Pillow Talk (song) explained

Pillow Talk
Cover:	Sylvia - Pillow Talk single cover.jpg
Caption:	Side-A label of the 7-inch single
Type:	single
Artist:	Sylvia
Album:	Pillow Talk
B-Side:	My Thing
Released:	March 1973
Genre:	Soul^[1] proto-disco^[2]
Length:	4:20
Label:	Vibration
Prev Title:	A Million Tears
Prev Year:	1954
Next Title:	Have You Had Any Lately
Next Year:	1973

"Pillow Talk" is a 1973 song by American singer and songwriter Sylvia, written by Sylvia along with Michael Burton.^[3]

History

According to Billboard, the song is about sex.^[4] Sylvia had originally hoped the song would be recorded by Al Green, who turned it down as he thought it was too risqué and against his religious beliefs. Thereafter, Sylvia decided to return as a musical artist and record "Pillow Talk" herself, finally releasing the song in 1973. "Pillow Talk" is an early example of prototypical disco music. The vocals are replete with moaning and heavy breathing, predating Donna Summer's orgasmic moans on 1975's "Love to Love You Baby". At the coda section, Sylvia growls out the phrase: "Aw, Would Ya". Several AM radio stations shortened the song, due to its sexual content, omitting the coda portions where Sylvia intones in a whisper" "Oh, My God", and repeatedly, "Nice steady!".

Chart history

"Pillow Talk" spent two weeks at number one on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart and peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100.^[5]

Accolades

The song was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 1974 Grammy Awards, losing to "Master of Your Eyes (The Deepness of Your Eyes)" by Aretha Franklin.

Track listing

• 7" single

A. "Pillow Talk" – 3:41

B. "My Thing" – 2:45

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1973)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[6]	59
scope="row"
New Zealand (Listener)^[7]	15
US Best Selling Soul Singles (Billboard)^[8]	1
US Cash Box Top 100^[9]	2

Year-end charts

Chart (1973)	Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[10]	45
US Billboard Hot 100^[11]	22
US Cash Box Top 100^[12]	29

Cover versions

• In 1979, disco singer Fern Kinney covered the song on her debut album Groove Me.
• In 1983, an Italo disco version of the song was released by Lustt, which was later sampled by vaporwave artist Saint Pepsi in the song "Private Caller", in 2013.
• In 1983, singer Tanya Jackson covered the song. This version became very popular at discos around Asia and Europe.
• In 1993, singer Janet Jackson covered the song for her janet. album but it was not used. Jackson later stated in 2018, "Not sure what I was thinking when I excluded it. Now that I'm hearing it for the first time in years, maybe I made a mistake. Maybe it should have gone on the record. Maybe I just wasn't willing to do a cover because of my eagerness to hone my craft as a writer.".
• In 1999, R&B singer Cherelle did a cover on her LP, "The Right Time".
• In 2006, R&B singer Miki Howard recorded a cover version for her album, Pillow Talk.
• In 2012, Joss Stone covered it for The Soul Sessions Vol. 2.

See also

• List of number-one R&B singles of 1973 (U.S.)

External links

• Lyrics of this song

Notes and References

1. Book: Stanley, Bob . Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Adventures on the Wheels of Steel: Early Rap. 13 September 2013. Faber & Faber. 978-0-571-28198-5. 524.
2. Book: Stanley, Bob . Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Adventures on the Wheels of Steel: Early Rap. 13 September 2013. Faber & Faber. 978-0-571-28198-5. 524.
3. Web site: Original versions of Pillow Talk written by Michael Burton, Sylvia Robinson | SecondHandSongs. SecondHandSongs .
4. The 50 Sexiest Songs Of All Time. M. Tye Comer . Mariel Concepcion . Monica Herrera . Jessica Letkemann . Evie Nagy . David J. Prince . Billboard. February 11, 2010. October 13, 2016.
5. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004 . Record Research . 564.
6. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 303.
7. http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener&qartistid=1437#n_view_location Flavour of New Zealand, 23 July 1973
8. Sylvia (R&B) Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs). Billboard. December 16, 2019.
9. Web site: Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending June 23, 1973 . . December 16, 2019.
10. Top 100 Singles of '73 . RPM . 20 . 20 . December 29, 1973 . 0315-5994 . December 16, 2019 . Library and Archives Canada.
11. Top Pop Singles . Billboard . 85 . 52 . TA-28 . December 29, 1973 . 0006-2510 . December 16, 2019 . American Radio History.
12. Web site: The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1973 – Top 100 Pop Singles . Cash Box . December 29, 1973 . December 16, 2019.