He secured her an album deal with Soul Train Records and work began on her first release. The Whispers returned the favor and appeared on background vocals, baby brother of course provided keyboards and co-wrote two songs. Lucas wrote four additional tunes.
"Simply Carrie" was released in 1977. The one and only 12" single pulled from the album cemented her name in disco history. From it's release, "I Gotta Keep Dancing" was an instant hit, racing to number one on the club charts. The song was penned by her cousin Malcolm Anthony, and cousins Merlin and Wayne Bell also wrote three songs for the album. The album was rounded out with ballads and R&B numbers aimed at making Carrie a MOR artist. The album was a real family affair.
By now Griffey and Lucas had become an "item" and both suffered from negative talk in the L.A. music scene. Undeterred they began work on her sophmore release, 1978's "Street Corner Symphony." The album had Greg on keyboards/arrangements, and even Griffey added his vocal lead on a track, The Whispers added backgrounds and served as co-producers as well. Once again a single 12" was released of the title track, a hommage to 1960's doo wop groups. This album was released on Griffey's own label the newly formed Solar Records (Sound Of Los Angeles Records).
Carrie had set a formula and true to it, she released one album and one 12" single in 1979. By now Griffey's stable of artists included Lakeside, The Whispers, Carrie Lucas, Shalamar, and Dynasty. He was enjoying considerable success with all of them and like the producers of the sixties he would cross-collaborate them. For her album "Carrie Lucas In Danceland" Griffey brought in Jody Watley (Shalamar) for backgrounds, Lakeside (co-producers and backgrounds) and Walter and Wallace Scott (Whispers) for backgrounds. Famed organist Kossi Gardner wrote (and played on) the hit "Dance With You" which propelled the album to the top of the dance charts. By the beginning of the new decade, with the outstanding success of "Dance With You," Carrie was poised for her most successful release yet.
1980's "Portrait Of Carrie" was her finest album and most popular, producing three smash hits. The first 12" was an updated reworking of her first hit, this time around entitled simply "Keep Smilin'." Followed by the cutesy "It's Not What You Got (It's How You Use It)" and then the pro-feminist anthem "Career Girl." This time around Dick shared production duties with Leon Sylvers and Kossi Gardner. Backgrounds were once again courtesy of The Whispers.
Carrie was slowly moving out of the music business and her next release wasn't until 1982. "Still In Love" recorded and released under the banner of Solar Records was now distributed by Elektra/Asylum. The album produced two 12" singles, "Men" and the more successful "Show Me Where You're Coming From." As usual Carrie surrounded herself with friends and family for the undertaking. Leon Sylvers co-produced and Walter and Wallace Scott were their co-producing and singing. As a sidenote the future Sheila E. co-wrote the title track.
Her last full length album was released in 1985. By now Griffey had started a new label under the distribution of MCA Records. The Constellation Records release "Horsin' Around" was her most ambitious ever. It spawned four 12" singles "Charlie," "Horsin' Around," "Summer In The Street" and "Hello Stranger." Her remake of the Barbara Lewis classic, "Hello Stranger" reached number 20 on the R&B charts and like Lewis, who had used The Dells, Carrie used The Whispers to create that smooth sound.
Carrie's last know recording was an appearance on the 1990 soundtrack to "Lambada: Set The Night On Fire." She performs the song "I Like The Rhythm." Carrie, now married to Dick Griffey has instead decided to retire from the music business and concentrate on married life and her beloved horses. Unidisc Records in Canada has released a "Greatest Hits" package that contains most of her 12" mixes in 1999. Perhaps someday she'll come out of retirement and grace the dancefloors once more?.
I Gotta Keep Dancin'
Carrie Lucas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do do do, yeah, yeah, yeah
Keep on smiling
Do do do, yeah, yeah, yeah
Keep on dancing
Do do do, yeah, yeah, yeah
Keep on smiling
Do do do, yeah, yeah, yeah
Body began to spin'
Please help me pretend
That I don't see
Who just walked in the door
I'm weak in the knees
But I gotta make believe
That I'm hurt free
I just can't let him know
That my heart is breaking apart
Music, rescue me
[CHORUS]
I gotta keep dancing (keep dancing)
Smiling (keep smiling)
To keep from breaking apart
I gotta keep dancing (keep dancing)
Smiling (keep smiling)
To cover up my broken heart
Don't let the music stop
I've gotta camouflage my feelings
He's not here with me
I should have known
That I never should
Have come to the party
I must listen to the beat
Music, can you take my away
Help me hide the pain
[Repeat CHORUS]
Don't let the music stop
I've gotta camouflage my feelings
He's not here with me
I should have known
That I never should
Have come to the party
I must listen to the beat
Music, can you take my away
Help me hide the pain
[Repeat CHORUS 4x]
Keep on dancing
Do do do do, yeah
Keep on smiling
Do do do do, yeah
[Repeat CHORUS 4x]
Keep on dancing
Do do do do, yeah
Keep on smiling
Do do do do, yeah
[Repeat CHORUS]
Keep on dancing
Do do do, yeah, yeah, yeah
Keep on smiling
The lyrics of Carrie Lucas's "I Gotta Keep Dancin'" tell the story of a heartbroken woman trying to put on a brave face at a party. The singer's heart is breaking as she sees her lover or ex-lover walk into the party. However, she does not want to show her vulnerability in public or reveal how much the encounter is affecting her, so she puts on a forced smile and pretends to be indifferent. The lyrics repeatedly emphasize the need to keep dancing and smiling, even when life gets tough, to hide one's pain.
