"Don't Push It, Don't Force It" by Leon Haywood

Song#:  0115
Date:  04/05/1980
Debut:  93
Peak:  49
Weeks:  11
Genre:  R&B, Funk



Pop Bits:  In his earlier career Haywood played piano and keyboards for several blues and R&B stars like Guitar Slim and Sam Cooke. He first hit the charts in 1965 and had a few minor hits throughout the rest of the 60s and into the 70s. His first major hit was "I Want'a Do Something Freaky to You" in 1975 (#15 Pop/#7 R&B). By this time he was combining soul and R&B with funk and disco and it served him well. He continued to have a few minor R&B chart songs through the remainder of the 70s, but didn't hit the pop chart again until this song, which ended up being his biggest R&B hit peaking at #2. It ended up being his last entry on the pop chart.

ReduxReview:  Gotta give points for the double entendre title and lyrics. Other than that, it has a pretty good funk groove but the song tends to go on too long. 

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  Haywood's song "I Want'a Do..." remains his most popular hit and has been sampled many times by artists such as Dr. Dre, Redman, and Mariah Carey.

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