Show You the Way to Go explained

Show You the Way to Go
Type:single
Artist:the Jacksons
Album:The Jacksons
B-Side:Blues Away
Released:March 1977 (US)[1]
Recorded:1976
Studio:Sigma Sound, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania[2]
Genre:
Length:3:24 Single/5:30 LP Version
Label:Epic, Philadelphia International
Producer:Gamble and Huff
Prev Title:Enjoy Yourself
Prev Year:1976
Next Title:Goin' Places
Next Year:1977

"Show You the Way to Go" is a song written by Gamble and Huff and recorded by the Jacksons for their 1976 CBS debut album, The Jacksons. Released as a single in early 1977, it was the only number-one song for the group in the UK.[4] It was later covered by Dannii Minogue in 1992.

The Jacksons version

"Show You the Way to Go" became a hit for the Jacksons, (formerly known as "The Jackson 5") after their departure from Motown nearly two years prior. The move made it easy for the brothers to write and produce their own material. They spent a couple of years under the production and direction of Gamble and Huff and were signed to Philadelphia International Records. This was one of the songs that the producers wrote for the brothers.

This song was released after "Enjoy Yourself," released a year earlier. Michael sang lead and background vocals. Marlon Jackson, and the rest of the brothers (Randy having replaced Jermaine) had backup parts. The song reached No. 6 US Billboard R&B chart, No. 28 US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart.[5] After recording the album Goin' Places in 1977, the Jacksons left Philadelphia International for Epic.

Record World called it "a smooth ballad" and said "There's only one way for this one to go, and that's up the chart."[6]

The single's B-side was "Blues Away", which was the first song Michael Jackson wrote entirely himself.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1977)Peak
position
Canada (RPM) Top Singles[7] 52
Ireland (IRMA)5
UK Singles (OCC)[8] 1
US Billboard Hot 10028
US R&B (Billboard)6
US Cash Box Top 10045

Year-end charts

Chart (1977)Position
UK Singles (OCC)[9] 28
US Billboard Hot 100[10] 171

Personnel

Dannii Minogue version

Show You the Way to Go
Cover:Showyouthewaytogodannii.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Dannii Minogue
Album:Get into You
Released:[11]
Genre:
Length:4:21
Label:
Producer:
Prev Title:I Don't Wanna Take This Pain
Prev Year:1991
Next Title:Love's on Every Corner
Next Year:1992

Australian singer Dannii Minogue's version of "Show You the Way to Go" was produced by Bruce Forest and Andy Whitmore and was the first single released from her second album, Get into You. In 1992, it appeared on the NME charity album Ruby Trax, before being remixed and released as a single, reaching No. 30 on the UK Singles Chart in August of that year.[12]

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard called it "her strongest single to date", adding that "the cut sports a rich, soul-splashed house groove and a nicely matured vocal by Dannii."[13] Alan Jones from Music Week described the song as "bright, breezy and inconsequential".[14]

Track listings

  1. "Show You the Way to Go" (7-inch version)
  2. "Success" (E-Smoove Groovy 12-inch)
  3. "Show You the Way to Go" (extended version)
  4. "Success" (Maurice's dub)
  1. "Show You the Way to Go" (7-inch version)
  2. "Success" (E-Smoove Groovy 12-inch)
  1. "Show You the Way to Go" (7-inch version)
  2. "Success" (E-Smoove Groovy 12-inch)
  3. "Show You the Way to Go" (extended version)
  1. "Show You the Way to Go" (7-inch version)
  2. "Show You the Way to Go" (dub)
  1. "Show You the Way to Go" (Eron Irving Remix)

Charts

Chart (1992)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[15] 104
UK Dance (Music Week)[16] 38

Other sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jacksons singles.
  2. Book: Cogan . Jim . Clark . William . Temples of Sound: Inside the Great Recording Studios . Chronicle Books . San Francisco, United States . 2003 . 151-163 . 0-8118-3394-1 .
  3. Book: The Jackson 5. Coleman . Mark . Edmonds . Ben. . 2004 . . 4th . Brackett . Nathan . Hoard . Christian . 0-7432-0169-8 . 409-411.
  4. Web site: Official Charts Company . Officialcharts.com . June 4, 1977 . August 26, 2019.
  5. Book: Roberts, David. 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th. . London. 1-904994-10-5. 341.
  6. Record World. March 26, 1977. 2023-02-16. Hits of the Week. 1.
  7. Web site: Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada . Bac-lac.gc.ca . July 17, 2013 . October 12, 2016.
  8. Web site: Official Charts Company . Officialcharts.com . June 4, 1977 . August 26, 2019.
  9. Web site: Old-Charts . Old-Charts . December 1, 2016.
  10. Web site: 1977 Year End . Bullfrogspond.com . October 12, 2016.
  11. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 19. 18 July 1992.
  12. Web site: Show you the way to go | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company. OfficialCharts.com.
  13. Larry . Flick . Dance Trax: Kylie Minogue Kicks Back; Dannii's 'Show' Tune . . September 12, 1992 . 29 . October 8, 2020 . Larry Flick.
  14. Alan . Jones . Mainstream: Singles . . July 18, 1992 . 8 . October 2, 2020.
  15. http://www.australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Dannii+Minogue "Discography Dannii Minogue"
  16. Top 60 Dance Singles . . August 1, 1992 . 20 . September 29, 2020.