"How 'Bout Us" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Champaign | ||||
from the album How 'Bout Us | ||||
B-side | "Lighten Up" | |||
Released | February 14, 1981 | |||
Genre | R&B | |||
Length | 3:22 (Single Version) 4:38 (Album Version) | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Songwriter(s) | Dana Walden | |||
Champaign singles chronology | ||||
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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]
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 single didn't chart. [3] [4] 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. [5] [6]
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. [7] 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. [8] Jet magazine listed the song in its "Soul Brothers Top 20 Singles" list for May and June 1981. [9]
Champaign's membership included former Water Brothers members, Walden, Reeder and Day. [5] [6]
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. [4]
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