Turn the Beat Around

"Turn the Beat Around" is a disco song written by Gerald Jackson and Peter Jackson and performed by Vicki Sue Robinson in 1976 (see 1976 in music), originally appearing on her debut album, Never Gonna Let You Go. Released as a single, the song went to #10 on the Billboard pop charts, and #73 on the soul chart.[1] The song earned Robinson a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The track went to number one on the disco chart for four weeks.[2] "Turn the Beat Around" is considered a disco classic and is featured on many compilation albums.

"Turn the Beat Around"
Single by Vicki Sue Robinson
from the album Never Gonna Let You Go
B-side	"Lack of Respect"
Released	February 1976
Recorded	1975
Genre	Disco
Length	5:35 (LP) 3:21 (single)
Label	RCA Victor
Songwriter(s)	Gerald Jackson, Peter Jackson
Producer(s)	Warren Schatz
Vicki Sue Robinson singles chronology
"Baby Now That I Found You" (1975) "Turn the Beat Around" (1976) "Never Gonna Let You Go" (1976)

Background

"Turn the Beat Around" was written by brothers Gerald and Peter Jackson of the R&B outfit Touch of Class. Peter Jackson knew Al Garrison, an engineer at Associated Studios in New York, through Jackson's work as a session drummer, and it was at Associated Studios that Touch of Class cut its own demos. Peter Jackson recalls that one Sunday at noontime "I called Al and said...we want to come in and [cut a] demo...He was leaving at four...He said: 'My girl[friend]’s coming to pick me up for dinner. You have to be done [by then]."[3]

Garrison's girlfriend turned out to be singer Vicki Sue Robinson whose debut album was nearing completion requiring one additional track. On arriving at Associated Studios that Sunday, Robinson overheard the playback of the "Turn the Beat Around" demo which Touch of Class had just recorded and according to Peter Jackson said: "Oh, man, I’ve gotta have that song." Gerald and Peter Jackson initially demurred, wishing to submit "Turn the Beat Around" along with four earlier demos to be green-lighted for the Touch of Class debut album.[3]

Peter Jackson - "Monday [the next day], Gerald and I go up to Midland [Touch of Class' label]. We’re excited because we know this song ["Turn the Beat Around"] is slammin’...[Midland] took the other four songs and they passed on that one. They said: 'We don't like that one. The lyrics move too fast. You have that jungle beat in there. It's not what's happening'." Peter Jackson resultantly called Vicki Sue Robinson to give her the song for her album. When Jackson told Robinson: "'I'll meet you down on Thirty-Fourth Street [with the demo]' she said: 'I [already] made Al give me a copy.'"[3]

Robinson recorded "Turn the Beat Around" on September 26, 1975, cutting her lead vocal in a single take after recording her own multi-tracked chorale vocals. Like the other cuts on Robinson's debut album Never Gonna Let You Go, "Turn the Beat Around" was recorded at RCA Studios with producer Warren Schatz who recalls the basic master of the song was recorded "on a Friday after a very depressing week of rain [and] I hated [the track]! I listened to it in my office and I just couldn't get it. It had been such a bad week that I just couldn't hear anything with an open mind. Then David Todd, the head of disco promotion at RCA, came into my office and he went crazy over the track! He convinced me to finish it as soon as possible."[4]

Issued as a single in February 1976 "Turn the Beat Around" became a club smash subsequently breaking on Top 40 radio in Boston - where it would reach #1 that June - to make a gradual ascent on the national Pop chart: the Billboard Hot 100 to reach a #10 peak in August 1976.

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1976) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 28 Belgium 17 Canada RPM Top Singles[6] 14 France 44 Netherlands 11 South Africa (Springbok Radio)[7] 12 UK Singles Chart 51 US Billboard Hot 100[8] 10 US Billboard Easy Listening 43 US Billboard Dance 1 US Billboard Soul Singles[1] 73 US Cash Box Top 100[9] 15

Year-end charts Chart (1976) Rank Canada [10] 129 US Billboard Hot 100[11] 38 US Cash Box [12] 67

Laura Branigan version

"Turn the Beat Around"
American cover art
Single by Laura Branigan
from the album Laura Branigan
Released	1990
Recorded	1990
Genre	Dance-pop Hi-NRG
Length	4:22
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Gerald Jackson, Peter Jackson
Producer(s)	Laura Branigan Steve Lindsey
Laura Branigan singles chronology
"Never in a Million Years" (1990) "Turn the Beat Around" (1990) "Didn't We Almost Win It All" (1993)
Music video
"Turn the Beat Around (Live)" on YouTube

Laura Branigan covered the song in 1990, becoming the first major artist to do so. It was released as the third and final single from her self-titled sixth studio album, however only to radio and clubs. The song was co-produced by Branigan and Steve Lindsey for the album, with several remix versions following garnering significant play in Hi-NRG clubs.

