Let It Whip
"Let It Whip" is a 1982 single by the Dazz Band and their biggest hit, peaking at number one on the R&B chart for five non-consecutive weeks.[1] The single also reached number two on the Dance chart[2] and number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[3] The song won the 1982 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
"Let It Whip" | ||||
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Side A of U.S. 7-inch vinyl | ||||
Single by Dazz Band | ||||
from the album Keep It Live | ||||
B-side | "Everyday Love" | |||
Released | February 12, 1982 | |||
Recorded | July 1981 | |||
Genre | Post-disco, funk | |||
Length | 4:42 (album version) 3:58 (7" single version) 6:22 (12" single version) 7:00 (instrumental) | |||
Label | Motown | |||
Songwriter(s) | Reggie Andrews, Leon "Ndugu" Chancler | |||
Producer(s) | Reggie Andrews | |||
Dazz Band singles chronology | ||||
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Song
Co-written by producers Reggie Andrews and Leon "Ndugu" Chancler, performed by the Dazz Band, "Let It Whip" features a percolating drum machine rhythm underneath live drums, and a Minimoog bassline, underneath an electric bass guitar.
Chart history
Weekly charts
Chart (1982) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report)[4] | 97 |
US Billboard Hot 100 | 5 |
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 2 |
US Billboard Hot Soul/Black Singles | 1 |
US Cash Box Top 100[5] | 13 |
CDB version
"Let It Whip" | ||||
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Single by CDB | ||||
from the album Lifted | ||||
B-side | "remixes" | |||
Released | April 1998 | |||
Recorded | Sydney, Australia | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 4:59 | |||
Label | Sony Music Australia | |||
Songwriter(s) | Reggie Andrews, Leon "Ndugu" Chancler | |||
Producer(s) | The Rockmelons | |||
CDB singles chronology | ||||
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Australian boy band CDB released a version in April 1998 as the third single from their second studio album, Lifted (1997). The song peaked at number 51 on the ARIA Charts.
Track listing
CD single (665254 2)
- "Let It Whip"
- "Back Then" (Dance Remix)
- "Good Times" (MI:II Remix)
- "Let It Whip" (Instrumental)
Charts
Chart (1998) | Position |
---|---|
Australian ARIA Charts | 51 |
Other covers/sampling
"Let It Whip" is featured in the video games Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Scarface: The World Is Yours, in the skateboard film DVS Skate More and in the films Grosse Pointe Blank (1997), Next Friday (2000), Adventures of Power (2008) and Almost Christmas (2016).
It has been covered by Boyz II Men, SR-71 on the soundtrack to The New Guy, and George Lam (titled as the Cantonese song "愛到發燒"). The song was also covered by fictional a cappella group The Treblemakers in the 2012 film Pitch Perfect and is featured on the film's soundtrack.
Hip hop group The Treacherous Three sampled the song in their version called "Whip It", also released in 1982.
Christian hip hop artist Lecrae sampled the song in his song "Let It Whip" (featuring Paul Wall) on his 2013 mix tape Church Clothes 2.
Justin Timberlake sampled the song in a remix version of his 2003 hit "Cry Me a River".
The song is also sampled in the song "Let It Whip" by Purple Disco Machine (2012).
In 2015, the song was sampled by LunchMoney Lewis in his song "Whip It!".[8]
References
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 149.
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 72.
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications)
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 84. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending JULY 10, 1982". Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 2013-11-28.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). Cash Box magazine.
- "Top 100 Hits of 1982/Top 100 Songs of 1982". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
- "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1982". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
- "INTERVIEW : LunchMoney Lewis". auspOp. November 2, 2015. Retrieved January 10, 2016.