The Word Is Out (song) explained

The Word Is Out
Cover:	Jermaine Stewart The Word Is Out 1984 single cover.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Jermaine Stewart
Album:	The Word Is Out
Released:	1984
Genre:	Dance-pop
Length:	4:01
Label:	10 Arista (US)
Producer:	Peter Collins
Next Title:	Get Over It
Next Year:	1984

"The Word Is Out" is a song by American singer Jermaine Stewart, which was released in 1984 as the lead single from his debut studio album The Word Is Out. The song was written by Stewart, Julian Lindsay and Greg Craig, and produced by Peter Collins. "The Word Is Out" peaked at No. 41 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in March 1985.^[1]

Music video

The song's music video was shot in Paris. The dance sequences were shot in the settings of both an aerobic class and nightclub.^[2]

Critical reception

On its release, Billboard noted, "Collins borrows the Shannon sound for a high-voltage setting."^[3] Radio Luxembourg DJ Mike Hollis, writing for the Daily Mirror, described the song as "a good one" and predicted it would be a hit in the UK.^[4] Mat Snow of New Musical Express considered "The Word Is Out" to be a "mildly attractive sub-Junior song".^[5]

Mark Cooper of Number One felt the song was "very contemporary" but "rather bland". He stated, "Stewart launches his solo career with one of those dance records, all synths and drum machines thumping away like a dentist with an extractor."^[6] Graham K of Record Mirror was unfavourable, writing, "I really don't think that nicking the Art of Noise's megalithic beat box theories will rescue a no-no tune."^[7] In a retrospective review of The Word Is Out album, Dan LeRoy of AllMusic noted the song's "crunching, big-beat chorus".^[8]

Track listing

7–inch single (10 Records release)^{[9] [10] [11]}

1. "The Word Is Out" – 3:30
2. "The Word Is Out" (Instrumental) – 4:33

7–inch single (Arista Records US release)^[12]

1. "The Word Is Out" – 3:27
2. "Month of Mondays" – 3:27

12–inch single (Arista Records US release)^[13]

1. "The Word Is Out" (Extended Version) – 6:52
2. "The Word Is Out" (Dub Version) – 7:04

12–inch single (Arista Records US promo release)^[14]

1. "The Word Is Out" (Extended Version) – 6:52
2. "The Word Is Out" (Dub Version) – 7:04
3. "The Word Is Out" (Short Version) – 3:30

12–inch single (10 Records release)^{[15] [16] [17]}

1. "The Word Is Out" (West Mix - Extended Version) – 6:52
2. "The Word Is Out" – 3:30
3. "The Word Is Out" (East Mix - Extended Version) – 7:00

Personnel

Production

• Peter Collins – producer
• Julian Mendelsohn – engineer

Other

• Max Vadukal – photography
• Da Gama – cover design

Charts

Chart (1984–85)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart^[18]	144
US Cash Box Top 100 Pop Singles^[19]	37
US Cash Box Top 100 Black Contemporary Singles^[20]	17

Notes and References

1. Jermaine Stewart - The Word Is Out . . October 29, 2021.
2. News: Kolb . Lydia . October 21, 1984 . Benatar and crew should given lessons on making videos . . E4.
3. September 15, 1984 . Billboard Singles Reviews . . 58 . World Radio History . October 29, 2021.
4. News: Hollis. Mike. March 6, 1984. Bunch of hits!. Daily Mirror. 23.
5. Snow. Mat. March 24, 1984. Singles. New Musical Express. 23.
6. Cooper. Mark. March 10, 1984. Singles. Number One. 45.
7. K. Graham. March 10, 1984. Singles. Record Mirror. 16.
8. Web site: Word Is Out - Jermaine Stewart . LeRoy . Dan . . October 29, 2021.
9. The Word Is Out. Jermaine Stewart. 1984. European 7-inch single sleeve. 10 Records. 106 255-100.
10. The Word Is Out. Jermaine Stewart. 1984. Australian 7-inch single sleeve. 10 Records. TEN 10.
11. The Word Is Out. Jermaine Stewart. 1984. Canadian 7-inch single sleeve. 10 Records. VS1209.
12. The Word Is Out. Jermaine Stewart. 1984. US 7-inch single sleeve. Arista Records. AS 1-9256.
13. The Word Is Out. Jermaine Stewart. 1984. US 12-inch single sleeve. Arista Records. AD1-9257.
14. The Word Is Out. Jermaine Stewart. 1984. US 12-inch promotional single sleeve. Arista Records. ADP-9273.
15. The Word Is Out. Jermaine Stewart. 1984. European 12-inch single sleeve. 10 Records. 601 191.
16. The Word Is Out. Jermaine Stewart. 1984. UK/Australian 12-inch single sleeve. 10 Records. TEN 10-12.
17. The Word Is Out. Jermaine Stewart. 1984. Canada 12-inch single sleeve. 10 Records. VSX 1209.
18. Gallup Top 200 Singles . Gallup . 17 March 1984 . ukmix.org . September 19, 2022.
19. March 30, 1985 . Top 100 Pop Singles . . 4 . World Radio History . October 29, 2021.
20. January 12, 1985 . Top 100 Black Contemporary Singles . . 18 . World Radio History . October 29, 2021.