Let's Groove Explained

Let's Groove
Cover:Earth, Wind & Fire- Let's Groove.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Earth, Wind & Fire
Album:Raise!
B-Side:"Let's Groove" (Instrumental)
Released:September 1981
Length:5:39 (album version)
4:02 (single version)
3:56 (video version)
6:43 (12" Disco Single)
Label:Columbia
Producer:Maurice White
Prev Title:And Love Goes On
Prev Year:1981
Next Title:Wanna Be with You
Next Year:1981

"Let's Groove" is a song by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released as the first single from their eleventh studio album, Raise! (1981). It is written by Maurice White and Wayne Vaughn, and produced by White. The song was a commercial success, and was the band's highest-charting single in various territories. It peaked inside the top 20 in countries including the United States, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Canada and other component charts in America. In 1979 and the early 1980s, there was a severe backlash against disco music. In spite of this, the band decided to revive the disco sound that was included on their previous works and later records. Musically, "Let's Groove" is post-disco, pop and funk which includes instrumentation of synthesizers and keyboards along with live electric guitars.

Overview

"Let's Groove" was produced by Maurice White for Kalimba Productions. With a duration of five minutes and thirty nine seconds, the song has a tempo of 126 beats per minute.[1] [2]

Critical reception

Ken Tucker of Rolling Stone described Let's Groove as "city music" where "the horn section screams like a car running a red light."[3] Record World praised the "deep, brawny bass line."[4] Ed Hogan from AllMusic noted that White "brought in guitarist Roland Bautista and began co-writing, with Emotions member Wanda Vaughn and her husband Wayne Vaughn, a song that reflected the then-emerging electronic sound of the '80s. Not to be confused with the same-named hit by Archie Bell & the Drells, "Let's Groove" certainly was a change. Starting off with a robotic-sounding vocoder riff, it served up a more gritty-sounding EWF for the 1980s, laced with Brecker Brothers-supplied horn blasts that rival those of EWF's 1976 gold single 'Getaway'."[5] People though said that the album's "biggest disappointment is Let's Groove, yet another gotta-boogie tune."[6] Jordan Bartel of The Baltimore Sun noted that the song was "quite possibly the funkiest thing to come out of the early 1980s".[7] Richard Williams of The Times wrote "Let's Groove, the bass-heavy new single, is a reliable pointer".[8] Whitney Pastorek of Entertainment Weekly declared that "I actually love this song, especially the little computer voice in the background, like Pac-Man has come to life to boogie just for me!"[9]

NME placed Let's Groove at number 16 on their Singles of the Year list of 1981. "Let's Groove" was also Grammy nominated in the category of Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.[10]

Commercial performance

The song peaked at number three in the US, becoming their 7th and last top 10 hit.[11] It also spent eight weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart in late 1981 and early 1982 and was the second R&B song of 1982 on the year-end charts.[12]

The single sold over a million copies in the US and has been certified gold by the RIAA as until the RIAA lowered the sales levels for certified singles in 1989, a gold single equalled 1 million units sold. "Let's Groove" was also certified platinum in the UK by the British Phonographic Industry.

Music video

The accompanying music video of "Let's Groove" was the first ever to be played on Video Soul on BET.[13] [14] Heavy with vintage electronic effects, the video was directed and created by Ron Hays using the Scanimate analog computer system at Image West, Ltd.[15]

The style of the music video influenced that of Bruno Mars' "Treasure".[16]

Personnel

Engineers[17]

Performers[17]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1981–1982)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[19] 15
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[20] 6
France (IFOP)[21] 2
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[22] 8
Spain (AFYVE)[23] 10
US Billboard Hot 100[24] 3
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[25] 3
US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard)[26] 1
US Cash Box Top 100[27] 3
US Record World Singles[28] 4

Year-end charts

Chart (1981)Position
France (IFOP)[29] 30
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[30] 67
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[31] 54
US Cash Box Top 100[32] 17
Chart (1982)Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[33] 100
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[34] 50
US Billboard Hot 100[35] 33
US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard)2
US Top Disco/Dance Singles/Albums (Billboard)[36] 36

Sampling

"Let's Groove" was interpolated in "Feels" by Calvin Harris featuring Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry and Big Sean,[37] and in "Alright" by Kent Jones.

