Did you know that Maxine Nightingale and Alicia Bridges were “verse-tops”?

I knew of both Maxine Nightingale and Alicia Bridges because they both had big hits (“Right Back Where We Started From” and “I Love the Nightlife”.)  But I began to wonder if they were ever on the hot 100 at the same time in the late 70’s … and yes, they were!  They were both on Billboard Hot 100 during two distinct periods, each time with a different pair of songs.

1. The week of January 13, 1979 (I was 13 and buying 45’s like crazy!)

This was their first shared time on the chart. Alicia had a major hit; Maxine had a minor one.

Alicia Bridges: "I Love the Nightlife (Disco 'Round)” (#27) - later peaked at #5 (I always thought it was a #1) – Here’s Alicia singing the hit on Musicladen in Germany

Maxine Nightingale: "(Bringing Out) The Girl in Me” (#73) – And Maxine singing this #73 song on Top of the Pops – even though it didn’t chart at all in the UK.

2. They also shared space on the Hot 100 for five weeks between June 9, 1979, and July 7, 1979.

Now the roles are reversed! Alicia was fading from the charts while Maxine was launching her next massive hit.

Alicia Bridges: "Body Heat" (Peak: #86) – Surprisingly, there’s footage of her singing it on TV in Spain

Maxine Nightingale: "Lead Me On" (Peak: #5)  - On American Bandstand, natch.

For these disco ladies to overlap, and then re-overlap with a second set of songs within 12 months is a very specific yo-yo event.  

Hence; “verse-tops”.  First, Bridges was the “top” superstar (#5) and Nightingale was the "bottom" chart-dweller (#73).  Then just months later, the roles flipped: Nightingale was the “top” superstar (#5) and Bridges was the one struggling at the bottom (#86).  There’s always a gay code, when there’s gay eyes looking.

My favorite cover and dance version of “Right Back Where We Started From” by Sinitta: