70s DISCO THEATRE: "Record City" (1977) - Preview

"Record City" (1977)
Note: Soundtrack produced by Freddie Perren (The Raes, Gloria Gaynor, Atkins, The Miracles, The Sylvers, Tavares, Yvonne Elliman, David Naughton, Peaches and Herb)

U.S. film. From the first moment you see the American International Pictures (AIP) logo you know you're in for something…but what?!

It's a day-in-the-life of a Los Angeles record store that plays like Carwash meets Caddyshack -- with lots of characters, episodic scenes and slob humor. An employee asks, "Where do I stick Tongue?" as he's deciding in which bin to file an LP.

The store employees try to thwart a serial bandit while a mega-talent show, sponsored by radio station KAKA, is happening in the parking lot. The grease ball store manager tries to get in the hot pants of the checkout girls. The hookers out front make regular comments about the goings-on in the store.

And what a cast! Ted Lange (The Love Boat) as a break-dancing clerk, Ruth Buzzi (Laugh-In) as the sex-starved cleaning lady, Michael Callan (Because They're Young) as the store's sleazy manager, Jack Carter as his p-whipped boss, Harold Sakata ("Odd Job" in 007 film, Goldfinger) as a gay strong-arm collections man, Sorrell Booke (Dukes of Hazzard's "Boss Hogg") as a clumsy cop, Ed Begley Jr. as a would-be thief.

Larry Storch (F-Troop) as a deaf customer (a deaf guy in a record store?!), Alice Ghostley (Bewitched) and Leonard Barr (Dean Martin's uncle!) as an elderly couple, Rick Dees (Disco Duck) as the talent show host and Jeff Altman (American Hot Wax/Pink Lady & Jeff) as his Nazi engineer, Frank Gorshin (The Riddler) as the elusive bandit. There's also Kinky Friedman, Gallagher and others.

Look for: George Barris custom cars, skateboard tricks in the parking lot and tons of LP jackets and posters on the wall from circa 1978. Record City was shot on videotape and then transferred to film, which makes it look a little weird, but it cut costs on shooting and editing.

Songs include: "Record City," "Make Way For the Lover," "Gorilla Man," "Mr. Feelgood," "Nothin' In This World," "Maybe Someday," "You Are My Reason," "Steppin' Out."

Directed by Dennis Steinmetz
Written by Ron Friedman
Starring Leonard Barr, Ed Begley Jr. and Sorrell Booke