Outstanding

Last updated
"Outstanding"
GapBandOutstanding.jpg
Single by the Gap Band
from the album Gap Band IV
B-side "The Boys Are Back in Town"
ReleasedNovember 1982
Recorded1982
Genre Funk [1]
Length3:19 (album version)
6:13 (extended version)
Label Total Experience
Songwriter(s) Raymond Calhoun
The Gap Band singles chronology
"You Dropped a Bomb on Me"
(1982)
"Outstanding"
(1982)
"Party Train"
(1983)

"Outstanding" is a song originally performed by the Gap Band and written by member Raymond Calhoun. The song originally appeared on the group's platinum-selling 1982 album Gap Band IV . It is one of their signature songs and biggest hits, reaching the number one spot on the U.S. R&B Singles Chart in February 1983. "Outstanding" peaked at number 51 on the Billboard Hot 100. [2]

Contents

Chart positions

Chart (1982)Peak
position
UK Singles Chart 68
US Billboard Hot 100 51
US Billboard Hot Black Singles 1

Cover versions

The song was later covered by British singer Kenny Thomas in 1990. It reached number 12 on the UK Singles Chart. [3] In 1999, footballer Andy Cole signed to WEA/Warner Music and released his version of "Outstanding" with added rap verses. Cole's version reached number 68 on the UK Singles Chart. [4]

In late 2024, a highlight reel of Kevin Garnett playing for the Brooklyn Nets during the 2013-14 NBA Season set to this song surfaced online. The combination of Garnett's highlights and this song was used on social media to describe anything or anyone (particularly athletes) that's past their prime.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mario Winans</span> American singer

Mario Mendell Winans is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer from South Carolina. An extended member of the Winans musical family, he is best known for his 2004 single "I Don't Wanna Know", which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.

Paul Louis Hardcastle is an English composer, musician, record producer, songwriter, radio presenter and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known for his song "19", which went to number one on the UK Singles Chart in 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Gap Band</span> American R&B and funk band (1967–2010)

The Gap Band was an American R&B and funk band that rose to fame during the 1970s and 1980s. The band consisted of three brothers: Charlie, Ronnie, and Robert Wilson, along with other members; it was named after streets in the historic Greenwood neighborhood in the brothers' hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ain't No Sunshine</span> 1971 single by Bill Withers

"Ain't No Sunshine" is a song by Bill Withers, from his 1971 debut album Just As I Am, produced by Booker T. Jones. The record featured musicians Donald "Duck" Dunn on bass guitar, Al Jackson Jr. on drums and Stephen Stills on guitar. String arrangements were arranged by Jones. The song was recorded in Los Angeles, with overdubs in Memphis by engineer Terry Manning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stop Crying Your Heart Out</span> 2002 single by Oasis

"Stop Crying Your Heart Out" is a song by the English rock band Oasis. The song was written by Noel Gallagher and produced by Oasis. It was released in the United Kingdom on 17 June 2002 as the second single from the band's fifth studio album, Heathen Chemistry (2002). In the United States, it was serviced to radio several weeks before its UK release, in May 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Every Woman</span> 1978 single by Chaka Khan

"I'm Every Woman" is a song by American singer Chaka Khan, released in September 1978 by Warner Bros. as her debut solo single from her first album, Chaka (1978). It was Khan's first hit outside her recordings with the funk band Rufus. "I'm Every Woman" was produced by Arif Mardin and written by the successful songwriting team Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson. The single established Chaka's career outside the group Rufus, whom she would leave after their eighth studio album, Masterjam, was released in late 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piece of My Heart</span> 1967 single by Erma Franklin

"Piece of My Heart" is a romantic soul song written by Jerry Ragovoy and Bert Berns, originally recorded by Erma Franklin in 1967. Franklin's single peaked in December 1967 at number 10 on the Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stay (Maurice Williams song)</span> 1960 song by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs

"Stay" is a doo-wop song written by Maurice Williams and first recorded in 1960 by Williams with his group the Zodiacs. Commercially successful versions were later also issued by the Hollies, the Four Seasons and Jackson Browne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours</span> 1970 single by Stevie Wonder

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered " is a soul song, by American musician Stevie Wonder, released in June 1970 as a single on Motown's Tamla label. It spent six weeks at number one on the U.S. R&B chart and peaked at number three on the U.S. Pop chart. In the same year, the song was also released on the album Signed, Sealed & Delivered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm a Man (The Spencer Davis Group song)</span> 1967 song by the Spencer Davis Group

