Happy People (The Temptations song)

Last updated
"Happy People"
Single by The Temptations
from the album A Song for You
Released1974 (1974)
Recorded1974
Genre Disco [1]
Length3:38
Label Gordy Records
Songwriter(s) Donald Baldwin, Jeffrey Bowen, Lionel Richie
Producer(s) Jeffrey Bowen
The Temptations singles chronology
"You've Got My Soul on Fire"
(1974)
"Happy People"
(1974)
"Shakey Ground"
(1975)

"Happy People" is a 1974 single by The Temptations, co-written by Lionel Richie. It was the first single from the album A Song For You . In the United States, the single went to #1 on the R&B chart and #40 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. [2] "Happy People" also peaked at #11 on the disco/dance chart. [3] The single was the first Temptations release without the guidance of Norman Whitfield since 1966. [4]

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Get Ready (The Temptations song)</span> Song by The Temptations

"Get Ready" is a Motown song written by Smokey Robinson, which resulted in two hit records for the label: a U.S. No. 29 version by The Temptations in 1966, and a U.S. No. 4 version by Rare Earth in 1970. It is significant for being the last song Robinson wrote and produced for the Temptations, due to a deal Berry Gordy made with Norman Whitfield, that if "Get Ready" did not meet with the expected degree of success, then Whitfield's song, "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", would get the next release, which resulted in Whitfield more or less replacing Robinson as the group's producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Controversy (song)</span> 1981 single by Prince

"Controversy" is a song by American musician Prince, the lead single and title track to his 1981 album. The song addresses speculation about Prince at the time such as his sexuality, gender, religion, and racial background, and how he could not understand the curiosity surrounding him.

"He's a Pretender" is a 1983 song written by Gary Goetzman (BMI) and Mike Piccirillo (BMI). It was originally recorded by R&B female group High Inergy. This was the lead single of their last album Groove Patrol, before disbanding in 1984, and it peaked at #82 in the Billboard Hot 100, #62 on the Black Singles charts. On the US, Dance/Disco Top 80 chart, "He's a Pretender" went to #25.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swept Away (Diana Ross song)</span> 1984 single by Diana Ross

"Swept Away" is a song by American R&B singer Diana Ross for her album of the same name. Ross released the song as the album's second single on August 14, 1984, by the RCA. It was written by Daryl Hall, Sara Allen and produced by Hall and Arthur Baker. Ross wrote the spoken lyrics at the beginning of the song and Hall also provided background vocals on it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'll Be Good to You</span> 1976 song by the Brothers Johnson

"I'll Be Good to You" is a 1976 hit song by R&B duo the Brothers Johnson. George Johnson, one of the two Johnson brothers in the band, wrote the song after deciding to commit to a relationship with one woman, instead of dating several at a time. While George was recording a demo for the song, family friend Senora Sam came by and added some lyrics. Brothers Johnson producer and mentor Quincy Jones heard the song, liked it, and convinced George to sing lead on the finished track. Released from their debut album, Look Out for #1, it was a top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot Singles Charts, peaking at number three, and a number one song on the Billboard R&B Charts during the summer of 1976. The single was later certified gold by the RIAA.

"Lovely One" is a funk single released by American family group the Jacksons in September 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rebels Are We</span> 1980 single by Chic

"Rebels Are We" is a song by American R&B band Chic. It was the first single from their fourth studio album, 1980's Real People. The song, featuring a solo lead vocal by Luci Martin, marked a change of direction for the band; incorporating harder rock/new wave elements into their trademark funk sound. The song peaked at number 8 on Billboard's "Hot Soul/Black Singles" chart and number 61 on Billboard's "Hot 100" chart). The song has been included in many compilation albums such as The Best of Chic, Volume 2 and The Very Best of Chic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Give It to Me Baby</span> 1981 single by Rick James

"Give It to Me Baby" is a song written by American singer Rick James. Taken from his album Street Songs, the song charted on the Billboard Hot 100, spending two weeks at No. 40 and spent five weeks at No. 1 on the R&B chart. Two other tracks from Street Songs, "Super Freak" and "Ghetto Life", topped the American dance chart for three weeks in the summer of 1981. The song proved to be even more successful with R&B and dance club audiences. Part of the background vocals were sung by Temptations member Melvin Franklin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot Shot (Karen Young song)</span> 1978 single by Karen Young

"Hot Shot" is a 1978 song written and produced by Andrew Kahn and Kurt Borusiewicz, and recorded by American singer Karen Young. The song was included on her debut studio album of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's a Disco Night (Rock Don't Stop)</span> 1979 single by The Isley Brothers

"It's a Disco Night " is a 1979 club hit for The Isley Brothers, released on their T-Neck label as the second single from their gold-certified album Winner Takes All. The song is notable for being one of the few disco-based songs the Isley Brothers released. Beforehand, the group were known for their mixture of funk, rhythm and blues and rock. The song was led by brother Ronald Isley while his brothers Kelly and Rudolph Isley chanted "rock don't stop" in the background. The song briefly charted on the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number 90, hitting number 27 on the R&B chart. Outside the US, "It's a Disco Night" reached number 14 on the UK Singles chart.