The singer appears to be using music as a form of escapism or distraction to ease her pain. She calls on the music to help rescue her, asking it to transport her away from the pain she is feeling. Through her dance, she's able to "camouflage her feelings" and present a positive front regardless of her heartbreak.
Overall, the lyrics of "I Gotta Keep Dancin'" are about putting on a brave face and persevering in the face of heartache, using music as a tool to forget one's worries, even if just for the night.
Line by Line Meaning
Keep on dancing
I need to keep on moving and dancing to take my mind off my troubles
Do do do, yeah, yeah, yeah
The rhythm and music can help me forget my heartbreak and mask my emotions
Keep on smiling
I have to put on a brave face and smile to the world despite the pain inside
Body began to spin'
The power of the music and dancing is taking over my body
Please help me pretend
I need the help of the music and this moment to pretend I am ok
That I don't see
I am trying to avoid acknowledging the person who just walked in
Who just walked in the door
I don't want to see the person who broke my heart
I'm weak in the knees
My heartache and emotions are taking a toll on me physically
But I gotta make believe
I need to pretend that I am not fazed and act happy and fine
That I'm hurt free
I need to appear as if my heart is not broken
I just can't let him know
I don't want the person who hurt me to see me affected by his presence
That my heart is breaking apart
The truth is that my heart is shattered and hurting
Music, rescue me
I need the music to save me from my pain
[CHORUS]
I need to keep dancing and smiling to hide my broken heart
Don't let the music stop
I need to keep dancing to avoid facing my emotions and heartbreak
I've gotta camouflage my feelings
I need to hide my emotions and put on a front
He's not here with me
The one who broke my heart is not here with me
I should have known
I regret coming to this party and facing my pain
That I never should
I should have stayed away and avoided this heartbreak
Have come to the party
This event has only led to more heartbreak and pain
I must listen to the beat
I need to focus on the music and keep dancing
Music, can you take my away
I am pleading with the music to help me escape my pain
Help me hide the pain
I need the music to help me conceal my emotions
[Repeat CHORUS 4x]
I need to dance and smile through the pain to survive
Keep on dancing
I need the music to keep me moving and help me heal
Do do do do, yeah
The music is my escape and my refuge
Keep on smiling
I need to put on a brave face and pretend to be ok no matter what
Do do do do, yeah
The music can provide the joy and happiness I need to forget my pain
[Repeat CHORUS]
I need to keep dancing and smiling to hide my broken heart
Contributed by Carson Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ruben Dario
Como nos emocionamos cuando escuchamos de nuevo estos grandes éxitos de la INOLVIDABLE Y ETERNA ONDA DISCO ..SALUDOS A TODOS LOS DE BUEN GUSTO.JUNTOS SOMOS MILLONES.
Peter Lagroove
This is one of the best disco tunes ever made. It is quintessential disco....the lush orchestration, the arrangement, the percussion, the great little brass inserts, and the classic mixture of heartbreak message with driving dance beat. Top class.
sleek2146
Missing from today
Earl Fredrick
Disco, disco, disco, I just love the times, the music, the energy created by the music. Listening to it now just re-energizes that same good feeling again. Music of today cannot touch the quality of these great timeless sounds. Carrie Lucas is a great part of this.Thanks Carrie.
Nick Preta
Correct I was there during that time and all the beautiful people and to see who was dressing better than others.
Ambrose Joseph
@Nick Preta Great times. Boston had some great places, Landsdowne was awesome.
Miguel Peña
Esta ha sido y será la mejor música de todos los tiempos. no importa que que haya métodos mas avanzados para hacer musica. Esta es la mejor de lo mejor. ojala pudiera yo viviría de nuevo.
Miguel Peña
Francisco Leyva
La mejor música Carrie Lucas la mejor sin duda...
Ruben Dario
Sin lugar a dudas LA ONDA DISCO... ETERNA E INOLVIDABLE.
Alfredo Martinez
sin duda lo tuyo además este tw tiene una FUERZA IMPRESIONANTE! 👍👏