"Let's Dance (Make Your Body Move)" by West Street Mob

Song#:  0734
Date:  09/12/1981
Debut:  91
Peak:  88
Weeks:  3
Genre:  R&B, Dance, Rap



Pop Bits:  This trio was signed to the now-famous hip-hop label Sugar Hill Records run by Sylvia Robinson. Getting signed was easy for the group since one member was Joey Robinson, Jr., Sylvia's son. This first single from their self-titled debut album briefly got on the pop chart while reaching #18 at R&B and #22 Dance. It might have done a bit better had it been issued as a 7" single (only promo 45's were pressed). It was commercially available only as a 12" single.

ReduxReview:  A few of the early Sugar Hill recordings were along this line - a groovy jam with some rap passages and background crowd noises. They were influential and had the sound of something new being developed. It was songs like this helped shape hip-hop/rap in the early days. They can seem a bit dated now and like this one tend to drone on a bit, but these songs were making waves back then.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  This song is an updated version of "Let's Dance" originally done by the Oregon-based funk outfit Pleasure. Their version was included on their second LP "Accept No Substitutes" in 1976, but it was not issued as a single. Pleasure's best single outing was the #10 R&B hit "Glide," which also reached #55 on the pop chart in 1979 (their only pop entry).

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