Body Shake

Last updated
"Body Shake (Instrumental)"
Song by T. C. Curtis
B-side "Body Shake (Vocal)"
Recorded1981
Label Groove Production GP 112 T
Songwriter(s) William Alexander Smith
Producer(s) William Alexander Smith
Al Williams

Body Shake aka "Bodyshake" was a 1981 single for T. C. Curtis. It was released on the Groove Production label in the UK and was a hit for Curtis early in the following year.

Contents

Background

The track was composed by William Alexander Smith aka T. C. Curtis. Smith co-produced it with Al Williams. [1] [2]

The song appears on the various artists compilation, The Best Of British Jazz-Funk Volume 2. [3] [4]

Reception

It was released in the United States and Canada on the Quality and RFC labels, and a brief review in the United States music trade magazine, Record World by Brian Chin in his Disco File column. He referred to it as a bright hyper-electronic number. He noted the length and the few changes of both the vocal and instrumental versions. He also said it was "fast and punchy, like a new, poppier "War Dance". [5]

Airplay

The April 3, 1982 issue of Billboard showed that "Body Shake" was an add-on to the playlist of WKTU-FM in New York City. [6] On the week of April 10, 1982, James Hamilton reported that "Body Shake" was getting played in the United States on New York urban contemporary radio. [7]

Charts

The record made its debut at no. 14 on the Record Business Twelve Inchers chart on the week of January 11. [8] Also that week, it was on its fourth week in the magazine's Disco Top 50 chart. It had moved up from no. 45 to no. 23. [9] On the week of February 1, and at week seven, it was at the peak position of no. 16. [10] [11] It spent a total of eleven weeks in the Disco Top 50 chart. [12]

Chart summary
CountryPublicationPeakNotes
UK Record Business
Disco Top 50
16 [13] [14]
UKRecord Business
Twelve Inchers
12 [15] [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twelve-inch single</span> Type of vinyl phonograph record

The twelve-inch single is a type of vinyl gramophone record that has wider groove spacing and shorter playing time with a "single" or a few related sound tracks on each surface, compared to LPs which have several songs on each side. It is named for its 12-inch (300 mm) diameter that was intended for LPs. This technical adaptation allows for louder levels to be cut on the disc by the mastering engineer, which in turn gives a wider dynamic range, and thus better sound quality. This record type, which is claimed to have been accidentally discovered by Tom Moulton, is commonly used in disco and dance music genres, where DJs use them to play in clubs. They are played at either 33+13 or 45 rpm. The conventional 7-inch single usually holds three or four minutes of music at full volume. The 12-inch LP sacrifices volume for extended playing time.

Cameo is an American funk band that formed in 1974. Cameo was initially a 14-member group known as the New York City Players; this name was later changed to Cameo.

Was (Not Was) is an American band founded in 1979 in Detroit, Michigan, by David Weiss and Don Fagenson, who adopted the stage names David Was and Don Was. Their song catalog features an eclectic mix of pop and rock styles, often featuring guest musicians from across the musical spectrum. The band's most popular period was during the 1980s and early 1990s, with their highest-charting hit, the song "Walk the Dinosaur", released in 1987 as the lead single from their 1988 album What Up, Dog?, becoming a worldwide top-40 hit and peaking at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The band went on indefinite hiatus in the mid-1990s, but has returned sporadically since the turn of the millennium. Their most recent release was the 2008 album Boo!.

<i>Synkronized</i> 1999 studio album by Jamiroquai

Synkronized is the fourth studio album by English funk and acid jazz band Jamiroquai. It was released on 8 June 1999 by Work Group in the United States, and on 14 June 1999 by S2 Records in the United Kingdom. Bassist Stuart Zender left the band during recording, and Nick Fyffe was hired as a replacement. The album contains funk, acid jazz and disco elements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Got to Give It Up</span> 1977 single by Marvin Gaye

"Got to Give It Up" is a song by American music artist Marvin Gaye. Written by the singer and produced by Art Stewart as a response to a request from Gaye's record label that he perform disco music, it was released in March 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let's Groove</span> 1981 single by Earth, Wind & Fire

"Let's Groove" is a song by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released as the first single from their eleventh studio album, Raise! (1981). It is written by Maurice White and Wayne Vaughn, and produced by White. The song was a commercial success, and was the band's highest-charting single in various territories. It peaked inside the top 20 in countries including the United States, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Canada and other component charts in America. In 1979 and the early 1980s, there was a severe backlash against disco music. In spite of this, the band decided to revive the disco sound that was included on their previous works and later records. Musically, "Let's Groove" is post-disco, pop and funk which includes instrumentation of synthesizers and keyboards along with live electric guitars.

