DANA@50 Something’s Cookin’ in the Kitchen (Official Video) 1979 (FoD#88)

And now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for. The elusive official video of Something’s Cookin’ in the Kitchen. It’s a classy production that leaves you wanting more. A pop video to savour. Rare as Olive Wagyu steak and just as tasty. Where’s it been hiding these past 40 years, behind the Frigidaire? One programme it appeared on was Granada TV’s pop music series Get it Together, on the show dated Tuesday 10 April 1979. After showing the promo, presenter Roy North said “Wow, I always thought DANA looked great but now she looks even grrrreater!“ In her fan club newsletter for December, where she wrote about the highlights of the year, she didn’t mention the video: “I know that single shocked quite a few of you, but I was glad that the majority of you liked it.“ … “From my own point of view, I was a little disappointed that the press were so obsessed with the visual change of image, as what we really wanted to get across was a musical development.“ To do the video justice her four-minute stereo single has replaced the mono TV audio. Footage from FoD#45 has been added for the outro as that wasn’t broadcast. [Update 23 October 2021: The added footage had to be removed for copyright reasons. Also the complete video it came from, FoD#45 uploaded in 2013, has been deleted and a copyright STRIKE issued (three strikes and your account is closed forever). Must no longer upload any content owned by the dreaded Studio Hamburg.] The song has a similar groove to Hot Love by T. Rex. Dave Jordan’s lyrics alone made it an interesting track, but producer Barry Blue wanted more, and asked Heatwave’s Rod Temperton for ideas. He came up with all the amazing backing vocals for DANA and others to sing, giving the listener non-stop entertainment throughout. The middle eight, for example, is exciting lyrically, musically and visually: 2:38 It was her last UK Top 50 entry (UK #44, Ireland #22) and a world away from the peaceful Totus Tuus, the Irish #1 she wrote with her husband. Two entirely different hits by the same artist in the same year. Stupendous. DANA’s first ever British tour resulted in a standing ovation at London’s Royal Festival Hall on 8 September 1979. She was promoting the LP that Something’s Cookin’ came from, The Girl Is Back. Considered by many to be her best work, it was her first studio album since undergoing a serious throat operation in 1976. Well I’m your ten star blue plate special I’ve always heard you say But you’re treating me tonight Like I’m leftovers in the greasy spoon cafe And you’re my high class deluxe menu With genuine meal appeal But now you got some doubts about me eating out And you know that just ain’t real Something’s cookin’ in the kitchen Something’s brewin’ in the air Something’s burnin’ in your microwave And freezin’ in your Frigidaire Something’s cookin’ in the kitchen Something’s steamin’ up the room Something’s broken down your thermostat And I’m pickin’ up a feelin’ You’re gonna hit the ceilin’ soon Baby, there’s one lesson You oughta know I’ve learned When you order what you want in other restaurants You’re sure to get your fingers burned C’mon, try to be a little more tender Fall right off that bone ’Cos I don’t go chasin’ after hamburger Baby, I got steak at home But something’s cookin’ in the kitchen Something’s brewin’ in the air Something’s burnin’ in your microwave And freezin’ in your Frigidaire Something’s cookin’ in the kitchen Something’s steamin’ up the room Something’s broken down your thermostat And I’m pickin’ up a feelin’ You’re gonna hit the ceilin’ soon Something’s cookin’ in the kitchen Something’s brewin’ in the air Something’s burnin’ in your microwave And freezin’ in your Frigidaire Something’s cookin’ in the kitchen Something is steamin’ up the room Something’s broken down your thermostat And I’m pickin’ up a feelin’ You’re gonna hit the ceilin’ Something’s cookin’ in the kitchen There’s no use denyin’ The feathers are flyin’ And I’m in the soup with you Words and music by Dave Jordan