Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancing)

Last updated
"Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancin')"
Single by Johnny Rivers
from the album Outside Help
B-side "Outside Help"
ReleasedJune 1977
Genre Soft rock
Length4:02
Label Soul City (original local release)
Big Tree (national release)
Songwriter(s) Jack Tempchin [1]
Johnny Rivers singles chronology
"Ashes and Sand"
(1977)
"Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancin')"
(1977)
"Curious Mind (Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um)"
(1978)

"Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancin')", initially titled "Slow Dancing", is a song written by Jack Tempchin. Under the title "Slow Dancing", the song originally was a minor US hit in 1976 for the band Funky Kings (of which Tempchin was a member). The song became much better known as "Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancin')" in a 1977 cover version by Johnny Rivers, which became a top ten US hit. It was Rivers' last Top 40 hit in the United States, and became his second Gold record.

Contents

In 1979, Johnny Duncan covered the song under its original title "Slow Dancing", and had a top ten hit on the country charts with it in both the US and Canada.

Content

The song describes a young man slow dancing in the middle of the night with his girlfriend. Nothing needs to be done at the moment; the man tells his girlfriend that he wouldn't want to be anywhere else or be with anyone else.

First recordings

The first version of the song was made on the self-titled 1976 album by the Funky Kings whose membership included its composer Jack Tempchin: entitled "Slow Dancing", the track was issued as a single in October 1976, reaching #13 on the Easy Listening chart in Billboard crossing over to #61 on the Billboard Hot 100. Olivia Newton-John recorded "Slow Dancing" for her 1977 album release Making a Good Thing Better , with the lyrics changed from "my girl" to "my guy." A version of the song also appeared on the 1977 album release One More Tomorrow by the group Unicorn, fronted by Muff Winwood. The Unicorn version was issued as a single in 1977, with a 1978 re-release. "Slow Dancing" was also a single release for Lorna Wright in the summer of 1977.

Johnny Rivers version

Rivers recording of the song was originally released under the title "Slow Dancing" in April 1977. It was initially issued on Rivers's own Soul City label; the single was the company's first release following the label's reactivation. After gaining airplay and response from customers, Rivers decided to lease the record to Big Tree (which was a subsidiary of Atlantic Records) for national distribution. [2] The track was then issued on Big Tree in June 1977 under the title "Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancin')" to avoid confusion with the current single release "Slow Dancing Don't Turn Me On" by the Addrisi Brothers.

Rivers's "Swayin' to the Music" had great chart success, reaching #10 on Billboard Hot 100, #8 on the US Adult Contemporary chart, #3 on Canada's chart, and #7 on Canada's Adult Contemporary chart. It is also Rivers's most successful song on iTunes.

Chart performance

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [11] Gold75,000^
United States (RIAA) [12] Gold1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Later versions

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Rivers</span> American rock musician

Johnny Rivers is an American retired musician. He achieved commercial success and popularity throughout the 1960s and 1970s as a singer and guitarist, characterized as a versatile and influential artist. Rivers is best known for his 1960s output, having popularized the mid-60s discotheque scene through his live rock and roll recordings at the Los Angeles nightclub Whisky a Go Go, and later shifting to a more orchestral, soul-oriented sound during the latter half of the decade. These developments were reflected by his most notable string of hit singles between 1964 and 1968, many of them covers. They include "Memphis", "Mountain of Love", "The Seventh Son", "Secret Agent Man", "Poor Side of Town", "Baby I Need Your Lovin'", and "Summer Rain". Ultimately, Rivers landed 9 top ten hits and 17 top forty hits on US charts from 1964 to 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Promised Land (Chuck Berry song)</span> Song lyric written by Chuck Berry to the melody of "Wabash Cannonball"

"Promised Land" is a song lyric written by Chuck Berry to the melody of "Wabash Cannonball", an American folk song. The song was first recorded in this version by Berry in 1964 for his album St. Louis to Liverpool. Released in December 1964, it was Berry's fourth single issued following his prison term for a Mann Act conviction. The record peaked at #41 in the Billboard charts on January 16, 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're All I Need to Get By</span> 1968 single by Tammi Terrell and Marvin Gaye

