Lost in Music explained

Lost in Music
Cover:Lost In Music.jpeg
Type:single
Artist:Sister Sledge
Album:We Are Family
B-Side:Thinking of You
Recorded:1978
Studio:Power Station, New York City, New York, US
Length:
  • 3:24 (single version)
  • 4:47 (album version)
Prev Title:We Are Family
Prev Year:1979
Next Title:Got to Love Somebody
Next Year:1979

"Lost in Music" is a song by American vocal group Sister Sledge, released in July 1979[1] as the third single from their third studio album, We Are Family (1979), an album entirely written, produced, and arranged by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards (of the group Chic). The "intoxicating" song was a no. 35 hit on the American R&B charts.[2] In 1984 and 1993, "Lost in Music" was re-released in new remixes.

Chart performance

"Lost in Music" was one of the group's biggest hits, charting at No. 35 on the US Billboard R&B chart (then called the Hot Soul Singles chart).[3] It also reached the UK top twenty in three separate decades. The original version reached No. 17 in 1979,[1] a remixed version[4] reached No. 4 in 1984,[1] and another remix reached No. 14 in 1993.

Reception

Cash Box described the song as a "very Chic tune" with "sparse, elegant instrumentation and a "fascinating" hook.[5] Richard Smith from Melody Maker wrote, "'Lost in Music' was a slice of pure pop heaven. A song about the simple thrill of going out dancing, every bit as thrilling as the feeling it was trying to describe."[6] Alan Jones from Music Week gave the 1993 remix three out of five, adding that "once again the original Chic hallmarks are ditched to turn the track into an edgy, percussive rattling slab of Nineties dance music."[7] Record World said that the "clear clean production, snappy percussion, & choir-like vocals are overwhelming."[8]

Charts

Chart (1979)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop)14
Ireland (IRMA)30
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)15
Netherlands (Single Top 100)12
UK Singles (OCC)17
US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard)35
1984 Nile Rodgers remix
Chart (1984)Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)6
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)6
Netherlands (Single Top 100)4
UK Singles (OCC)4
1993 Sure Is Pure remix
Chart (1993)Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[9] 48
Europe (European Dance Radio)[10] 4
Ireland (IRMA)10
UK Singles (OCC)14
UK Airplay (Music Week)[11] 24
UK Dance (Music Week)[12] 2

Cover version

A cover version of the song appeared on British post-punk band the Fall's 1993 album The Infotainment Scan;[13] [14] their "radically different" version has been read as a critique of the "unfair derision of the disco genre".[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sister Sledge. The Official Charts Company.
  2. Book: All Music Guide to Soul: The Definitive Guide to R&B and Soul . 620 . Vladimir . Bogdanov . Hal Leonard Corporation . 2003 . 9780879307448.
  3. Web site: Sister Sledge. Allmusic.
  4. Book: Davis, Sharon . 80s Chart-Toppers: Every Chart-Topper Tells a Story . 307 . Random House . 2012 . 9781780574110.
  5. News: CashBox Singles Reviews. July 28, 1979. 13. Cash Box. 2022-01-01.
  6. Richard. Smith. Albums. Melody Maker. 1993-01-30. 35. 2023-05-05.
  7. Alan . Jones . Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles . . 1993-02-20 . 22 . 2022-10-01 .
  8. Record World. July 28, 1979. 2023-02-11. Hits of the Week. 1.
  9. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 10. 12. March 20, 1993. 23. March 23, 2018.
  10. European Dance Radio Top 25. Music & Media. 10. 15. April 10, 1993. 9. November 3, 2021.
  11. Top 50 Airplay Chart. Music Week. March 27, 1993. 22. April 27, 2024.
  12. Top 60 Dance Singles . . March 13, 1993 . 18 . April 9, 2021.
  13. Book: Simpson, Dave . The Fallen: Life In and Out of Britain's Most Insane Group . 186 . Canongate . 2008 . 9781847676405.
  14. Web site: A Past Gone Rad: The Fall's Infotainment Scan 20 Years On . Macdonald . Neil . 15 April 2013 . . 27 October 2014.
  15. Book: Curran, Kieran . Cynicism in British Post-War Culture: Ignorance, Dust and Disease . 188 . Springer . 2014 . 9781137444356.