Backfield in Motion (song)

Last updated
"Backfield in Motion"
Single by Mel and Tim
B-side "Do Right Baby"
Released1969
Label Bamboo BMB 107
Songwriter(s)
  • M. McPherson
  • M. Harden
Producer(s) Karl & Chandler Productions

"Backfield in Motion" is a 1969 song by the vocal duo Mel & Tim. It uses American football terminology to describe the nature of a relationship between a man and woman. It made the Cash Box and Billboard charts that same year.

Contents

Background

"Backfield in Motion" bw "Do it Right Baby" was released in the US on Bamboo 107, it was reviewed in the September 20 issue of Cash Box. The football terminology was noted with the reviewer saying that the "football imagery was given a strange and novel twist". The top forty probability was also noted. [1]

This song has nothing to do with the 1964 song "Backfield in Motion" by Girl Group, The Angelos which appeared on Tollie Records and Vee Jay Records. Elzie Bynem who was the brother of the lead singer Linda Martell composed it for them. [2] [3] A Cash Box Newcomer Pick for March 14, 1964, the single did have some potential. [4] [5]

Airplay

According to Cash Box in the magazine's September 20 issue, the song was reportedly making noise in Chicago. [6] Also in the same week, Cash Box noted that it had been added to the playlist of New Orleans Top 40 station WTIX. [7] It was also in the R&B section of Stan's Juke Box Picks of the Week. [8] It was added to the playlist of WQXI in Atlanta on the week ending October 4, 1969. [9] On the week ending October 11, it was added to the playlist of WCAO in Baltimore. [10] Also that week, 8% of key radio stations in the US had added the song to their playlists. [11]

Charts

Cash Box

Top 50 In R & B Locations

On the week ending September 27, 1969, "Backfield in Motion" made its debut at no. 43 in the Cash Box Top 50 In R & B Locations chart. [12] [13] It peaked at no. 1 on the week ending November 8. [14] It would hold that position for an additional two weeks [15] [16] [17] with "Someday We'll Be Together" by Diana Ross & the Supremes taking the no. 1 spot on the week ending November 29. [18]

Top 100

On the week ending October 25, it debuted in the Cash Box Top 100 chart. [19] It would reach the peak position of no. 12 on the week ending December 6. [20] It would drop down to no. 13 the following week but regain the no. 12 position one more time on the week ending December 20. [21] [22]

Billboard

Hot 100

It was noted by Billboard for the week ending October 18, 1969 that "Backfield in Motion" was a national breakout. [23] It debuted at no. 48 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on that week. [24] At week 9, on the week ending December 13, it peaked at no. 10. [25] [26]

Best Selling Soul Singles

At week seven, it peaked at no. 3 on the Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles chart on the week ending November 29. [27] [28]

Canada

It debuted on the Canada 's Top Singles chart at no. 18 as shown by Billboard in the December 6 issue. [29]

United Kingdom

"Backfield in Motion" debuted in the UK chart on January 26, 1974. [30] It was noted as a "Breaker" by Record Mirror in the magazine's February 9 and 16 issues. [31] [32] It peaked at no. 52. [33]

Other versions

The Mills Brothers recorded a version which appeared on their 1969 The Mills Brothers in Motion album. [34] [35]

Anthony Swete recorded a version of "Backfield in Motion". Backed with the Wayne Carson composition, "Soul Deep", it was released on RCA Victor 1905 in the UK. [36] [37] It was released in New Zealand on Allied International PPX 302 with Swete's version backed with "Yester Me, Yester You, Yesterday" by Pip Bravo, [38] and in Australia on RCA 101882 on a two-artist single release with Mark Juhns covering "Make Believe". [39] It was actually released there before Mel & Tim's version was picked up. James Hamilton of Record Mirror reviewed Swete's version. Calling it a "Nicely dated beater with Sam & Dave-ish vocal touches", he also said it was quite good and gave it a two star rating. [40]

JB's Allstars recorded a version which made the UK charts in 1984. It spent four weeks in the charts and peaked at no. 48. [41]

Parker Scott recorded a version which appeared on his Company of Strangers album which was released in 2000 / 2001. [42] [43]