"You're All I Need to Get By" is a song recorded by the American R&B/soul duo Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell and released on Motown Records' Tamla label in 1968. It was the basis for the 1995 single "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By" from Method Man and Mary J. Blige.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing</span> 1968 single by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

"Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" is a 1968 single released by American R&B/soul duo Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, on the Tamla label in 1968. The B-side of the single is "Little Ole Boy, Little Ole Girl" from the duo's United LP. The first release off the duo's second album: You're All I Need, the song—written and produced by regular Gaye/Terrell collaborators Ashford & Simpson—became a hit within weeks of release eventually peaking at number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot Soul Singles chart, the first of the duo's two number-one R&B hits. In the UK "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" reached number 34.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shop Around</span> 1960 song recorded by the Miracles

"Shop Around" is a song originally recorded by the Miracles on Motown Records' Tamla subsidiary label. It was written by Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson and Motown Records founder Berry Gordy. It became a smash hit in 1960 when originally recorded by the Miracles, reaching number one on the Billboard R&B chart, number one on the Cashbox Top 100 Pop Chart, and number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was the Miracles' first million-selling hit record, and the first-million-selling hit for the Motown Record Corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Tempchin</span> American musician and singer-songwriter

Jack Tempchin is an American musician and singer-songwriter who wrote the Eagles song "Peaceful Easy Feeling" and co-wrote "Already Gone", "The Girl from Yesterday", "Somebody" and "It's Your World Now".

Evergreen (Love Theme from <i>A Star Is Born</i>) 1976 single by Barbra Streisand

"Evergreen" is the theme song from the 1976 film A Star Is Born. It was composed and performed by American singer, songwriter, actress and director Barbra Streisand with lyrics by Paul Williams, and arranged by Ian Freebairn-Smith. The song was released on the soundtrack album to A Star Is Born.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Can See Clearly Now</span> Song by Johnny Nash

"I Can See Clearly Now" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Johnny Nash. It was the lead single from his twelfth album, I Can See Clearly Now (1972), and achieved success in the United States and the United Kingdom when it was released in 1972, reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box charts. It also reached number one in Canada and South Africa. The song has been covered by many artists throughout the years, including a hit version by Lee Towers that reached no. 19 in the Dutch Top 40 in 1982, and another recorded by Jimmy Cliff for the motion picture soundtrack of Cool Runnings that peaked at no. 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're My World</span> 1964 single by Cilla Black

"You're My World" is a cover of Italian ballad originally recorded in 1963 as "Il mio mondo" by Umberto Bindi, who co-wrote the original version with Gino Paoli. Subsequently, an English version was commissioned, and the lyrics were written by Carl Sigman as "You're My World". The song reached No. 1 in Australia (twice), Belgium, Mexico, Netherlands, South Africa and United Kingdom in recordings by Cilla Black, Daryl Braithwaite, Guys 'n' Dolls and Helen Reddy. Black's and Reddy's versions reached the US Top 40 in 1964 and 1977, respectively. The song also reached No. 1 in France and Spain in the respective translations "Ce monde" and "Mi Mundo", both sung by Richard Anthony.

"Poor Side of Town" is a song by Johnny Rivers that reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the RPM Canadian Chart in November 1966. The song marked a turning point in Rivers' career that saw him move away from his earlier rock and roll style toward pop ballads.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If You Could Read My Mind</span> 1970 single by Gordon Lightfoot

"If You Could Read My Mind" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot. Lightfoot wrote the lyrics while he was reflecting on his own divorce. It reached No. 1 on the Canadian Singles Chart on commercial release in 1970 and charted in several other countries on international release in 1971. In 2023, Hockey Night in Canada used the song for their year end playoff montage commemorating the Vegas Golden Knights' Stanley Cup win, following Lightfoot's passing.