Critical reception

Bill Coleman from Billboard wrote, "Trend-conscious rendition of Vicki Sue Robinson's disco classic lacks the spark needed to ignite widespread action, though Branigan's sonic vocal attack is always a treat."[13]

Track listings

2 Track 12" single[14] No. Title Length 1. "Turn the Beat Around" (Popcussion mix) 7:42 2. "Turn the Beat Around" (Don & Vic mix) 6:25 Promo 12" single[15] No. Title Length 1. "Turn the Beat Around" (Popcussion mix) 7:42 2. "Turn the Beat Around" (Don & Vic mix) 6:25 3. "Turn the Beat Around" (Club House mix) 6:35 4. "Turn the Beat Around" (The Branipella mix) 3:53 5. "Turn the Beat Around" (Radio edit) 4:05

Gloria Estefan version

"Turn the Beat Around"
Single by Gloria Estefan
from the album Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me
Released	September 23, 1994
Recorded	1993–1994
Genre	Dance-pop disco hi-NRG
Length	3:52
Label	Epic
Songwriter(s)	Gerald Jackson Peter Jackson
Producer(s)	Emilio Estefan Jr., Lawrence Dermer
Gloria Estefan singles chronology
"Ayer" (1993) "Turn the Beat Around" (1994) "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" (1994)
Music video
"Turn the Beat Around" on YouTube

In 1994 (see 1994 in music), the song was recorded by Cuban-American singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan for the soundtrack to the film The Specialist. It is also featured on Estefan's fourth solo album, Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me. Released as a single, it became a hit reaching number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. Estefan also took the song to the top spot on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart, making it her first number-one song on that chart in English. In Australia and New Zealand the song charted at number 8 and 18. In Europe, the song peaked at number 21 in the United Kingdom, number 24 in Scotland, number 27 in the Netherlands and number 29 in Belgium. Estefan performed the song as her opening performance in VH1's first ever Divas Live. In 2018, Australian music channel Max placed Estefan's "Turn the Beat Around" at number 924 in their list of "1000 Greatest Songs of All Time".[16]

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Eddie Huffman described the song as a "brilliant pop hit" in his review of Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me.[17] Maryann Scheufele from AXS noted that "this song is a sound that moved girls to dance like Gloria Estefan. She was a leader in the freedom of movement otherwise known as Latino style."[18] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that Estefan "has not delivered a pop single with this much verve and energy in a long while. The groove is reminiscent of her own classic "Conga", and it is wrapped in delicious layers of live strings and horns. An inspired pairing of song and artist that will likely spark heavy top 40 and club activity."[19] Pip Ellwood-Hughes from Entertainment Focus described it as a "raucous dance number".[20] Josef Woodard from Entertainment Weekly said that Estefan's "easygoing charms still do the trick" on the song.[21]

Joey Guerra from Houston Chronicle called it "a pulsing rendition".[22] Jeremy Griffin from The Ithacan described it as a "rousing cover".[23] Music & Media commented that Estefan "revives her Miami Sound Machine days of fatback disco by covering an old Vicki Sue Robinson song."[24] The Network Forty complimented the song as a "classic remake" of the "1976 Top 10 gem" and added that it has "uptempo flavor spiced with trademark Miami Sound Machine overtones".[25] People Magazine called it "an exuberant run" through Vicki Sue Robinson's disco classic and noted that the song "demand repeated listens."[26] Phil Shanklin of ReviewsRevues wrote, "This is an excellent choice for Gloria whose voice is similar to Vicki Sue’s". He added that "it has the same Latin vibe as the best of Miami Sound Machine".[27]

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1994) Peak position Australia (ARIA Chart)[28] 8 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) 24 Canada (RPM)[29] 26 Canada Dance (RPM)[30] 7 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[31] 66 Germany (Media Control Charts) 51 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[32] 33 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[33] 27 New Zealand (RIANZ) 18 Scotland (Official Charts Company)[34] 29 United Kingdom (UK Singles Chart) 21 United Kingdom (UK Dance Singles Chart)[35] 38 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 13 U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks 4 U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play 1 U.S. Billboard Mainstream Top 40 20 U.S. Cash Box[36] 14

Year-end charts Chart (1994) Rank Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[37] 252 Chart (1995) Rank U.S. Billboard Hot 100[38] 87 Certifications Country Certification Sales Australia (ARIA) Gold[39] 35,000 United States Gold 500,000

