Afternoon Delight

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 rubbin' you is getting so exciting

Sky rockets in flight
Afternoon delight
Afternoon delight
Afternoon delight

Started out this morning feeling so polite
I always thought 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' 'fore 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 rubbin' you is getting so exciting

Sky rockets in flight
Afternoon delight
Afternoon delight
Afternoon delight

Afternoon delight!

Notes

“Afternoon Delight” was written by Bill Danoff and recorded by The Starland Vocal Band in 1976. It became a big hit and achieved the #1 position on the U.S. charts. The song is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Starland Vocal Band, consisting of Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert Danoff, Jon Carroll and Margot Chapman, won a Grammy award in 1977 as the Best New Artist. “Afternoon Delight” also won the Grammy as Best Arrangement for Voices. In 1977 the group hosted a summer replacement variety show on TV. One of the cast members was young comedian, David Letterman.

Part of the inspiration for “Afternoon Delight” was the menu at Clyde’s Restaurant in Georgetown (Washington D.C.) which was titled, “Afternoon Delights.” After attending the restaurant one day, Bill Danoff went home and wrote the song with his own interpretation of the meaning of afternoon delights. Clyde’s now has a Grammy plaque of the song displayed in the restaurant. Danoff now operates a café in Washington D.C. called Starland Café. Clyde’s Restaurant is down the street from the Cellar Door club where Danoff and Nivert met John Denver.

Danoff and his wife, Taffy Nivert, recorded 4 albums as the team called Fat City before bringing on Jon Carroll and Margot Chapman to form the group, The Starland Vocal Band.

Bill Danoff, who graduated from Georgetown University, and Taffy sang regularly in Washington, D.C. clubs and became friends with John Denver who sang with them in Georgetown. Denver had met Bill and Taffy while he was a member of the Mitchell Trio in the mid-1960’s.

Danoff and Nivert had an unfinished song that John Denver helped them to finish. The song, “Country Roads,” became Denver’s first big hit. He debuted the song at the Cellar Door in Georgetown. The song has become the unofficial state song for West Virginia. All together, Danoff and Nivert wrote 12 songs that John Denver recorded on several of his albums. Danoff and Nivert toured with Denver and played backup on some of his albums.

In 1970 Denver listened to Bill and Taffy’s song, “I Guess He’d Rather Be in Colorado.” Denver recorded the song and also introduced it to Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary, who also recorded it. Almost instantly Danoff and Nivert achieved legitimacy and fame as songwriters. The song has become the official song for the state of Colorado.

“Afternoon Delight” was the only big hit for The Starland Vocal Band. The group sang it at the 1977 Grammy Awards Show. You can view that performance at You Tube here.

You can also view a recent performance of “Afternoon Delight” from the 2007 PBS production, “My Music: The 70’s Experience.” That performance is also on You Tube here.

"Afternoon Delight" has also been used in numerous movies, such as Boogie Nights, Starsky and Hutch, Good Will Hunting, Anchorman, and on the TV show, Arrested Development. The segment in the Will Ferrell movie, Anchorman, is very funny and can be seen on You Tube here. Also very funny is the music video made by the Anchorman cast which can be seen on You Tube here.

"Afternoon Delight" has a catchy and pleasant melody that makes it easily memorable. The lyrics are equally memorable as they treat sexuality as natural, healthy, and fun. The backup vocals are also fun and playful and support the wholesome message of the song.

Read more about the The Starland Vocal Band CD, featuring "Afternoon Delight".

Click below to listen to an excerpt of "Afternoon Delight."

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