"Got to Love Somebody" by Sister Sledge

Song#:  0017
Date:  01/19/1980
Debut:  85
Peak:  64
Weeks:  5
Genre:  R&B, Pop, Disco



Pop Bits:  Sister Sledge scored big in 1979 with a disco staple ("He's the Greatest Dancer") and an eventual pop anthem ("We Are Family"). Maybe it was the decline of disco or that "We Are Family" just overshadowed anything they could come up with, but their follow-up song and new album couldn't continue the hit streak and they never had another Top 10 hit. They still had some success on the R&B chart (this song hit #6), but they just could not replicate the success set by the previous songs.

ReduxReview: How on earth do you follow up a song like "We Are Family" with its killer hook, groove, and message? Not like this. With disco on the outs, they might have been better off issuing a slinky ballad instead of this bland track. It is not really a bad song, but it doesn't stay in memory. And having a similar groove to the two previous songs doesn't help it stand out. (C'mon admit it - after listening to this you are gonna queue up "We Are Family...")

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  This song and their two mega-hits were written/produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, aka Chic. After Chic had their major success, Atlantic allowed them to pick any artist on their roster to produce. They chose Sister Sledge and the union was a success - at least for a couple albums.

_________________________________________________________________________________