In other media

• the song was used in 1998 film The Waterboy

• this song was used in the 2005 movie Kronk's New Groove.

CDB version

Let's Groove
Cover:Lets-groove-by-cdb.jpg
Type:single
Artist:CDB
Album:Glide with Me
Released:1995
Recorded:1994
Length:4:17
Label:Sony Music
Prev Title:Hey Girl (This Is Our Time)
Prev Year:1994
Next Title:Don't Stop
Next Year:1996

In 1995, "Let's Groove" was covered by the Australian R&B/pop boy band CDB. In Australia, the song reached number 2 and was certified platinum for shipments of over 70,000 units. In New Zealand, it peaked at number 1 for three weeks and also received a platinum certification, indicating sales exceeding 10,000 copies. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1996, "Let's Groove" won the Highest Selling Single category.[38]

Track listing

CD single (662147 2)[39]

  1. "Let's Groove" – 4:17
  2. "You Will Be Mine" – 4:07
  3. "Let's Groove" (Summer Groove) – 5:05
  4. "Let's Groove" (Instrumental) – 4:19

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (1996)Position
Australia (ARIA)[41] 80
New Zealand (RIANZ)[42] 14

Certifications

Asia's Got Talent judges version

Let's Groove
Type:single
Artist:Asia's Got Talent judges
Released:May 14, 2015
Length:3:32
Label:Universal
Producer:David Foster

"Let's Groove" was covered by the Asia's Got Talent judges—David Foster, Anggun, Melanie C and Vanness Wu—and released as a promotional single on May 14, 2015, by Universal. It was released as a charity single for the May 2015 Nepal earthquake and all money raised was donated to the victims.[43] This version was produced by David Foster.[44]

Promotion

On May 14, 2015, the four artists performed the song in the final of first season of Asia's Got Talent.[45] On June 4, the Asia's Got Talent released the behind the scenes video of the recording.[46]

