How 'Bout Us (song)

"How 'Bout Us"
Single by Champaign
from the album How 'Bout Us
B-side	"Lighten Up"
Released	February 14, 1981 (1981-2-14)
Genre	R&B
Length	3:22 (single version) 4:38 (album version)
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Dana Walden
Producer(s)	Leo Graham
Champaign singles chronology
"I'm on Fire" / "Spinnin'" (1981) "How 'Bout Us" (1981) "Can You Find the Time?" / "Whiplash" (1981)
Official video
"How 'Bout Us" on YouTube

"How 'Bout Us" is the most successful single released by R&B music group Champaign. Composed by band keyboardist Dana Walden and originally released on the band's debut album How 'Bout Us , the title track peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. A romantic ballad, the song was released on Valentine's Day, 1981. ^[1]

Song information

The song was originally released in 1975 by an earlier incarnation of the group, then called the Water Brothers Band. ^[2] It was released as the B-side of their single, "Have You Ever Been Lonely?" on Sky Records NR6668. The band at the time of recording was made up of Dana Walden on keyboards & vocals, Howard "Leon" Reeder on vocals, lead & rhythm guitars, Keith Harden on vocals, lead & rhythm guitars, Scott Karlstrom on bass, and Bobby Carlin on drums. ^{[3] [4]}

It was re-recorded by Champaign, and it was Champaign's version that became a hit single. "How 'Bout Us" peaked at number 4 on the soul chart and was one of three releases to make the Top 10 on the soul chart. ^[5] It was on the Hot 100 chart for 23 weeks, peaking at number 12 on June 6, 1981, and also reached the top of the Adult Contemporary chart for two weeks. ^[6] Jet magazine listed the song in its "Soul Brothers Top 20 Singles" list for May and June 1981. ^[7]

Champaign's membership included former Water Brothers members, Walden, Reeder and Day. ^{[3] [4]}

Casey Kasem played a portion of the Champaign version on his American Top 40 show. He then played the entire version of the Water Brothers release. This was broadcast on June 6, 1981. ^[8]

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1981) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report) [9] 24 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [10] 1 Canada Top Singles (RPM) [11] 19 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM) [12] 3 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [13] 1 Netherlands (Single Top 100) [14] 1 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [15] 2 South Africa (Springbok Radio) [16] 8 UK Singles (OCC) [17] 5 US Billboard Hot 100 [18] 12 US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) [19] 1 US Hot Soul Singles ( Billboard ) [20] 4 US Cash Box Top 100 [21] 10 West Germany (GfK) [22] 42

Year-end charts Chart (1981) Position Belgium (Ultratop Flanders) [23] 1 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [24] 1 Netherlands (Single Top 100) [25] 2 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [26] 4 UK Singles (OCC) [27] 45 US Billboard Hot 100 [28] 45 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) [29] 13 US Cash Box [30] 69

Cover versions

• The song has been covered as a duet between blue-eyed soul singer Grayson Hugh and R&B singer Betty Wright; their version, from the soundtrack of the 1989 film True Love , peaked at number 30 on Billboard's R&B chart, crossing over to number 67 on the pop singles chart and number 15 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
• A cover by American country music group Girls Next Door peaked at number 71 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1990. ^[31]

See also

• List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1981 (U.S.)

References

1. Hoffman, Frank W.; Hoffman, Lee Ann (1983). The Cash Box Singles Charts, 1950-1981. Scarecrow Press. p. 95. ISBN   9780810815957.
2. American Top 40, June 6, 1981
3. Down State Sounds, Saturday, October 24, 2020 - Michael Day & His Unreleased Solo Album (1973)
4. 45Cat - Record Details, Artist: The Water Brothers Band, Comments and Reviews, downstatesounds, 6th Sep 2021
5. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 109.
6. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 51.
7. "Soul Brothers Top 20 Singles". Jet . Vol. 60, no. 12. 4 June 1981. p. 65. ISSN   0021-5996.
8. Battistini, Pete (2010). American Top 40 with Casey Kasem. AuthorHouse. ISBN   978-1-4520-5038-6.
9. "Australian Chart Book". Austchartbook.com.au. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
10. "Champaign – How 'Bout Us" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
11. "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. July 17, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
12. "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. July 17, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
13. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 22, 1981" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
14. "Champaign – How 'Bout Us" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
15. "Champaign – How 'Bout Us". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
16. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989" . Retrieved September 2, 2018.
17. "Champaign: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
18. "Champaign, HSI" . Billboard . Retrieved September 28, 2021.
19. "Champaign, ASI" . Billboard . Retrieved September 28, 2021.
20. "Champaign, BSI" . Billboard . Retrieved September 28, 2021.
21. "Cash Box Top 100 6/13/81". Tropicalglen.com. June 13, 1981. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
22. "Offiziellecharts.de – Champaign – How 'Bout Us" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
23. "Jaaroverzichten 1981". Ultratop. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
24. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1981". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
25. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1981" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
26. "Top Selling Singles of 1981 | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. December 31, 1981. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
27. "Chart File Top 100" (PDF). Record Mirror . London: Spotlight Publications. December 26, 1981. p. 27. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 4, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
28. "Top 100 Hits of 1981/Top 100 Songs of 1981". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
29. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1981". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
30. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1981". Tropicalglen.com. December 26, 1981. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
31. Whitburn, Joel (2013). Hot Country Songs 1944–2012. Record Research, Inc. p. 131. ISBN   978-0-89820-203-8.

External links

• MOODS channel - Champaign - How 'bout Us (single version) (audio)
• downstate sounds channel - The Water Brothers Band - How 'Bout Us (Sky, 1975) (Original version) (audio)