Popdose - Latest Comments in Lost in the ’80s: Frankie Smith, “Double Dutch Bus”

Re: Lost in the ’80s: Frankie Smith, “Double Dutch Bus”

reziedent — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 13:46:35 -0000

The reason the song stalled, was because of drugs. Not Frankie's use but Larry Lavins. In the early 80's Larry was Philly's largest dealer in coke and needed a way to launder his money. He either bought the record label or the rights to this song, I forget, as a way to show money spent and lost. He didn't put any energy into promoting this song, so Frankie lost out.

Re: Lost in the ’80s: Frankie Smith, “Double Dutch Bus”

Haystack — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 01:15:59 -0000

You forgot to include that due to the sleaze factor of the record business and because he was on a local label run by a crook, Frankie hardly saw a dime for a song that was on the charts for a good part of 1980 and had to sue to get what he did...

Re: Lost in the ’80s: Frankie Smith, “Double Dutch Bus”

mojo — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:48:30 -0000

Oh also, a propos of this discussion, I submit and oldie but goodie link: Gizoogle! I love this site.

http://www.gizoogle.com/

Put a CNN story through that thing and it makes a lot more sense.

Re: Lost in the ’80s: Frankie Smith, “Double Dutch Bus”

mojo — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:47:06 -0000

Thanks for tracking down the origins of this linguistic buzzleshizz.

Re: Lost in the ’80s: Frankie Smith, “Double Dutch Bus”

Ted — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:29:08 -0000

This song was in such high rotation on KFRC in San Francisco (Top 40 station) back in the day that I'm shocked it only peaked at #30.

Re: Lost in the ’80s: Frankie Smith, “Double Dutch Bus”

Beau — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:22:14 -0000

Nice to see he lived to see Double Dutch become a high school sport in New York.