"The Men All Pause" is a hit single recorded by Klymaxx for the MCA label. Written by Bernadette Cooper and Joyce Irby, this song was recorded and released as the first single off their fourth album, Meeting in the Ladies Room. This song reached number 5 on the Billboard R&B chart, number 80 on the Billboard Hot 100, and number 9 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. The success of this song helped the group's Meeting in the Ladies Room album reach Platinum status.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Lee (song)</span> 1986 single by Aretha Franklin

"Jimmy Lee" is a song written by Narada Michael Walden, Lisa Walden, Preston Glass, and Jeffrey Cohen for American singer Aretha Franklin, who recorded it for her 1986 album Aretha. Produced by Narada Michael Walden, the track was released as the lead single from the album in late 1986.

"Jump to It" is a 1982 song by American recording artist Aretha Franklin. The track is from her Gold-certified 1982 album of the same name, produced by Luther Vandross. The song was written by Vandross and Marcus Miller and features background vocals performed by Vandross and Cissy Houston. The single reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart, remaining there for four consecutive weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Treat Her Like a Lady (The Temptations song)</span> 1984 single by The Temptations

"Treat Her Like a Lady" is a 1984 single by American vocal group by the Temptations. Released on November 6, 1984, it is the first single on which Ali-Ollie Woodson sang lead. The song appears on Temptations' album Truly for You, also released in 1984, and was co-written by Woodson and Otis Williams and co-produced by Woodson and former Earth, Wind & Fire members Al McKay and Ralph Johnson.

"Once You Get Started" is a horn-driven funk number written by musician Gavin Christopher, and recorded and released by the band Rufus featuring Chaka Khan in late 1974. The song is led mostly by Khan, though fellow group member Tony Maiden contributed lead vocals for the song's second verse. It helped to make their third album Rufusized go platinum. "Once You Get Started", peaked at number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975, giving the group their second top ten single and third top forty single overall. The song also hit number-four on the Hot Soul Singles chart as well as number six on the Record World, Disco File Top 20 chart.

"Glasshouse" is a 1975 R&B single by The Temptations. It was written by Motown songwriting team Charlemagne, which consisted of James Carmichael, Ronald Miller and Kathy Wakefield. The song appeared on the album A Song for You. It was the last top forty hit for The Temptations, going to number thirty-seven pop and number nine on the R&B charts. "Glasshouse" also peaked in the top ten on the US Disco chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're My Driving Wheel</span> 1976 single by The Supremes

"You're My Driving Wheel" is a dance/disco song by The Supremes. The song was released on September 30, 1976 as the first single from their album Mary, Scherrie & Susaye. Along with the tracks, "Let Yourself Go" and "Love I Never Knew", "You're My Driving Wheel" peaked at number five on the disco chart. On the Soul chart, the single peaked at number fifty and number eighty-five on the Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Here We Go Again (Aretha Franklin song)</span> 1998 single by Aretha Franklin

"Here We Go Again" is a song by American singer and songwriter Aretha Franklin. It was written by Trina Broussard, Jermaine Dupri and Trey Lorenz for Franklin's thirty-fourth studio album, A Rose Is Still a Rose (1998), while production was helmed by Dupri and Manuel Seal. The song is built around replayed portions of "The Glow of Love" (1980) by Italian-American post-disco group Change. Due to the inclusion of the sample, Mauro Malavasi, David Romani and Wayne K. Garfield are also credited as songwriters. The song was the second single released from A Rose Is Still a Rose in June 1998 and reached number 76 on the Billboard Hot 100, also becoming Franklin's fifth number one on the US Dance Club Songs.

"Think It Over" is a song by American recording gospel/soul singer Cissy Houston and is the lead single from her 1978 third studio album Think It Over. The disco track was written by Houston, along with Michael Zager and Alvin Fields. "Think It Over" was produced by Zager and peaked at #5 on the disco charts, as well as #32 on the Hot Soul Singles chart.

"Standing on the Top" is a funk song recorded by the Motown group The Temptations, written and produced by musician Rick James.

References

  1. Echols, Alice (March 29, 2010). "I Hear a Symphony: Black Masculinity and the Disco Turn". Hot Stuff: Disco and the Remaking of American Culture. W. W. Norton & Company. p. 32. ISBN   978-0-393-06675-3.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 572.
  3. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 256.
  4. White, Adam; Bronson, Fred (1993). The Billboard Book of Number One Rhythm & Blues Hits. Billboard Books:Watson-Guptill Publications, New York. p. 155.