How 'Bout Us (song) explained

How 'Bout Us
Cover:How 'Bout Us Champaign song.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Champaign
Album:How 'Bout Us
B-Side:Lighten Up
Genre:R&B
Length:3:22 (Single Version) 4:38 (Album Version)
Label:Columbia
Producer:Leo Graham
Prev Title:I'm on Fire
Prev Title2:Spinnin'
Prev Year:1981
Next Title:Can You Find the Time?
Next Title2:Whiplash
Next Year:1981

"How 'Bout Us" is the most successful single released by R&B music group Champaign. Composed by band keyboardist Dana Walden and originally released on the band's debut album How 'Bout Us, the title track peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. A romantic ballad, the song was released on Valentine's Day, 1981.[1]

Song information

The song was originally released in 1975 by an earlier incarnation of the group, then called the Water Brothers Band.[2] It was released as the B side of their single, "Have You Ever Been Lonely?" on Sky Records NR6668. The band at the time of recording was made up of Dana Walden on keyboards & vocals, Howard "Leon" Reeder on vocals, lead & rhythm guitars, Keith Harden on vocals, lead & rhythm guitars, Scott Karlstrom on bass, and Bobby Carlin on drums.[3] [4]

It was re-recorded by Champaign, and it was Champaign's version that became a hit single. "How 'Bout Us" peaked at number 4 on the soul chart and was one of three releases to make the Top 10 on the soul chart.[5] It was on the Hot 100 chart for 23 weeks, peaking at number 12 on June 6, 1981, and also reached the top of the Adult Contemporary chart for two weeks.[6] Jet magazine listed the song in its "Soul Brothers Top 20 Singles" list for May and June 1981.[7]

Champaign's membership included former Water Brothers members, Walden, Reeder and Day.[3] [4]

Casey Kasem played a portion of the Champaign version on his American Top 40 show. He then played the entire version of the Water Brothers release. This was broadcast on June 6, 1981.[8]

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1981)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] 24
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[10] 19
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[11] 3
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[12] 8
US Billboard Hot 100[13] 12
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[14] 1
US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard)[15] 4
US Cash Box Top 100 [16] 10

Year-end charts

Chart (1981)Position
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[17] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[18] 1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[19] 2
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[20] 4
UK Singles (OCC)[21] 45
US Billboard Hot 100 [22] 45
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[23] 13
US Cash Box [24] 69

Cover versions

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: The Cash Box Singles Charts, 1950-1981 . 95 . Hoffman . Hoffman . Lee Ann . 1983 . Scarecrow Press . 9780810815957.
  2. American Top 40, June 6, 1981
  3. Down State Sounds, Saturday, October 24, 2020 - Michael Day & His Unreleased Solo Album (1973)
  4. 45Cat - Record Details, Artist: The Water Brothers Band, Comments and Reviews, downstatesounds, 6th Sep 2021
  5. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 109.
  6. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Joel Whitburn . 2002 . Record Research . 51.
  7. Soul Brothers Top 20 Singles . 65 . . 4 June 1981 . 60 . 12 . 0021-5996.
  8. Book: Battistini, Pete . American Top 40 with Casey Kasem . AuthorHouse . 2010 . 978-1-4520-5038-6.
  9. Web site: Australian Chart Book . Austchartbook.com.au . October 19, 2016 . dead . https://archive.today/20160305064644/http://www.austchartbook.com.au/ . March 5, 2016 .
  10. Web site: Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada . Bac-lac.gc.ca . July 17, 2013 . October 19, 2016.
  11. Web site: Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada . Bac-lac.gc.ca . July 17, 2013 . October 19, 2016.
  12. Web site: SA Charts 1965–March 1989. September 2, 2018.
  13. Champaign, HSI. Billboard. September 28, 2021. subscription.
  14. Champaign, ASI. Billboard. September 28, 2021. subscription.
  15. Champaign, BSI. Billboard. September 28, 2021. subscription.
  16. Web site: Cash Box Top 100 6/13/81 . Tropicalglen.com . June 13, 1981 . October 19, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161022054616/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/80s_files/19810613.html . October 22, 2016 . dead .
  17. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1981. Ultratop. September 28, 2021.
  18. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1981. Dutch Top 40. September 28, 2021.
  19. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1981 . Single Top 100. Hung Medien . March 13, 2018 . nl.
  20. Web site: Top Selling Singles of 1981 | The Official New Zealand Music Chart . Nztop40.co.nz . December 31, 1981 . October 19, 2016.
  21. . Chart File Top 100 . . London . Spotlight Publications . 27 . December 26, 1981 . June 13, 2016 .
  22. Web site: Top 100 Hits of 1981/Top 100 Songs of 1981 . Musicoutfitters.com . October 19, 2016.
  23. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1981. Billboard. September 28, 2021.
  24. Web site: Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1981 . Tropicalglen.com . December 26, 1981 . October 19, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161022115158/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/80s_files/1981YESP.html . October 22, 2016 . dead .
  25. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Hot Country Songs 1944–2012. Record Research, Inc. 131. 2013. 978-0-89820-203-8.

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