My Old Piano

Last updated
"My Old Piano"
My Old Piano.jpg
Single by Diana Ross
from the album Diana
B-side
  • "Where Did We Go Wrong"
  • "Now That You're Gone"
ReleasedSeptember 19, 1980 (UK) / November, 1981 (US) [1]
Recorded1979–Spring 1980
Studio Power Station, New York City
Genre
Length3:55
Label Motown
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Nile Rodgers
  • Bernard Edwards
Diana Ross singles chronology
"I'm Coming Out"
(1980)
"My Old Piano"
(1980)
"It's My Turn"
(1980)
Music video
"My Old Piano" on YouTube

"My Old Piano" is a song by American R&B singer Diana Ross. It was written and produced by Chic members Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards for her self-titled tenth studio album (1980). In it, Ross sings about the joy of playing a piano, describing it as if it were a person. The song was released on September 19, 1980 as the album's third and final single by Motown Records in the United States, and the second single elsewhere. In an accompanying music video, Ross appears performing the song in an apartment with an old piano. [2]

Contents

Unlike previous singles "Upside Down" and "I'm Coming Out", "My Old Piano" was not as successful in the United States, however, it was a commercial success in Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom, where it was a Top 10 hit and earned her a British Phonographic Industry (BPI) silver disc award for sales in excess of 250,000 copies.

Track listings

7" Single

  1. "My Old Piano" 3:55
  2. "Where Did We Go Wrong" 3:59

12" Single

  1. "My Old Piano" 3:55
  2. "Where Did We Go Wrong" 3:59
  3. "Now That You're Gone" 3:59

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1980–1982)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [3] 25
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [4] 20
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [5] 4
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [6] 2
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [7] 2
UK Singles (OCC) [8] 5
US Bubbling Under the Hot 100 ( Billboard ) [9] 9
West Germany (Official German Charts) [10] 15

Year-end charts

Chart (1980)Position
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders) [11] 34
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [12] 32
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [13] 35

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [14] Silver200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stop! In the Name of Love</span> 1965 single by the Supremes

"Stop! In the Name of Love" is a 1965 song recorded by the Supremes for the Motown label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby Love</span> 1964 single by the Supremes

"Baby Love" is a song by American music group the Supremes from their second studio album, Where Did Our Love Go. It was written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland and was released on September 17, 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Supremes discography</span>

American girl group The Supremes have released 29 studio albums, four live albums, two soundtrack albums, 32 compilation albums, four box sets, 66 singles and three promotional singles. The Supremes are the most successful American group of all time, and the 26th greatest artist of all time on the US Billboard charts; with 12 number-one songs on the Billboard Hot 100 and three number-one albums on the Billboard 200. The Supremes were the first artist to accumulate five consecutive number-one singles on the US Hot 100 and the first female group to top the Billboard 200 albums chart with The Supremes A' Go-Go (1966). In 2017, Billboard ranked The Supremes as the number-one girl group of all time, publishing, 'although there have been many girl group smashes in the decades since the Supremes ruled the Billboard charts, no collective has yet to challenge their, for lack of a better word, supremacy.' In 2019, the UK Official Charts Company placed 7 Supremes songs—"You Can't Hurry Love" (16), "Baby Love" (23), "Stop! In the Name of Love" (56), "Where Did Our Love Go?" (59), "You Keep Me Hangin' On" (78), "Come See About Me" (94) and "Stoned Love" (99)—on The Official Top 100 Motown songs of the Millennium chart, which ranks Motown releases by their all-time UK downloads and streams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upside Down (Diana Ross song)</span> 1980 single by Diana Ross

"Upside Down" is a song written and produced by Chic members Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards. It was recorded by American singer Diana Ross and issued on June 18, 1980 from Motown as the lead single from her eleventh studio album, Diana (1980). The song hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 6, 1980 and stayed there for four weeks. It also hit number one on the Billboard Disco and Soul charts. The single was released a full four weeks after the album was released.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Endless Love (song)</span> 1981 single by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross

"Endless Love" is a song written by Lionel Richie and originally recorded as a duet between Richie and singer/actress Diana Ross. In this ballad, the singers declare their "endless love" for one another. It was covered by Luther Vandross with R&B-pop singer Mariah Carey, and also by country music singer Shania Twain. Richie's friend Kenny Rogers also recorded the song. Billboard has named the original version as the greatest song duet of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Why Do Fools Fall in Love (song)</span> 1956 single by Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers

"Why Do Fools Fall in Love" is a debut single by American rock and roll band Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers that was released on January 10, 1956. It reached No. 1 on the R&B chart, No. 6 on Billboard's Pop Singles chart, and No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart in July. Many renditions of the song by other artists have also been hit records in the U.S., including versions by the Diamonds, the Beach Boys, and Diana Ross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thunder in My Heart (song)</span> 1977 single by Leo Sayer

"Thunder in My Heart" is a song by English-Australian singer Leo Sayer, from his fifth studio album, Thunder in My Heart (1977). The song was written by Sayer and Tom Snow, while produced by Richard Perry. It was released through Warner and Chrysalis Records in 1977, as the first single from the album. The disco song consists of a bassline and strings. "Thunder in My Heart" received generally positive reviews from music critics, who praised the production. It peaked at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart and at number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100. A dance remix of the song by British disc jockey Meck titled "Thunder in My Heart Again" was released on 6 February 2006, and topped the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When You Tell Me That You Love Me</span> 1991 single by Diana Ross

