Get Up Offa That Thing
"Get Up Offa That Thing" | ||||
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Single by James Brown | ||||
from the album Get Up Offa That Thing | ||||
B-side | "Release the Pressure" | |||
Released | May 1976 | |||
Recorded | April 1976 | |||
Studio | Criteria Studios, Miami, Florida | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | Polydor 14326 | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | James Brown | |||
James Brown charting singles chronology | ||||
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Audio video | ||||
"Get Up Offa That Thing (Release The Pressure)" on YouTube |
"Get Up Offa That Thing" is a song written and performed by
Background
According to Brown, the inspiration for "Get Up Offa That Thing" came to him during a club performance in Fort Lauderdale:
The audience was sitting down, trying to do a sophisticated thing, listening to funk. One of the tightest bands they'd ever heard in their lives, and they were sitting. I had worked hard and dehydrated myself and was feeling depressed. I looked out at all those people sitting there, and because I was depressed they looked depressed. I yelled, "Get up offa that thing and dance til you feel better!" I probably meant until I felt better.[4]
Unlike most popular music of the time, which made sophisticated use of multitrack recording and other techniques, "Get Up Offa That Thing" was recorded live in the studio in only two takes.[5]
Brown re-recorded "Get Up Offa That Thing" for the Doctor Detroit soundtrack album. He also performs the song during his guest appearance in the film. Other performances of the song appear on the albums Hot on the One, Live in New York, Live at Chastain Park, and Live at the Apollo 1995.
Credits and personnel
- James Brown – lead vocal
with The J.B.'s:
- Russell Crimes – trumpet
- Holly Ferris – trombone
- St. Clair Pinckney – tenor saxophone
- Peyton Johnson – tenor saxophone
- Joe Poff Jr. - alto saxophone
- Jimmy Nolen – guitar
- Robert Lee Coleman – guitar
- Charles Sherrell– clavinet
- Melvin Parker – drums
- Will Lee – bass[6]
Chart performance
Chart (1976) | Peak position |
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U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 45 |
U.S. Billboard National Disco Top 40[7] | 19 |
U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles | 4 |
Appearances in other media
- Miss America 2013 Mallory Hagan performed a tap dance to this song as her talent.[8]
References
- ISBN 031214704X.
- ^ White, Cliff (1991). "Discography". In Star Time (pp. 54–59) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records.
- ^ Leeds, Alan, and Harry Weinger (1991). "Star Time: Song by Song". In Star Time (pp. 46–53) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records.
- ^ Brown, James, and Bruce Tucker (1986). James Brown: The Godfather of Soul, 245. New York: Thunder's Mouth Press.
- ^ Smith, R.J. (2012). The One: The Life and Music of James Brown, 310. New York: Gotham Books.
- ^ Johnson, Kevin (8 August 2013). "Stories Behind the Songs: Will Lee". No Treble. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003. Record Research. p. 44.
- The Huffington Post. 2013-01-12. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
External links
- Song Review at Allmusic