In case ya missed ’em, here’s the previous ten songs in the countdown.

So, we’re hitting the sweet spot-we’re in the Top 40. One thing I notice as I’m looking back on these songs is that it kinda sucks that I was a little kid when these records came out. I never got to experience Studio 54 or The Paradise Garage. Not that I would have been a huge clubgoer-that scene just never really did a lot for me. But I think things were different then-people really went out dancing to shake the stress of their week away, to almost have a religious-type experience. There have been moments when I’ve been dancing to music and the physical release of the dancing coupled with the lyrics or the music takes you into a very cool place. The way people who were there have attached themselves to this music makes me believe that a lot of other people were taken to that very cool place quite often.

Anyway, let’s get back to the countdown:

40. “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now” by McFadden & Whitehead

Observations: 1) This was probably the last great song of the Philly Soul era. 2) McFadden and Whitehead were REALLY into their lip-synch on this TV performance (the video cuts off after the second verse, BTW), and 3) I remember when I moved to Michigan in 1984, this song was all over the radio because somebody redid the lyrics to make the song a rallying cry for the Tigers, who won the World Series that year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVKjC_simy8

39. “I Wonder if I Take You Home” by Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force

Calling this song disco is a bit of a stretch, but it could easily fit into about 5 different musical categories? So, let’s just agree to call it “disco”, k?

Back in junior high, Lisa Lisa was the shit. Those titties were like POW!!

38. “Mainline” by Black Ivory

Probably one of the lesser known songs here, but damn, what a groove.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjBYURrtE8c

37. “Get Off” by Foxy

This album cover always interested me because the band members were in various states of undress on it. Even before I knew what the song was about, I always felt like there was something a little dirty and sleazy about it. I love the fact that in this clip the guys in the band are lip-synching lines that were obviously sung by women.

36. “Last Night a DJ Saved My Life” by Indeep

Quite possibly the best song ever containing the sound of a toilet flushing.

And am I hearing things or did MJ nick this bassline?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m8sdivxKhw

35. “One More Shot” by C-Bank featuring Jenny Burton

They went a little overboard with the sound effects here, but still an awesome song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sYpMknvEvE

34. “Cavern” by Liquid Liquid

Another sick-ass bassline. Betcha didn’t know that “White Lines” was not an original…

33. “Situation” by Yaz

Alison Moyet is one of the best British soul singers anywhere. I also find it somewhat strange that Alison and Andy Bell (of Erasure, the group Vince Clarke founded after Yaz split up) sound so damn similar! Actually, before I found out that Moyet was a member of Yaz, I thought the person singing this song was a guy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4W6kvgAu0E

32. “Galaxy” by War

How many of y’all just know this song from when Puffy and J. Lo are dancing together in the “Been Around the World” video? Can I just say that the bass guitar is the MVP of this stretch of the countdown?

31. “Whispering/Cherchez La Femme” by Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band

Disco mixed with a little early 1900s nostalgia. Their self-titled debut was a fantastic borderline-concept album. One of the best full-lengths of the era. How much you wanna bet that Tommy Mottola has this as his ringtone?