Post-disco is a term and genre to describe an aftermath in popular music history circa 1979–1986, imprecisely beginning with the backlash against disco music in the United States, leading to civil unrest and a riot in Chicago known as the Disco Demolition Night on July 12, 1979, and indistinctly ending with the mainstream appearance of new wave in 1980. During its dying stage, disco displayed an increasingly electronic character that soon served as a stepping stone to new wave, old-school hip-hop, Euro disco, and was succeeded by an underground club music called hi-NRG, which was its direct continuation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Right Kinda Lover</span> 1994 single by Patti LaBelle

"The Right Kinda Lover" is a song by American singer and actress Patti LaBelle. It was written by Ann Bennett-Nesby, James Harris III, Terry Lewis, and James "Big Jim" Wright, while production was helmed by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, with Wright as co-producing. The song was released as the first single from her LaBelle's 12th album, Gems (1994), and appeared on the soundtrack to the 1994 film Beverly Hills Cop III, starring Eddie Murphy.

<i>Brass Construction</i> (album) 1975 studio album by Brass Construction

Brass Construction is the self-titled debut album by the American funk band Brass Construction, released in autumn 1975 by United Artists Records. Recorded with producer Jeff Lane, the album weaves different influences, including Latin music and jazz, into the band's rhythmic funk style, and emphasises the group's brass section. The album's songs, all of which are named using a single verb, feature simplistic, repetitive lyrics, reflecting the group's desire for audiences to interpret the songs as they wish. Critics noted themes of social awareness in the lyrics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bring Me Your Love (song)</span> 1994 promotional single by Deee-Lite

"Bring Me Your Love" is a song recorded and produced by American-based group Deee-Lite, which was released in May 1994 by Elektra Records as the second single of their third and final studio album, Dewdrops in the Garden (1994). The single was issued as a 12-inch white vinyl and sampled "The Children's Song" by Eddie Harris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Never Never Love (song)</span> 1996 single by Simply Red

"Never Never Love" is a song by British soul and pop band Simply Red. Written by frontman Mick Hucknall, it was featured on their fifth album, Life (1996), and reached number 18 on the UK chart when released in February 1996 by EastWest. The song additionally peaked at number seven in Hungary and number 26 in Iceland. On the Eurochart Hot 100, it reached number 93 in March 1996.

<i>Breaking Point</i> (Central Line album) 1982 studio album by Central Line

Breaking Point is the debut studio album by Britfunk band Central Line, released by Mercury Records in February 1982 in the United Kingdom. In the United States, it was released under the name Central Line with a different track listing and artwork. Recorded with producer Roy Carter, formerly of Heatwave, the album features a distinctly English style of synth-funk similarly to contemporaries Hi-Tension and Light of the World. The record was well-received and reached number 64 on the UK Albums Chart and 145 on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart. The hit single "Walking Into Sunshine" was also remixed by Larry Levan and became a popular club hit in New York. In 2007, The Guardian included Breaking Point on their list of "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Real Groove</span> 2020 single by Kylie Minogue

"Real Groove" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue from her fifteenth studio album, Disco (2020). The song was written by Minogue, Teemu Brunila, Nico Stadi and Alida Garpestad Peck, with a sense of optimism for days ahead during the COVID-19 pandemic. Brunila and Stadi also handled the production. It is a disco-pop song with house and R&B elements and features vocoders, a funk bass and post-disco synths. The lyrics see Minogue attempting to win an ex back. A new version, a duet with English and Albanian singer Dua Lipa entitled "Studio 2054 remix", was released on 31 December 2020 as the album's third single by Darenote and BMG. The remix added William Bowerman as a producer with additional instrumentation and Lipa incorporating layered vocals and new lyrics.

