Boogie Nights (song) explained

Boogie Nights
Type:single
Artist:Heatwave
Album:Too Hot to Handle
B-Side:All You Do Is Dial
Released:1977
Recorded:1976
Genre:Disco
Length:3:36 (single edit)
5:02 (album version)
Label:GTO Records, Epic (US)
Producer:Barry Blue
Prev Title:Super Soul Sister
Prev Year:1976
Next Title:Too Hot to Handle
Next Year:1977

"Boogie Nights" is a 1977 single by international funk-disco group Heatwave. It was written by keyboardist Rod Temperton and was included on Heatwave's debut album, Too Hot to Handle. Harpist Carla Skanger (a pseudonym of Sheila Bromberg of the London Symphony Orchestra) played harp and American actor and singer Clarke Peters performed backing vocals on the recording.[1]

History

The song became one of the best-known disco songs by a British group and charted at No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. In the US, "Boogie Nights" also peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 behind "You Light Up My Life" by Debby Boone.[2] It appeared on US Billboard R&B and dance charts during 1977. "Boogie Nights" reached No. 1 in New Zealand. The single was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[3]

In the United Kingdom, the song was No. 2, and entered on March 5, 1977, only behind Leo Sayer with "When I Need You".

"Boogie Nights" has been covered many times by artists such as KC and the Sunshine Band, Will to Power, 911 and The Weather Girls. British boy-band Blue also performed the tune in their live shows.[4]

The song made an appearance in the films Eyes of Laura Mars, Summer of Sam and The Stud, though it was not featured in the 1997 film titled after it: Boogie Nights. Apparently the group's lead singer, Johnnie Wilder Jr., a devout born-again Christian, refused to allow the use of the recording in the film because the song was about dancing, not pornography, while the film was about the latter.[5]

Aaron Judge, right-fielder for the New York Yankees, uses the song as his walk-up.[6]

Personnel

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (1977–1978)Peak
position
Australia KMR54
New Zealand (RIANZ)[7] 1
UK Singles Chart[8] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[9] 2
US Billboard Hot Soul Singles5
US Billboard Disco Action36
US Cash Box Top 100[10] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (1977)Rank
Canada (RPM)[11] 36
New Zealand (RIANZ)[12] 1
UK [13] 24
US Billboard Hot 100[14] 93
US Cash Box [15] 48

Sales and certifications

Sonia version

Boogie Nights
Type:single
Artist:Sonia
Album:Better the Devil You Know
B-Side:My Light
Released:[16]
Genre:Dance-pop
Length:3:40
Label:Arista
Producer:Mark Taylor, Tracy Ackerman
Prev Title:We’ve Got the Power
Prev Year:1992
Next Title:Better the Devil You Know
Next Year:1993

In 1992, British singer Sonia recorded her take on the song, produced by Mark Taylor and Tracy Ackerman for her third studio album, Better the Devil You Know, in 1993. It was released in August 1992 and peaked at No. 30 on the UK Singles Chart in September.[17] The single's B-side is "My Light", which also appears on the album.

Track listings

Cassette and 7-inch single

  1. "Boogie Nights" – 3:40
  2. "My Light" – 3:55

CD single

  1. "Boogie Nights" – 3:40
  2. "Boogie Nights" (extended mix) – 5:42
  3. "My Light" – 3:55

12-inch single

  1. "Boogie Nights" (extended mix) – 5:42
  2. "Boogie Nights" (dub mix)
  3. "My Light" – 3:55

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Clarke Peters: From The Wire to Nelson Mandela. The Independent. April 30, 2009. November 7, 2011.
  2. The Hot 100 Chart. .
  3. [Joel Whitburn|Whitburn, Joel]
  4. Allmusic – cover versions
  5. Web site: Boogie Nights (1997). IMDB. March 3, 2021.
  6. Web site: David Schwartz. July 30, 2021 . 20 Best Baseball Walk Up Songs of All Time (2022 Edition) . May 19, 2022 . en-US.
  7. https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Heatwave NZ Singles Chart info
  8. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19770227/7501/
  9. U.S. Billboard chart info
  10. Web site: Cash Box Top 100 Singles, November 26, 1977 . July 17, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181020124335/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19771126.html . October 20, 2018 . dead .
  11. Web site: Top 200 Singles of '77 – Volume 28, No. 14, December 31 1977 . . July 17, 2013 . . July 17, 2017.
  12. Web site: End of Year Charts 1977 . . July 17, 2017 .
  13. Book: Nigel . Hunter . Peter . Scaping . BPI Year Book 1978 . Top 100 Singles in 1977 . The British Phonographic Industry Ltd . London, England . 216–17 . 3rd . 1978 . 0-906154-01-4.
  14. http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1977.htm Musicoutfitters.com
  15. Web site: Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 31, 1977 . July 17, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181020124405/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1977YESP.html . October 20, 2018 . dead .
  16. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 17. August 29, 1992.
  17. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19920906/7501/ Official Singles Chart Top 75 (06 September 1992 – 12 September 1992)