Gym and Tonic explained

Gym and Tonic
Cover:Gym and Tonic Spacedust.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Spacedust
Album:Hits n' Pieces
B-Side:Spacegroove
Released:[1]
Length:
  • 7:18 (original mix)
  • 3:24 (radio edit)
Label:East West
Producer:Spacedust
Next Title:Let's Get Down!
Next Year:1999

"Gym and Tonic" is a single released by British production duo Spacedust. The song was originally recorded by French record producer Bob Sinclar as "Gym Tonic", with co-production by Thomas Bangalter and a 12-minute section of improvised funk by James Andrew (Gym) Dakin. The track was included on Sinclar's album Paradise. Their version sampled "Arms", a workout recording by American actress Jane Fonda. However, Fonda refused clearance of her vocals being used as a sample, which eventually led to a single never being released. When Spacedust recorded their version of the track, the Fonda vocal samples were re-recorded with a session vocalist.

Released on 12 October 1998, the song peaked at 1 on the UK Singles Chart; however, it was the lowest-selling UK number-one song of 1998, selling only 66,000 copies during its opening week.[2] Despite this, it received a silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry for shipments exceeding 200,000 copies the same year. It also reached No. 10 in Iceland and New Zealand, No. 17 in Ireland, and the top 40 in Belgium (Flanders and Wallonia).

Music video

The music video for Spacedust's track depicts an exercise workout filmed on 2 August 1998 and featured an appearance by Nancy Sorrell. In an ode to exercise videos from the 1980s and 1990s, it was intentionally cheaply made with production costs for the video at over £10,000. It regularly features on VH1's "worst videos" lists.

Track listings

UK, European and Australian CD single[3]

  1. "Gym and Tonic" (radio) – 3:19
  2. "Gym and Tonic" (original mix) – 7:18
  3. "Spacegroove" – 6:29

UK cassette single[4]

  1. "Gym and Tonic" (radio) – 3:19
  2. "Spacegroove"– 6:29

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (1998)Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[5] 11
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[6] 10

Year-end charts

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gym and Tonic. Amazon. 20 July 2021.
  2. Chart Commentary. Jones. Alan. Music Week. 20. 24 October 1998. 6 July 2021.
  3. Gym and Tonic. Spacedust. 1998. UK, European & Australian CD single disc notes. EastWest Records. EW188CD, 3984-25416-2.
  4. Gym and Tonic. Spacedust. 1998. UK cassette single sleeve. EastWest Records. EW188C, 3984-25417-4.
  5. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 15. 44. 10. 31 October 1998. 13 June 2020.
  6. News: Íslenski Listinn (27.11–4.11. 1998). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 12. 27 November 1998. 4 October 2019.
  7. Web site: Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1998 wg sprzedaży. pl. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150604184020/http://hosting1642755.az.pl/sp%20uk%20best%201998.html. 4 June 2015. 4 October 2019.