Polly Brown is an English singer from Birmingham. A member of Pickettywitch and Sweet Dreams - and with each group lead singer on a Top Ten hit, respectively "That Same Old Feeling" and "Honey Honey" - Brown had an international solo hit in 1975 with "Up in a Puff of Smoke".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Never My Love</span> 1967 single by The Association

"Never My Love" is a pop standard written by American siblings Don and Dick Addrisi, and best known from a hit 1967 recording by the Association. The Addrisi Brothers had two Top 40 hits as recording artists, but their biggest success as songwriters was "Never My Love". Recorded by dozens of notable artists in the decades since, in 1999 the music publishing rights organization Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) announced it was the second most-played song on radio and television of the 20th century in the U.S.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Third Rate Romance</span> 1975 single by Amazing Rhythm Aces

"Third Rate Romance" is a song written by Russell Smith, first recorded in Montreal in 1974 by Jesse Winchester and his band the Rhythm Aces, assisted by Smith. It became a hit the following year by the newly re-formed Amazing Rhythm Aces on its 1975 album Stacked Deck. It was the band's debut single, reaching No.11 on the U.S. country singles chart and No.14 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as No.1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks and Top Singles charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Always and Forever (Heatwave song)</span> 1977 single by Heatwave

"Always and Forever" is an R&B song written by Rod Temperton and produced by Barry Blue. It was first recorded by the British-based multinational funk-disco band Heatwave in 1976. Released as a single on 3 December 1977, the song is included on Heatwave's debut album Too Hot to Handle (1976) and has been covered by numerous artists, becoming something of a standard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um</span> 1963 single by Major Lance

"Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um" is a song, written by Curtis Mayfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ain't No Way to Treat a Lady</span> Song covered by Helen Reddy in 1975

"Ain't No Way to Treat a Lady" is a 1974 written and first recorded by American singer-songwriter Harriet Schock. It was covered by various other artists, and saw its greatest success when it was covered by Helen Reddy, whose 1975 rendition became a top 10 hit.

<i>Smooth Talk</i> (album) 1977 studio album by Evelyn "Champagne" King

Smooth Talk is the debut album, released in 1977 by R&B singer Evelyn "Champagne" King by RCA Records and produced by Theodore Life. It contains singles "Shame", also one of King's signature songs, and "I Don't Know If It's Right", both of which were hits in the United States and Canada. Outside North America in music charts, "Shame" performed modestly in a few European countries, while the latter performed poorly in British and New Zealand charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stand Tall (Burton Cummings song)</span> 1976 single by Burton Cummings

"Stand Tall" is the title of an international hit single by Burton Cummings, taken from his eponymous debut album. The song was released less than two years after "Dancin' Fool", the final hit single by the group for which Cummings had been lead singer, The Guess Who.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu</span> 1957 single by Huey "Piano" Smith

"Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" is a song written and originally recorded in 1957 by Huey 'Piano' Smith, who scored a minor Billboard hit with it, peaking at No. 52 on the Top 100 chart, and a more successful No. 5 on the Most Played R&B by Jockeys chart.

References

  1. "Swayin to the Music Matt Albers(Slow Dancin')". AllMusic . Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  2. "Johnny Rivers - Slow Dancin' [Mono]".
  3. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
  4. Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 201.
  5. "Cash Box Top 100 10/15/77".
  6. "Song artist 376 - Johnny Rivers". Tsort.info. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
  7. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
  8. "Top 100 Hits of 1977/Top 100 Songs of 1977". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
  9. Billboard. 1977-12-24. p. Front cover. Retrieved 2016-10-11.
  10. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1977".
  11. "Canadian single certifications – Johnny Rivers – Swaying to the Music". Music Canada . Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  12. "American single certifications – Johnny Rivers – Swayin' to the Music". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  13. "Ozzie Music Man: Posat 156 - Mike Williams - Swayin' to the Music / Singles". www.ozziemusicman.com. Archived from the original on 14 December 2009. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  14. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  15. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 112.