Can't Stop the Music (album)

Can't Stop the Music
Studio album / soundtrack by Village People
Released	May 1980
Genre	Disco, dance-pop
Length	34:56
Label	Casablanca
Producer	Jacques Morali
Village People chronology
Live and Sleazy (1979) Can't Stop the Music (1980) Renaissance (1981)
Singles from Can't Stop the Music
"Can't Stop the Music" Released: 1980 "Magic Night" Released: 1980

Can't Stop the Music is the sixth studio album and first soundtrack by Village People for their movie Can't Stop the Music released in 1980. Though the movie was a commercial failure, the album did better, reaching #9 on the UK Albums Chart,^[1] #47 on the Billboard 200 in the U.S.A., and #1 in Australia (on the Kent Music Report). This album was reissued to CD in 1999.

It contains songs not only by the Village People but also by David London and The Ritchie Family. The album also features a re-make of "Y.M.C.A." with lead vocals by Ray Simpson. Simpson's remake never charted and was not released as a single.

This is the first Village People album that was not certified Gold by the RIAA.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]

History

On May 7, 2012, publishers Can't Stop Productions and Scorpio Music failed in their attempt to prevent "Y.M.C.A.", "Milkshake", and "Magic Night", written by Victor Willis from the Can't Stop the Music motion picture soundtrack from reverting to Willis as scheduled starting in 2013. In a historic ruling, Judge Barry Ted Moskowitz of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California ruled that Willis can in fact terminate his copyrights granted to the publishers because "a joint author who separately transfers his copyright interest may unilaterally terminate the grant." ^[3] In response to the ruling, Willis stated "I am just looking forward to having control of the songs."^[4] So as it currently stands, in 2013 at a minimum, Victor Willis per the court order will own (recapture) 33% of "Y.M.C.A.", "Milkshake", "Magic Night", and other Village People hits. However, his percentage of ownership may increase to 50% if the songs were only written by Victor Willis and Jacques Morali, not Henri Belolo. In fact, Brian Caplan, Willis' lawyer stated that he is confident they will prove at trial that Henri Belolo didn't write any of the lyrics to those songs.^[5] Judge Moskowitz has granted the publishers, Can't Stop Productions and Scorpio Music, 30 days to amend their complaint to argue why Willis should not be allowed to provide evidence that Henri Belolo was not one of the writers of "Y.M.C.A.", "Milkshake", "Magic Night", and other Village People hits.^[6]

Track listing

1. "Can't Stop the Music"
2. "Samantha" (David London)
3. "Give Me a Break" (The Ritchie Family)
4. "Liberation"
5. "Magic Night"
6. "The Sound of the City" (David London)
7. "Milkshake"
8. "Y.M.C.A."
9. "I Love You to Death"
10. "Sophistication" (The Ritchie Family)

Chart positions

Year	Chart	Position
1980	Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart	1
	UK Albums Chart	9
	Billboard 200	47

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/Sales
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[7]	Gold	50,000^^
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

1. Village People UK chart history, The Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
2. AllMusic Can't Stop the Music - The Village People, Amy Hanson, October 21st, 2015
3. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/village-people-ymca-lawsuit-victor-willis-321576
4. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118054637?refCatId=16
5. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-08/village-people-s-former-lead-singer-wins-ymca-copyright-case.html
6. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-08/village-people-s-former-lead-singer-wins-ymca-copyright-case.html
7. "Sólo Éxitos 1959–2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979–1990" (in Spanish). Iberautor Promociones Culturales. ISBN 8480486392.