Linda Taylor is a performing singer, recording artist and songwriter. She had success with her hits with "(You're) in the Pocket", "You and Me Just Started" and "Every Waking Hour". She also sang lead on the hit "Roberto Who?" which was credited to Cayenne featuring Linda Taylor. She was once a member of Gonzalez. She is also one of the UK's top session singers. Her career has seen her working with acts such as Morrissey–Mullen.

"You and Me Just Started" is a song by English singer Linda Taylor. It became a hit single for her in the UK in 1982 as well as in the US.

<i>Taylor Made</i> (album) 1982 studio album by Linda Taylor

Taylor Made was the 1982 debut album for English singer Linda Taylor. It got into the disco top ten in the UK. It also included her hit singles, "(You're) In the Pocket" and "You and Me Just Started".

Groove Production was a record label formed by Chris Palmer. The majority of recordings were in the dance and disco genre. Artists to have their material released on the label include Bunny Brown, Cayenne, T. C. Curtis, The Evasions, K.I.D., Morrissey-Mullen, Surface Noise, and Linda Taylor. Hits that came though the label include "Body Shake", "(You're) In The Pocket", "You and Me Just Started", "Roberto Who?" and "Wikka Wrap" etc.

T. C. Curtis is a UK based singer who had a string of chart hits during the 1980s. He is most likely remembered for his hits "Body Shake" and "You Should Have Known Better". In addition to his national hits on the UK singles chart chart, he has also had other hits on the dance, R&B, club and disco charts.

Roberto Who..? is a song by the British band Cayenne. Released on the Groove Production label, it was a hit in the UK in 1981, charting on both the Record Business Top 50 Disco chart and the Twelve Inchers chart.

"Walking into Sunshine" is a 1981 single by British band Central Line. It became a hit for the group that year, charting in both the UK and the US.

References

  1. Discogs - T.C. Curtis – Body Shake
  2. Beat Electric, Friday, June 18, 2010 - SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER
  3. HTFR - Various Artists The Best Of British Jazz Funk Volume 2
  4. 45 Worlds - Vinyl Album, Various Artists, The Best Of British Jazz-Funk Volume 2
  5. Record World, March 13, 1982 - Page 38 Record World Disco, Disco File By BRIAN CHIN
  6. Billboard, April 3, 1982 - Page 26 Billboard Singles Radio Action Based on station playlists through Tuesday (3/23/82), Northwest Region, WKTU-FM-New York City
  7. James Hamilton's Disco Page, April 10, 1982 - April 10, 1982: Sharon Brown, Patrice Rushen, Richard ‘Dimples’ Fields, “D” Train, Fat Larry’s Band, ODDS 'N' BODS
  8. Record Business , January 11, 1982 - Page 4 DISCO, 12 Inchers, 14 _ BODYSHAKE T.C. Curtis Groove
  9. Record Business, January 11, 1982 - Pages 10 - 11 Disco Top 50 23 45 4 BODYSHAKE
  10. Record Business, February 1, 1982 Volume Four Number 44 - Page 12 Disco Top 50, 16 16 7 BODYSHAKE
  11. Record Business, February 1, 1982 Volume Four Number 45 - Page 12 Disco Top 50, 18 16 8 BODYSHAKE
  12. Record Business, March 1, 1982 Volume Four Number 48 - Page 10 Disco Top 50, 49 37 11 BODYSHAKE
  13. Record Business, February 1, 1982 Volume Four Number 44 - Page 12 Disco Top 50, 16 16 7 BODYSHAKE
  14. Record Business, February 1, 1982 Volume Four Number 45 - Page 12 Disco Top 50, 18 16 8 BODYSHAKE
  15. Record Business, January 25, 1982 Volume Four Number 43 - Page 23 DISCO, Twelve Inchers, 12 14 BODYSHAKE T.C. Curtis Groove Prod.
  16. Record Business, February 1, 1982 - Page 5 DISCO, Twelve Inchers, 15 12 BODY SHAKE T.C. Curtis Groove Prod.