Boogie Nights (song)

For the film, see Boogie Nights. For the musical, see Boogie Nights (musical).

"Boogie Nights"
US 7-inch vinyl single
Single by Heatwave
from the album Too Hot to Handle
B-side	"All You Do Is Dial"
Released	1977
Recorded	1976
Genre	Disco
Length	3:36 (single edit) 5:02 (album version)
Label	GTO, Epic (US)
Songwriter(s)	Rod Temperton
Producer(s)	Barry Blue
Heatwave singles chronology
"Super Soul Sister" (1976) "Boogie Nights" (1977) "Too Hot to Handle" (1977)
Official video
"Boogie Nights" (Official HD Video) on YouTube
Alternative release
One of side-A labels of the UK single

"Boogie Nights" is a 1977 single by international funk-disco group Heatwave. It was written by keyboardist Rod Temperton and was included on Heatwave's debut album, Too Hot to Handle. Harpist Carla Skanger (a pseudonym of Sheila Bromberg of the London Symphony Orchestra) played harp and American actor and singer Clarke Peters performed backing vocals on the recording.^[1]

History

The song became one of the best-known disco songs by a British group and charted at No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. In the US, "Boogie Nights" also peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 behind "You Light Up My Life" by Debby Boone.^[2] It appeared on US Billboard R&B and dance charts during 1977. "Boogie Nights" reached No. 1 in New Zealand. The single was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).^[3]

In the United Kingdom, the song was No. 2, and entered on March 5, 1977, only behind Leo Sayer with "When I Need You".

"Boogie Nights" has been covered many times by artists such as KC and the Sunshine Band, Will to Power, 911 and The Weather Girls. British boy-band Blue also performed the tune in their live shows.^[4]

The song made an appearance in the films Eyes of Laura Mars, Summer of Sam and The Stud, though it was not featured in the 1997 film titled after it: Boogie Nights. Apparently the group's lead singer, Johnnie Wilder Jr., a devout born-again Christian, refused to allow the use of the recording in the film because the song was about dancing, not pornography, while the film was about the latter.^[5]

Aaron Judge, right-fielder for the New York Yankees, uses the song as his walk-up.^[6]

Personnel

• Johnnie Wilder Jr. – backing vocals, percussion
• Keith Wilder – lead vocals
• Eric Johns – guitars
• Rod Temperton – keyboards, synthesizer
• Mario Mantese – bass guitar
• Ernest "Bilbo" Berger – drums, percussion

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (1977–1978) Peak position Australia KMR 54 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] 27 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[8] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9] 17 Germany (GfK)[10] 31 New Zealand (RIANZ)[11] 1 Norway (VG-lista)[12] 6 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[13] 11 UK Singles Chart[14] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[15] 2 US Billboard Hot Soul Singles[15] 5 US Billboard Disco Action[15] 36 US Cash Box Top 100[16] 2

Year-end charts Chart (1977) Rank Canada (RPM)[17] 36 New Zealand (RIANZ)[18] 1 UK [19] 24 US Billboard Hot 100[20] 93 US Cash Box [21] 48

Sales and certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[22]	Gold	75,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[23]	Silver	200,000^^
United States (RIAA)[24]	Platinum	2,000,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Sonia version

"Boogie Nights"
Single by Sonia
from the album Better the Devil You Know
B-side	"My Light"
Released	31 August 1992 (1992-08-31)[25]
Genre	Dance-pop
Length	3:40
Label	Arista
Songwriter(s)	Rod Temperton
Producer(s)	Mark Taylor, Tracy Ackerman
Sonia singles chronology
"We’ve Got the Power" (1992) "Boogie Nights" (1992) "Better the Devil You Know" (1993)

In 1992, British singer Sonia recorded her take on the song, produced by Mark Taylor and Tracy Ackerman for her third studio album, Better the Devil You Know, in 1993. It was released in August 1992 and peaked at No. 30 on the UK Singles Chart in September.^[26] The single's B-side is "My Light", which also appears on the album.

Track listings

Cassette and 7-inch single

1. "Boogie Nights" – 3:40
2. "My Light" – 3:55

CD single

1. "Boogie Nights" – 3:40
2. "Boogie Nights" (extended mix) – 5:42
3. "My Light" – 3:55

12-inch single

1. "Boogie Nights" (extended mix) – 5:42
2. "Boogie Nights" (dub mix)
3. "My Light" – 3:55

References

1. "Clarke Peters: From The Wire to Nelson Mandela". The Independent. 30 April 2009. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
2. "The Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.
3. Whitburn, Joel (2010). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 9th Ed. (Billboard Publications), p. 293.
4. Allmusic – cover versions
5. "Boogie Nights (1997)". IMDB. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
6. David Schwartz (30 July 2021). "20 Best Baseball Walk Up Songs of All Time (2022 Edition)". Retrieved 19 May 2022.
7. "Heatwave – Boogie Nights" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
8. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5442a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
9. "Heatwave – Boogie Nights" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
10. "Heatwave – Boogie Nights" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
11. NZ Singles Chart info Charts.org.nz. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
12. "Heatwave – Boogie Nights". VG-lista.
13. "Heatwave – Boogie Nights". Singles Top 100.
14. [1] Official Singles Chart Top 50 Retrieved May 17, 2019.
15. U.S. Billboard chart info AllMusic.com. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
16. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, November 26, 1977". Archived from the original on 20 October 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
17. "Top 200 Singles of '77 – Volume 28, No. 14, December 31 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
18. "End of Year Charts 1977". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
19. Hunter, Nigel; Scaping, Peter, eds. (1978). "Top 100 Singles in 1977". BPI Year Book 1978 (3rd ed.). London, England: The British Phonographic Industry Ltd. pp. 216–17. ISBN 0-906154-01-4.
20. Musicoutfitters.com
21. "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 31, 1977". Archived from the original on 20 October 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
22. "Canadian single certifications – Heatwave – Boogie Nights". Music Canada. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
23. "British single certifications – Heatwave – Boogie Nights". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
24. "American single certifications – Heatwave – Boogie Nights". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
25. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 29 August 1992. p. 17.
26. Official Singles Chart Top 75 (06 September 1992 – 12 September 1992)

External links

• Heatwave U.S. 7" single release info at Discogs
• Heatwave – Boogie Nights on YouTube