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References

  1. ↑ Cash Box, September 20, 1969 - Page 32 Cash Box Record Reviews
  2. ↑ Derek's Music Blog, November 9, 2015 - Girl Zone-Vinyl Edition
  3. ↑ Cash Box, March 7, 1964 - Page 25 tollie Records, for example we think that our next releases of T-9002 All My Loving by the Dowlands T-9003 Backfield in Motion b/w Bad Motorcycle by the Angelos ...
  4. ↑ Cash Box, March 13, 1964 - Record Reviews, Newcomer Picks
  5. ↑ Cash Box, April 4, 1964 - Page 33 Watch this single run up the charts we're so sure that we even have the album in the works TOLLIE-9003 Backfield in Motion The Angelos
  6. ↑ Cash Box, September 20, 1969 - Page 20 Cash Box Insights & Sounds, Chicago
  7. ↑ Cash Box, September 20, 1969 - Page 40 New Additions To Radio Playlists, WTIX - New Orleans
  8. ↑ Cash Box, September 20, 1969 - Page 72 Stan's Jukebox Picks Of The Week, R&B
  9. ↑ Cash Box, October 4, 1969 - Page 24 New Additions To Radio Playlists, WQXI — Atlanta
  10. ↑ Cash Box, October 11, 1969 - Page 24 New Additions To Radio Playlists, WCAO — Baltimore
  11. ↑ Cash Box, October 11, 1969 - Page 12 Cash Box Radio Active
  12. ↑ Cash Box, September 20, 1969 - Page 51 Cash Box Top 50 In R & B Locations
  13. ↑ Cash Box, September 27, 1969 - Page 45 Cash Box Top 50 In R & B Locations, 43, _
  14. ↑ Cash Box, November 8, 1969 - Page 34 Cash Box Top 50 In R & B Locations, 1, 6
  15. ↑ Cash Box, November 8, 1969 - Cash Box Top 50 In R & B Locations, 1, 6
  16. ↑ Cash Box, November 15, 1969 - Cash Box Top 50 In R & B Locations, 1, 1
  17. ↑ Cash Box, November 22, 1969 - Page 40 Cash Box Top 50 In R & B Locations, 1, 1
  18. ↑ Cash Box, November 29, 1969 - Page 44 Cash Box Top 50 In R & B Locations, 5, 1
  19. ↑ Cash Box, October 25, 1969 - Page 4 59, 10/18 _, 10/11 _
  20. ↑ Tropical Glen - CASH BOX Top 100 Singles Week ending DECEMBER 6, 1969, 12, LW 13, 2WK 17, 3WK 22, WKS 7
  21. ↑ Tropical Glen - CASH BOX Top 100 Singles, Week ending December 13, 1969, 13, LW 12, 2WK 13, 3WK 17, WKS 8
  22. ↑ Tropical Glen - 24, LW 12, 2W 13, 3WK 12, WKS 10
  23. ↑ Billboard, October 18, 1969 - Page 72 Action Records, Singles-, * NATIONAL BREAKOUTS
  24. ↑ Billboard, October 18, 1969 - Page 88 Billboard Hot 100 for Week Ending October 18, 1969, THIS WEEK 48, 1 Wk. Ago, 2 Wks. Ago _, 3 Wks. Ago _, Weeks On Chart _
  25. ↑ Billboard, December 13, 1969 - Page 80 Billboard Hot 100 For Week Ending December 13, 1969, THIS WEEK 10, 1 Wk. Ago 11, 2 Wks. Ago 11, Weeks On Chart 9
  26. ↑ MusicVF.com - Backfield in Motion, By: Mel & Tim
  27. ↑ Billboard, November 29, 1969 - Page 74 SOUL, Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles, This Week 3, Last Week 4, Weeks on Chart 7
  28. ↑ MusicVF.com - Backfield in Motion By: Mel & Tim, Chart US R&B, Peak Pos. 3
  29. ↑ Billboard, December 6, 1969 - Page 57 Billboard Canada 's Top Singles, This Week 18, Last Week _, Weeks on Chart 1
  30. ↑ MusicVF.com - Backfield in Motion, By: Mel & Tim
  31. ↑ Record Mirror, February 9, 1974 - Page 2 -BreakerS-
  32. ↑ Record Mirror, February 16, 1974 - Page 2 -BreakerS-
  33. ↑ MusicVF.com - Backfield in Motion, By: Mel & Tim
  34. ↑ Discogs - The Mills Brothers – The Mills Brothers In Motion, Label: Dot Records – DLP 25960
  35. ↑ Second Hand Songs - COVER, Backfield in Motion by Mills Brothers
  36. ↑ Hit History - Blue Eyed Soul (1000)
  37. ↑ Amazon - Backfield In Motion / Soul Deep
  38. ↑ Audio Culture - Allied International, Singles & EP's
  39. ↑ Australian Record Labels - Page 35 RCA / BMG 45s, 12” singles and EPs 1956–1992
  40. ↑ Record Mirror, February 7, 1970 - Page 12 America Awakes by James Hamilton, Taste of things to come
  41. ↑ Chartsurfer.de - Backfield In Motion Song by JB's All Stars, UK
  42. ↑ AllMusic - Company of Strangers, Parker Scott
  43. ↑ Second Hand Songs - Cover, Backfield in Motion by Parker Scott
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