Song#: 1229
Date: 10/30/1982
Debut: 79
Peak: 30
Weeks: 15
Genre: R&B
Pop Bits: The band's first single from their "As One" album, "Big Fun," was successful at R&B reaching #6, but stalled just outside the pop Top 20 at #21. This next single did about the same business by reaching #7 at R&B and just barely making the Top 30 at pop. The dual Top 10's/Top 30's allowed the album to go gold, but that was a let down compared to their previous albums.
ReduxReview: As a faithful, weekly listener to "American Top 40," I'm sure I heard this song several times. Yet I have zero recollection of the tune. I think I know why - it is just an unremarkable standard R&B jam. By this point in their recording career, they seemed to be retreading their own work and it all started to run together. The slip in sales of the album and single seemed to indicate others were taking notice as well. Plus, the lyrics state "let's go dancin', reggae dancin'" but this certainly ain't a reggae beat. So what's up with that? Would have made a more interesting song if they did reggae it up. Luckily, they would finally change things a bit with their next album.
ReduxRating: 4/10
Trivia: Another track on the album, "Hi De Hi, Hi De Ho," wasn't pushed as a single in the US, but was marketed in the UK where reached #29. A portion of the song's popularity stemmed from a hit British TV show called "Hi-de-Hi!" Characters in the program, which was about a late 50s/early 60s holiday camp, used the title phrase to greet campers. It became a very popular catchphrase in the UK during the shows nine-season run from 1980-88. Although Kool & the Gang's song was not used in the TV show, the single benefited from the show's catchphrase.
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