Other versions

• The chorus is used in the lead out of the 1982 Soft Cell song "Memorabilia".[40]
• Lil Suzy covered the song for her 1993 album Back to Dance. It was released as the lead single.
• Cobra Starship covered the song for the MTV movie of the same name.
• A television advertisement for "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" featuring Megan Mullally contains the parody "Turn the Tub Around"[41]
• In the second Star Wars Family Guy episode, the song is parodied as "Turn the Ship Around".
• In 2003, the Gloria Estefan's version is used in Mitsubishi Kuda Grandia advertisement in Indonesia along with the three Bon Jovi songs: It's My Life, Always and Everyday.
• The 2005 song "Perfection" by Dannii Minogue and the Soul Seekerz samples "Turn the Beat Around".
• This song was covered many times on American Idol. Both Carmen Rasmusen and Diana DeGarmo performed this song at the Top 6 of American Idol Season 2 and Season 3, respectively. Haley Scarnato also covered this on the sixth season of American Idol. Jessica Sanchez performed the song on the Top 12 of American Idol Season 11.
• This song is featured on the 2012 movie Pitch Perfect, as part of the performance by the group Barden Bellas.
• The song appeared in the 2015 movie The Martian directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon.
• The song is featured in the 2016 Netflix series "The Get Down" created by Baz Luhrmann.
• The Vicki Sue Robinson recording of the song appears in the 2016 episode of the drama Elementary, “Turn it Upside-Down”.

References

1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 497.
2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 219.
3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-03-04. Retrieved 2014-03-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
4. Arena, James (2014). First Legends of Disco. Bloomington IN: Author House. p. 274. ISBN 978-1-4918-4828-9.
5. "Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 2016-06-02. Retrieved 2016-12-04.
6. Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly".
7. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
8. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
9. "Cash Box Top 100 8/21/76". Archived from the original on 2016-03-22. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
10. "Top Singles – Volume 26, No. 14 & 15, January 08 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on June 10, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
11. "Top 100 Hits of 1976/Top 100 Songs of 1976".
12. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1976". Archived from the original on 2018-10-20. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
13. Coleman, Bill (1990-06-16). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 85. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
14. "Laura Branigan - Turn the Beat Around (Vinyl, 12") at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
15. "Laura Branigan - Turn the Beat Around (Vinyl, 12") at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
16. "MAX's 1000 Greatest Songs Of All Time". Max. 2018. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
17. "Gloria Estefan - Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
18. Scheufele, Maryann (2014-11-29). "10 of Gloria Estefan's best songs". AXS. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
19. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
20. Ellwood-Hughes, Pip (2013-10-23). "Our Top 10 Gloria Estefan singles". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
21. "Album Review: Gloria Estefan's 'Greatest Hits, Vol. II'". Entertainment Weekly. 2001-02-23. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
22. Guerra, Joey (1998-05-31). "Playing the dance card /Estefan should swirl to new heights with `gloria!'". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
23. Griffin, Jeremy (2001-03-22). "Gloria spices up oldies". The Ithacan. p. 17. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
24. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 1994-02-12. p. 12. Retrieved 2018-02-26.
25. "Mainstream: Music Meeting" (PDF). The Network Forty. 1994-09-09. p. 20. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
26. "Picks and Pans Review: Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me". People. 1994-10-31. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
27. Shanklin, Phil (2015-11-22). "100 Essential CDs – Number 72 –Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me –Gloria Estefan". ReviewsRevues. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
28. "australian-charts.com > Gloria Estefan discography". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2015-09-20.
29. "RPM (Nov 21, 1994)". RPM. Retrieved 2018-03-09.
30. "RPM Dance (Dec 05, 1994)". RPM. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
31. "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 2018-03-15.
32. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Gloria Estefan" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
33. "Dutchcharts.nl – Gloria Estefan – Turn the Beat Around" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
34. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 23 October 1994 - 29 October 1994". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
35. "Official UK Dance Singles Chart (09 October 1994-15 October 1994)". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
36. "Cash Box Top 100 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box (1994-11-26). Retrieved 19 February 2018.
37. "Jaarlijsten 1994" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
38. "Billboard Top 100 - 1995". Longboredsurfer.com. Archived from the original on 2009-08-15. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
39. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
40. "Memorabilia Lyrics - Soft Cell". Sing365.com. Retrieved 2016-10-11.
41. Erika Brooks Adickman (2010-02-01). "Turn The Tub Around: I Can't Believe It's A Commercial". Idolator. Retrieved 2016-10-11.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics