"Blame It on the Boogie" | ||||
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Single by the Jacksons | ||||
from the album Destiny | ||||
B-side | "Do What You Wanna" | |||
Released | September 8, 1978 (UK) [1] | |||
Genre | Disco [2] | |||
Length |
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Label | Epic, CBS | |||
Songwriter(s) | Mick Jackson, Dave Jackson and Elmar Krohn | |||
Producer(s) | The Jacksons | |||
The Jacksons singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Blame It on the Boogie" on YouTube |
"Blame It on the Boogie" is a song released in 1978 by English singer-songwriter Mick Jackson. [3] It has been covered by the Jacksons (no relation), Clock and Luis Miguel.
The song was co-authored by Mick Jackson [4] (credited as Michael George Jackson-Clarke) as well as Mick's brother David Jackson and Elmar Krohn. [5] [6]
Although Mick Jackson recorded the song in 1977, "Blame It on the Boogie" was written in hopes of being sold to Stevie Wonder.
The two versions of the song were widely released by the artists' respective labels—Atlantic and CBS—within one day of each other. Mick Jackson's track was showcased in 1978 at Midem where, according to Mick Jackson, "The Jacksons' manager [Peter Kerstin] heard the track being played...and took a tape recording of it...back to the States [where] the Jacksons quickly recorded a version so it would be out before mine." [7] The Mick Jackson recording was released by Atlantic Records in the US in August 1978 where it reached #61, and #15 in the UK.
According to Michael Jackson of the Jacksons, Bobby Colomby, who was producing the Jacksons' Destiny album, brought the group "Blame It on the Boogie". "It was an uptempo, finger-poppin'-time type song that was a good vehicle for the band approach we wanted to cultivate. I had fun slurring the chorus: [the lyric] 'Blame It on the Boogie' could be sung in one breath without putting my lips together." [8]
Record World praised Michael Jackson's "silky vocals and energetic youthful delivery." [9]
Despite the Mick Jackson original reaching a No. 61 peak on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 1978, Epic Records that month released the Jacksons' version of "Blame It on the Boogie" as the advance single from the Destiny album. Although "Blame It on the Boogie" returned the Jacksons to the Hot 100 after five flop singles, it was not the single to effect a major comeback for the Jacksons, peaking at #54; it would be the follow-up, "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)", which would briefly restore the Jacksons' top ten fortunes. [10] However, "Blame It on the Boogie" did reach No. 3 R&B and would be coupled with "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" on an extended club play single which would reach No. 20 on the dance charts in 1979. [11]
In the UK, both the Mick Jackson version and the Jacksons' were released within a few days of each other in September 1978. The UK music press, struck by the rival versions being by similarly named artists, declared a "Battle of the Boogie" which Mick Jackson recalls as "great publicity...There was an equal balance of interest from the media about both releases – A good example is that my version came out first on Top of the Pops ... The Jackson's[ sic ] had the second week...Radio One played The Jackson's[ sic ] version and Capital Radio only played mine – it was fair." [12]
The Jacksons' version—incorrectly lauded by Melody Maker as their "self-penned song"—was the more successful version reaching number 8 on the chart dated 4 November 1978; the Mick Jackson version—hailed by NME as "far superior"—had peaked at number 15 on the chart for 21 October. [13] [14]
Mick Jackson himself in 2003 said of the Jacksons' version of "Blame It on the Boogie": "[the original] version had 100% of our heart and soul in it but the Jacksons' version had the magic extra 2% that made it incredible." [12]
A promotional music video by the Jacksons was created for "Blame It on the Boogie" in 1978. The video, featuring the group's members dancing on a black background, relied heavily on electronic trail effects, created at Image West, Ltd. using then-cutting edge equipment: the Scanimate analog computer system and a Quantel DFS 3000 digital framestore. [15] [16] The video also appears on the bonus disc of the DVD box set Michael Jackson's Vision .
Michael Jackson's 1993 biography states that the video marked his video debut. [17] The Jacksons' very first promotional music video was "Enjoy Yourself".
Chart (1978) | Peak position |
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Canada RPM Top Singles [18] | 95 |
UK [19] | 15 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [20] | 61 |
US Cash Box Top 100 | 64 |
The Jacksons versionWeekly charts
| Year-end charts
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [37] | Platinum | 90,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [38] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
"Blame It on the Boogie" | ||||
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Single by Big Fun | ||||
from the album A Pocketful of Dreams | ||||
Released | 1989 | |||
Recorded | 1989 | |||
Genre | Dance-pop, hi-NRG | |||
Length | 3:36 | |||
Label | Jive | |||
Songwriter(s) | Mick Jackson, Dave Jackson and Elmar Krohn | |||
Producer(s) | Stock Aitken Waterman | |||
Big Fun singles chronology | ||||
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In 1989, Stock Aitken Waterman produced a cover version of "Blame It on the Boogie" for British boy band Big Fun. Their version was released as a single the same year, and was later included in their 1990 album A Pocketful of Dreams . It peaked at number four in the UK, number five in Spain and number seven in Ireland, becoming Big Fun's most successful single on the chart.
In a review published in Smash Hits , Dannii Minogue stated that "it's good, but it couldn't beat the Jacksons' version. A hit? Definitely, especially in the UK. But it really doesn't sound like they [Big Fun] can sing!" [39] In 2014, Matt Dunn of WhatCulture ranked the song at number 13 in his "15 unforgettable Stock Aitken Waterman singles" list, adding that this cover "was the embodiment of [SAW] 1989 sound: approaching 120bpm, stuttered vocoder effects, some keys to capitalise on the emerging piano house craze, the driving 4/4 beat and that sampled drum loop". Regarding the music video, he stated: "With three pretty boys wearing bright primary colours and matching bumbags, some funky choreography, clever visuals and all that dodgy falsetto, it was hard not to like (or at least laugh at)". [40]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
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In 2010, filmmaker Patrick Nation made a Channel 4 documentary about Mick Jackson and the story of the song, entitled The Other Michael Jackson: Battle of the Boogie. [56] The documentary was co-written and presented by Mick's son Sam Peter Jackson and led to Mick Jackson's 1978 album Weekend [57] (which features the original version of "Blame It on the Boogie") being re-released (for download on the iTunes Store) for the first time in 30 years by Demon Music. To promote the documentary, Mick gave a rare television interview to BBC Breakfast . [58]
"Rapper's Delight" is a 1979 hip hop track that serves as the debut single of American hip-hop trio the Sugarhill Gang, produced by Sylvia Robinson. Although it was shortly preceded by the Fatback Band's "King Tim III ", "Rapper's Delight" is credited for introducing hip hop music to a wide audience, reaching the top 40 in the United States, as well as the top three in the United Kingdom and number one in Canada. It was a prototype for various types of rap music. The track interpolates Chic's "Good Times", resulting in Chic's Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards threatening to sue Sugar Hill Records for copyright infringement; a settlement was reached that gave the two songwriting credits. It also interpolates Love De-Luxe's "Here Comes That Sound Again". The track was recorded in a single take. There are five mixes of the song.
The Weather Girls are an American female duo whose best-known line-up comprised Martha Wash and Izora Armstead. Formed in 1976 in San Francisco, California, Wash and Armstead began their musical careers as Two Tons O' Fun, the female backup duo for disco singer Sylvester. After several years of singing background for Sylvester, the duo was signed in 1979 to Fantasy Records as Two Tons O' Fun. The duo changed their name to The Weather Girls and were launched into somewhat more mainstream recognition following the release of the single, "It's Raining Men" (1982), which became their first number-one song on the US Dance Chart and their biggest hit. Despite having several hit songs on the Dance Chart as Two Tons O' Fun and The Weather Girls, the duo never achieved a top 40 hit on the main US Hot 100 and ultimately disbanded in 1988 after the release of their self-titled fifth album The Weather Girls.
"I Will Survive" is a song recorded by American singer Gloria Gaynor, released in October 1978 by Polydor Records as the second single from her sixth album, Love Tracks (1978). It was written by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris. The song's lyrics describe the narrator's discovery of personal strength following an initially devastating breakup. The song is frequently regarded as an anthem of female empowerment, as well as a disco staple.
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" is a song by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson recorded for his sixth studio album Thriller (1982). It is the opening track of the album and was released as its fourth single on May 9, 1983, by Epic Records. It was written and co-produced by Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones. The lyrics pertain to strangers spreading rumors to start an argument for no good reason. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" evokes the disco sound of Jackson's previous studio album, Off the Wall, released in 1979. The song is characterized by a complex rhythm arrangement and a distinctive horn arrangement.
"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" is a song by American singer Michael Jackson. Written by Jackson and released by Epic Records on July 10, 1979, the song is the first track on Jackson's fifth studio album Off the Wall (1979). Additionally, it was Jackson’s first solo recording in which he had control of the creative direction.
Destiny is the thirteenth studio album released by American band the Jacksons, recorded in part at Dawnbreaker Studios in San Fernando, California. It was released in November 1978 on Epic Records and CBS Records. The album marked the first time in the band's career in which they had complete artistic control, producing it themselves after previously working under the supervision of Philadelphia soul architects Gamble and Huff.
Big Fun were a British boy band that was active between 1988 and 1994. The band consisted of Phil Creswick, Mark Gillespie and Jason John. Their album was produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, though many tracks on the album were produced by other PWL members.
"Perfection" is a song performed by Australian singer Dannii Minogue and the Soul Seekerz. It served as the second single from Minogue's fifth album, Club Disco (2007). The song was written by Minogue, Peter Jackson Jr., Gerald Jackson, Rob Davis, Therese Grankvist, Simon Langford, and Julian Napolitano. The song was based on "Turn Me Upside Down" by The Soul Seekerz which sampled "Turn the Beat Around" originally performed by disco singer Vicki Sue Robinson.
"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?", also written "Da' Ya' Think I'm Sexy", is a song by British singer Rod Stewart from his ninth studio album, Blondes Have More Fun (1978). It was written by Stewart, Carmine Appice, and Duane Hitchings, though it incorporates the melody from the song "Taj Mahal" by Jorge Ben Jor and the string arrangement from the song "(If You Want My Love) Put Something Down On It" by Bobby Womack.
"Put the Needle on It" is a song performed by Australian singer Dannii Minogue, which was written by Minogue, Mathias Johansson, Henrik Korpi and Karen Poole for Minogue's fourth album Neon Nights (2003). It is the opening track, and was released as its lead single on 4 November 2002. It reached the top twenty on the Australian, Irish and United Kingdom Singles Charts. In the UK it also topped the club charts. In 2003, it was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association indicating shipment of 35,000 units.
"Jump to the Beat" is a song written by Narada Michael Walden and Lisa Walden. It was originally released by American singer Stacy Lattisaw in 1980 when it became a big hit in the UK, peaking at No. 3. It was later covered by Australian singer Dannii Minogue on her debut album, Love and Kisses, in 1991.
"This Is It" is a 1976 disco song written by Van McCoy, and performed by American singer and actress Melba Moore for her fifth album of the same name (1976).
"If I Can't Have You" is a disco song written by the Bee Gees in 1977. The song initially appeared on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack in a version by Yvonne Elliman, released in November 1977. The Bee Gees' own version appeared a month later as the B-side of "Stayin' Alive".
"What a Fool Believes" is a song written by Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins. The best-known version was recorded by The Doobie Brothers for their 1978 album Minute by Minute. Debuting at number 73 on January 20, 1979, the single reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on April 14, 1979, for one week. The song received Grammy Awards in 1980 for both Song of the Year and Record of the Year. In 2024, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
"I Love the Nightlife (Disco 'Round)" is a popular disco song recorded by American singer-songwriter Alicia Bridges in 1978. It was released as the first single from her debut album, Alicia Bridges (1978), and went to number two on the US Billboard National Disco Action Top 30 (now the Dance Club Songs chart) for two weeks. It became a crossover hit, peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100, and found worldwide success, reaching the top 10 in Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands and South Africa, as well as reaching the top 30 in the UK. A re-release in 1994 allowed the song to reach number four in New Zealand and number five in Iceland.
"He's the Greatest Dancer" is a 1979 song by the American vocal group Sister Sledge. Released on February 3, 1979, the song was written and composed by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers, and recorded for the group's successful 1979 album We Are Family. Billboard named the song No. 66 on its list of "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time."
"Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" is a 1977 song by the Spanish vocal duo Baccara, released as the first single from their debut album Baccara. Written by Frank Dostal and Rolf Soja, and produced by Soja, the song was a hit across Europe and became the duo's sole number one single in the United Kingdom, spending a single week at the top of the UK Singles Chart in October 1977.
"Boogie Oogie Oogie" is a song by the American band A Taste of Honey from their 1978 self-titled debut album. Released as their debut single in the summer of 1978, the song became an extremely popular crossover disco hit. It topped the American pop, soul and disco charts, and it became the first certified platinum single in the history of Capitol Records for selling over two million copies. It also became one of the most recognizable songs from the disco era. The lyrics call out to listeners to "boogie oogie oogie, till you just can't boogie no more".
Michael George Jackson is an English singer-songwriter and the co-writer of the song "Blame It on the Boogie". The song was co-authored by Mick's brother David Jackson and Elmar Krohn, and produced by Sylvester Levay.
"Let's All Chant" is a song written by American record producer and composer Michael Zager and Alvin Fields, and performed by the Michael Zager Band. It was based on an idea originally suggested by former A&M Records head of A&R Jerry Love after he visited clubs in New York and saw people endlessly chanting "Ooh-ah, Ooh-ah". Although Zager was first embarrassed when Love asked him to write a song using these chants, he accepted the proposal and later co-wrote "Let's All Chant" with Fields.
While I worked at Image West, we did a number of effects using a Quantel 3000 framestore to create "trails", including this Michael Jackson video, "Blame it on the Boogie". This is from my archives of work from that era.