"I'm a Man" is a song written by Steve Winwood and record producer Jimmy Miller. It was first recorded in 1967 by the Spencer Davis Group; Winwood sang lead vocals and played keyboards. The song was a hit in the United Kingdom and the United States, reaching No. 9 and No. 10, respectively. It has been recorded by many other performers over the years, most successfully by Chicago, whose version charted at No. 8 in the UK in 1970 and No. 49 in the US in 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Too Much, Too Little, Too Late</span> 1978 single by Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams

"Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" is a song performed by singers Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams, written by Nat Kipner and John Vallins. The single was a comeback of sorts for Mathis, because his last U.S. top 10 hit had been 1963’s "What Will Mary Say" and his last U.S. #1 hit had been 1957's "Chances Are."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday</span> 1973 single by Wizzard

"I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday", sometimes written as "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day", is a Christmas song recorded by English glam rock band Wizzard. It was first released in December 1973 and, as with most Wizzard songs, was written and produced by the band's frontman Roy Wood—formerly of The Move and a founding member of Electric Light Orchestra. Despite the song's strong, long-lasting popularity, it has reached no higher than number four on the UK Singles Chart, a position it occupied for four consecutive weeks from December 1973 to January 1974. The song was beaten to the 1973 Christmas Number 1 spot by Slade's "Merry Xmas Everybody", which remained at the top of the charts for five weeks, from December 1973 to January 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rip It Up (Little Richard song)</span> 1956 single by Little Richard

"Rip It Up" is a rock and roll song written by Robert Blackwell and John Marascalco. In June 1956, Specialty Records released it as a single by Little Richard with "Ready Teddy" as the B-side. The song reached the top position on the Billboard Rhythm & Blues Records chart as well as number 17 on the magazine's broader Billboard Hot 100. The version peaked at number 30 in the UK Singles Chart. The song was also recorded by Elvis Presley in 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lovely Day</span> 1977 single by Bill Withers

"Lovely Day" is a song by American soul and R&B singer Bill Withers. Written by Withers and Skip Scarborough, it was released on December 21, 1977, and appears on Withers's sixth album, Menagerie (1977). Withers holds a sustained note towards the end which, at 18 seconds, is one of the longest ever recorded on an American pop song. The song was listed at No. 402 on Rolling Stone's "Top 500 Best Songs of All Time" in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Ain't Gonna Stand for It</span> 1980 single by Stevie Wonder

"I Ain't Gonna Stand for It" is the second single from Stevie Wonder's 1980 album, Hotter Than July. It reached number four on the Billboard R&B singles chart and number 11 on the Hot 100. It also hit number 10 on the UK Singles Chart. The song is famous for Wonder's imitation of a seasoned country-and-western crooner and his inspiring drumming. Charlie and Ronnie Wilson of The Gap Band provide backing vocals on the song. It was covered by Eric Clapton in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Deeper Love</span> 1991 single by Clivillés & Cole

"A Deeper Love" is a song written by American producers Robert Clivillés and David Cole, and performed by them as Clivillés & Cole featuring vocals by Deborah Cooper. Released by Columbia Records in 1991, the song was the duo's fifth number-one on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. On other US charts, "A Deeper Love" peaked at number 83 on the soul singles chart and number 44 on the pop chart. Overseas, especially in Europe the single charted higher, going to number 15 in the UK and number eight on the Dutch Top 40.

"I Found Lovin'" is a song first released by the Fatback Band in 1983 by Master Mix Records. Co-written by long-time Fatback Band bassist Johnny Flippin and then-new singer/keyboardist Michael Walker, "I Found Lovin'" was included on the group's album With Love.

<i>The Hits: Reloaded</i> 2004 studio album by Kool & the Gang

The Hits: Reloaded is a studio album by the band Kool & the Gang issued in 2004 by Edel Records. It contains re-recorded versions of their songs in collaboration with other artists. The LP reached No. 19 on the Swiss albums chart, No. 21 on the UK R&B Albums Chart, No. 26 on both the Italian and German album charts and No. 30 on the French albums chart.

References

  1. La Haine/Métisse - Original Soundtrack | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 223.
  3. "Outstanding | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts . Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  4. "ANDY COLE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts .