Wake Up Everybody (song)
"Wake Up Everybody" | ||||
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Single by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes | ||||
from the album Wake Up Everybody | ||||
A-side | "Wake Up Everybody (Part 1)" | |||
B-side | "Wake Up Everybody (Part 2)" | |||
Released | November 1975 | |||
Format | 7" single | |||
Recorded | 1975 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
3:39 (single version) 7:30 (full-length version) | |||
Label | Philadelphia International | |||
Writer(s) |
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Producer(s) | Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff | |||
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes singles chronology | ||||
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"Wake Up Everybody" is an R&B song written by John Whitehead, Gene McFadden and Victor Carstarphen.
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes version
Originally recorded by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, with Teddy Pendergrass singing lead vocals, the song had a somewhat unconventional structure, starting subdued and building slowly to a climax.[1] The title track from their 1975 album, the song spent two weeks at number one on the Hot Soul Singles chart in early 1976. It also enjoyed success on the pop charts, peaking at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.,[2] and number 23 in the UK Singles Chart.[3] They performed the song on Soul Train on November 22, 1975.[4]
Preceded by "Sing a Song" by Earth, Wind & Fire |
Billboard Hot Soul Singles number-one single (Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes version) January 17, 1976 - January 24, 1976 |
Succeeded by "Sing a Song" by Earth, Wind & Fire |
Sonia version
"Wake Up Everybody" | ||||
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Single by Sonia | ||||
from the album Love Train - The Philly Album | ||||
B-side |
"Show You the Way to Go" "Nowhere Left to Hide" | |||
Released | December 16, 1995 | |||
Format | ||||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:38 | |||
Label | BMG | |||
Writer(s) |
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Producer(s) | Steve Levine | |||
Sonia singles chronology | ||||
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"Wake Up Everybody" was covered in 1995 by British singer Sonia. It was produced by Steve Levine for fourth studio album Love Train - The Philly Album (1998). The song was released as the album's first and final single. This single has two B-sides - "Show You the Way to Go" and "Nowhere Left to Hide". The first B-side appears on Sonia's fourth studio album. This was Sonia's last single until "Fool for Love" in 2009.
Track listings
- CD and cassette
- "Wake Up Everybody" - 3:38
- "Show You the Way to Go" - 3:53
- "Nowhere Left to Hide" - 3:29
2004 version
"Wake Up Everybody" | |
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Song by various artists from the album Wake Up Everybody | |
Released | 2004 |
Genre | |
Length | 5:30 |
Label | Bungalo Records |
Writer(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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In 2004, a cover version was released to coincide with the 2004 presidential election. It features a collection of music stars who urge young people to go out and vote. The song was produced by Babyface, and features various prominent R&B singers and rappers. It was an airplay-only single. It reached number 19 on the Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[5]
Artists
- Akon
- Ashanti
- Babyface
- Brandy
- Claudette Ortiz
- Eve
- Fabolous
- Faith Evans
- Floetry
- Jadakiss
- Jaheim
- Jamie Foxx
- Jon B
- Keke Palmer
- Marques Houston
- Mary J. Blige
- Miri Ben-Ari
- Missy Elliott
- Monica
- Musiq Soulchild
- Nick Scotti
- Omarion
- Rev Run
- Wyclef Jean
Other versions
"Wake Up Everybody" | ||||
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Single by John Legend and The Roots featuring Common and Melanie Fiona | ||||
from the album Wake Up! | ||||
Released | 2010 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:26 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Writer(s) |
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Producer(s) | The Roots | |||
John Legend singles chronology | ||||
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- The song was covered by American singer and actor Nick Scotti. Released as the first single from his self-titled 1993 album, Scotti's version of the song reached #9 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in May of that year.[6]
- In 2010, the song was covered by John Legend and The Roots. Also featuring Common, and Melanie Fiona, it was the first single taken from their politically themed album 'Wake Up!'[7]
- In 2014, the Wu-Tang Clan released a song "A Better Tomorrow" that samples "Wake Up Everybody".[8]
- A version of the song appears during the opening credits of the 1999 film Life.
References
- ↑ "Wake Up Everybody - Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 393.
- ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 50 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
- ↑ The Best of Soul Train Live (booklet). Time Life. 2011.
- ↑
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco 1974-2003, (Record Research Inc.), page 229.
- ↑ "John Legend: Back to my roots". Bluesandsoul.com. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
- ↑ "Wu-Tang Clan's 'A Better Tomorrow (2014)' sample of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes's 'Wake Up Everybody'". WhoSampled.com. Retrieved 2016-10-10.