Expert: Bong Santos - 12/14/2007

Question
Hello Bong.  The song "Let's Make A Deal" came out in the mid-70's and the original version is attributed to Gloria Gaynor.  Maybe my memory is faulty but I seem to remember there was another singer who came out with this song slightly ahead of Gloria Gaynor, or whose version became popular first (at least in the Philippines).

Am I right or was Gloria Gaynor's the only version at that time?

Thanks very much for any info you can provide.

Wilbert


Answer
Dear Wilbert,

I'm pretty sure GLORIA GAYNOR was the original artist who recorded LET'S MAKE A DEAL back in 1976. I even checked on the website of its songwriter, CURTIS BLANDON. There he narrated how his friend TONY DRAKE told him that GLORIA GAYNOR's record producers were looking for songs that she will record for her new album. Two days after submitting demo songs to JAY ELLIS, he met GLORIA GAYNOR and the rest of her production team MECO MONARDO and TONY BONGIOVI and was told of the good news. Three of his songs made the 1976 album I'VE GOT YOU, LET'S MAKE A DEAL, LET'S MAKE LOVE and DO IT RIGHT.

If there was another version recorded after the original one, there's none to my knowledge. Another LET'S MAKE A DEAL song released in 1978 by Z.Z. HILL was different from GLORIA GAYNOR's.

Maraming salamat po!!

BONG M. SANTOS
Manila, Philippines