"When You Tell Me That You Love Me" is a song by American singer Diana Ross, released on August 20, 1991 as the lead single from her nineteenth studio album, The Force Behind the Power (1991). The song was released on the Motown label in the United States and by EMI Records in the United Kingdom. It was written by Albert Hammond and John Bettis, and produced by Peter Asher. A sentimental ballad, it became the album's biggest hit, peaking at number 37 on the US Billboard R&B singles chart and number two on the UK Singles Chart. Ross considers it one of her signature songs and it was subsequently covered by various artists. The UK release of "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" included her 1985 hit "Chain Reaction".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Never Knew Love Like This Before</span> 1980 single by Stephanie Mills

"Never Knew Love Like This Before" is a 1980 song written and produced by James Mtume and Reggie Lucas, and recorded by American R&B singer Stephanie Mills for her fourth studio album Sweet Sensation (1980). The song was inspired by the birth of Lucas' daughter Lisa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time</span> 1999 single by R. Kelly

"If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time" is a song by American singer R. Kelly, released as the fifth single from his third album, R. (1998). The song is a ballad about a man wishing he could go back in time and repair his relationship with his girlfriend. The song peaked at number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became a top-10 hit across Europe, peaking at number one in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Get Me Wrong</span> 1986 single by the Pretenders

"Don't Get Me Wrong" is a song by British-American alternative rock group the Pretenders. It was the first single released from the group's fourth studio album, Get Close (1986). It was also included on the band's The Singles album, released in 1987. Frontwoman Chrissie Hynde said she was inspired to write the song for her friend John McEnroe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Song for Guy</span> 1978 single by Elton John

"Song for Guy" is a mainly instrumental piece of music by English musician Elton John. It is the closing track of his 1978 album, A Single Man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Destiny (Lionel Richie song)</span> 1992 single by Lionel Richie

"My Destiny" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Lionel Richie. It was released on July 28, 1992 as the second single from his first compilation album, Back to Front (1992), by Motown Records. It was written by Richie and produced by himself and Stewart Levine. The song achieved some success, and it even topped the Dutch Single Top 100 and peaked at number two in the Dutch Top 40. It also appeared on Richie's best of albums Truly: The Love Songs and The Definitive Collection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All of You (Julio Iglesias and Diana Ross song)</span> 1984 single by Julio Iglesias and Diana Ross

"All of You" is a 1984 vocal duet between Spanish singer and songwriter Julio Iglesias and American singer Diana Ross, which was released on June 12 as the lead single from both Iglesias's album 1100 Bel Air Place, released on the Columbia Records label, and Ross's fifteenth album, Swept Away (1984), released on the RCA Records label. It was written by Cynthia Weil, Iglesias and Tony Renis, and produced by Richard Perry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Where Did Our Love Go</span> 1964 song by the Supremes

"Where Did Our Love Go" is a 1964 song recorded by American music group the Supremes for the Motown label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skinny Love</span> 2008 single by Bon Iver

"Skinny Love" is a song written by American musician and songwriter Justin Vernon. It was originally released by indie folk band Bon Iver, of which Vernon is a member, in 2007. A cover version by the British vocalist Birdy was released in 2011. Both versions charted internationally and have been featured in multiple television and film soundtracks. The song has since become a popular tune for various singing competition shows around the English-speaking world.

I'll Find My Way Home is a song written by Jon Anderson and Vangelis for the Jon and Vangelis' 1981 album The Friends of Mr Cairo. The single was released in late November 1981, reaching the top ten in several European countries including the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turn Around (Phats & Small song)</span> 1999 single by Phats & Small

"Turn Around" is the debut single by British electronic dance music duo Phats & Small, released on 22 March 1999 from their debut album, Now Phats What I Small Music. The song samples vocals, primarily from the first verse, of Toney Lee's "Reach Up" and Change's "The Glow of Love". It reached number two on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shotgun (George Ezra song)</span> 2018 single by George Ezra

"Shotgun" is a song by British singer-songwriter George Ezra. The song was written by Ezra, Fred Gibson and Joel Pott and produced by Cam Blackwood. It was released as a digital download on 18 May 2018, as the third single from Ezra's second studio album, Staying at Tamara's. The song reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Ezra's first number-one song in the United Kingdom and was certified septuple platinum there. In addition, it topped the ARIA Singles Chart in Australia, also becoming Ezra's first number-one there, as well as the Irish Singles Chart and New Zealand Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Say My Name (David Guetta, Bebe Rexha and J Balvin song)</span> 2018 single by David Guetta, Bebe Rexha and J Balvin

"Say My Name" is a song by French DJ David Guetta, American singer-songwriter Bebe Rexha and Colombian singer J Balvin. It was released as the seventh single from Guetta's album 7 on 26 October 2018. The track first charted upon the album's release in September 2018. It notably reached number two on Romania's Airplay 100 chart.

References

  1. "Diana Ross - My Old Piano".
  2. music video in Dailymotion.com
  3. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  4. "Diana Ross – My Old Piano" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  5. "Diana Ross – My Old Piano" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  6. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 45, 1980" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  7. "Diana Ross – My Old Piano" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  8. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  9. "US Hot 100 Bubbling Under". Top40Weekly.com. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  10. "Offiziellecharts.de – Diana Ross – My Old Piano" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  11. "Jaaroverzichten 1980". Ultratop. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  12. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1980". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  13. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1980". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  14. "British single certifications – Diana Ross – My Old Piano". British Phonographic Industry.