Track listing

Digital download
  1. "Let's Groove" – 3:32

Release history

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Earth, Wind & Fire: Let's Groove . September 1981 . Columbia Records.
  2. Web site: Earth, Wind & Fire: Let's Groove . GetSongBPM . April 14, 2019 .
  3. Ken . Tucker . Raise! . . February 4, 1982 . March 23, 2019 .
  4. Record World. October 3, 1981. 1. March 1, 2023. Hits of the Week.
  5. Web site: Ed . Hogan . Earth, Wind & Fire – Let's Groove . AllMusic . April 24, 2014.
  6. Picks and Pans Review: Raise! . . 17 . 2 . January 18, 1982 . August 1, 2020 .
  7. News: Jordan . Bartel . Throwback Thursday: The top 10 songs this week in 1982 . . January 29, 2015 . April 14, 2019 .
  8. News: Richard . Williams . Richard Williams (journalist) . Jazz/Rock . . November 6, 1981 . 40.
  9. Whitney . Pastorek . A Journey back to this week in '81... . . January 4, 2007 . May 1, 2020 .
  10. Web site: Earth, Wind & Fire . . March 23, 2019 .
  11. Book: Dean, Maury . Maury Dean . Rock N' Roll Gold Rush . limited . 2003 . Algora . 289 . 0-87586-207-1.
  12. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – 1982 . . October 11, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071011092752/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=Hot+R&B%2FHip-Hop+Songs&g=Year-end+Singles&year=1982.
  13. Book: Philip . Bailey . Philip Bailey . Keith . Zimmerman . Kent . Zimmerman . Shining Star: Braving the Elements of Earth, Wind & Fire . . 2014 . 978-1-101-60793-0.
  14. Book: Prato, Greg . MTV Ruled the World: The Early Years of Music Video . 184 . 2011 . Greg Prato . 978-0-578-07197-8.
  15. Ron Hays Music – Image 1982 demo reel . . April 11, 2010 . live . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/DZk_FjJw6qI . December 21, 2021.
  16. Web site: Ron . Bruno Mars Represents Earth, Wind & Fire in "Treasure" Video . iAmBoiGenius . https://web.archive.org/web/20131019120405/http://iamboigenius.com/2013/06/14/bruno-mars-earth-wind-fire-in-treasure-video/ . October 19, 2013.
  17. Web site: Jaxsta - Official Music Credits. January 25, 2023 . jaxsta.com.
  18. Albums and Tracks of the Year: 1981 . October 10, 2016 . .
  19. Web site: Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989 . Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien . August 31, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131020025459/http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=21533&pages= . October 20, 2013.
  20. Book: Pennanen, Timo . Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 . 2021 . Earth, Wind & Fire. 69. Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava . Helsinki. June 22, 2022. Finnish.
  21. Web site: Accès direct aux Artistes . InfoDisc . Select "Earth, Wind & Fire" from the artist drop-down menu . May 15, 2017 . fr.
  22. Web site: South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969–1989 (E) . Rock.co.za . August 31, 2013 .
  23. Book: Salaverri, Fernando . Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 . 1st . September 2005 . Fundación Autor-SGAE . Spain . 84-8048-639-2 . es.
  24. Earth, Wind & Fire Chart History (Hot 100). Billboard.
  25. Earth, Wind & Fire Chart History (Dance Club Songs). Billboard.
  26. Earth, Wind & Fire Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs). Billboard.
  27. CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending DECEMBER 12, 1981 . . September 17, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120917020953/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19811212.html.
  28. Record World Singles . . 25 . December 12, 1981 . September 9, 2017 .
  29. Web site: TOP – 1981 . Top-france.fr . April 24, 2014 . fr.
  30. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1981 . . April 24, 2014 . nl.
  31. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1981 . Single Top 100. Hung Medien . April 24, 2014 . nl.
  32. The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1981 . . September 18, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120918145923/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1981YESP.html.
  33. Web site: Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1980s . Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien . April 24, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141006134948/http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=40275 . October 6, 2014.
  34. Top 100 Singles of 82 . 37 . 19 . December 25, 1982 . . . March 7, 2020 .
  35. Web site: Top 100 Hits for 1982 . The Longbored Surfer . April 24, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130921113032/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/1982.php . September 21, 2013.
  36. Top Disco/Dance Singles/Albums . . December 25, 1982 . 94 . 51 . 36 . 0006-2510 .
  37. https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/iswc/T9222266388 ACE Repertory
  38. Web site: ARIA Awards 2007 : History: Winners by Year . . https://web.archive.org/web/20071214142950/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php?year=1996 . December 14, 2007.
  39. Web site: Let's Groove by CDB . . August 31, 2013.
  40. Web site: 1995: ARIA Singles Charts . . March 11, 2017 .
  41. Web site: Australian Top 100 Singles 1996 . . November 2, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151102010347/http://i.imgur.com/t1PYbhG.jpg.
  42. Web site: End of Year Charts 1996 . . November 18, 2019 .
  43. News: Jovi . Ho . Asia's Got Talent Judges Release Charity Single for Nepal . May 15, 2015 . June 13, 2015 . Yahoo! News Singapore.
  44. News: Asia's Got Talent Judges Release Charity Single "Let's Groove" (Earth, Wind & Fire) For Nepal Earthquake Relief . Getmusic Asia . May 15, 2015 . June 13, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150618050648/http://getmusicasia.com/2015/05/14/asias-got-talent-judges-release-charity-single-lets-groove-earth-wind-fire-for-nepal-earthquake-relief/ . June 18, 2015 . dead.
  45. News: WATCH: 'Asia's Got Talent' judges perform 'Let's Groove' . . May 15, 2015 . June 13, 2015 .
  46. Web site: Let's Groove . Asia's Got Talent . May 15, 2015 . June 13, 2015 . live . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/DY9YyIbq5rw . December 21, 2021.
  47. Web site: Let's Groove – Single: David Foster, Anggun, Mel C & Vanness Wu . iTunes HK . May 15, 2015 . June 13, 2015 .
  48. Web site: Let's Groove – Single: David Foster, Anggun, Mel C & Vanness Wu . iTunes ID . May 15, 2015 . June 13, 2015 .
  49. Web site: Let's Groove – Single: David Foster, Anggun, Mel C & Vanness Wu . iTunes MY . May 15, 2015 . June 13, 2015 .
  50. Web site: Let's Groove – Single: David Foster, Anggun, Mel C & Vanness Wu . iTunes SG . May 15, 2015 . June 13, 2015 .
  51. Web site: Let's Groove – Single: David Foster, Anggun, Mel C & Vanness Wu . iTunes VN . May 15, 2015 . June 13, 2015 .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Let's Groove".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.