in Annapolis, Maryland and spent a lot of time in the Georgetown area of DC. The song "Afternoon Delight" was taken from the name of a menu, at a then popular restaurant, in Georgetown. Just can't recall the name of the restaurant now.

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