Let's All Chant
"Let's All Chant" | ||||
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Single by the Michael Zager Band | ||||
from the album Let's All Chant | ||||
B-side | "Love Express" | |||
Released | December 1977 | |||
Recorded | Secret Sound Studios, Manhattan | |||
Genre | Disco | |||
Length |
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Label | Private Stock | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Michael Zager | |||
The Michael Zager Band singles chronology | ||||
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"Let's All Chant" is a song written by American record producer and composer
The opening track and lead single from the group's eponymous LP, "Let's All Chant" was released as a single in
Recognizable by both its vocal hooks and its classical section, which is featured in the middle of the song, "Let's All Chant" was well received by critics, who have praised its musical arrangement and its catchiness. Many reviewers regard the song as a classic of the disco era. It also became a turning point in Michael Zager's career. As well as being used in many TV advertisements and movies, it has become an influential dance song which has been extensively covered or remixed by numerous artists and has been interpolated or sampled in many other tracks.
Background and recording
When he was still at A&M Records, Michael Zager met Jerry Love, a former head of A&R at A&M Records.[1] After Love subsequently left the record label, he and Zager formed the Michael Zager Moon's Band in 1976.[2] Love frequented Studio 54 and went to clubs every night. One evening, he went to Greenwich Village to visit several clubs and noted that people were continuously singing "Ooh-ah, Ooh-ah"[1] to every tune which was played in order to increase their own participation and pleasure.[2] The next day, he described the scene to Zager and suggested that Zager write a song incorporating the "Ooh-ah, Ooh-ah" vocals. Zager told Love: "You have to be kidding; that's embarrassing!" Love commented that everybody was doing it and that if Zager wrote a song using these chants, dancers would love it.[1]
In parallel, the group's name was changed to the Michael Zager Band and they signed with the label Private Stock Records.[2] For their forthcoming LP, Zager wrote two songs, "Let's All Chant" and "Love Express", together with Alvin Fields.[1] The co-writer shared lead vocals on "Let's All Chant" with session singers Dollette McDonald and Billy Baker.[2] Zager added a classical section to the track. He later remarked:
The reason I added the piccolo trumpet and classical section in the middle of "Let's All Chant" was mainly because I was embarrassed! I thought it was so stupid with that "Ooh-ah" sound in it that I wanted to add something to lift the track musically. I have a classical background and went to a music conservatory, so I was really feeling embarrassed[1]
"Let's All Chant" and "Love Express" were both recorded at the Secret Sound Studios, in Manhattan.[2] Once the tracks were recorded, Zager told Fields: "I'm gonna kill you if this isn't a hit!"[1]
Composition
"Let's All Chant" is a disco song
Commercial performance and sales
"We thought it would be a club hit, but it never entered my mind it would be a global hit. I thought it would be a two-month record and that would be the end of it."
—Michael Zager[1]
"Let's All Chant" was released as a single with "Love Express" as a B-side
The single did even better in Europe, reaching the top 10 in several countries. It peaked at number eight on both the
By July 1979, the single had sold over three million copies worldwide[24] and eventually went on to sell five million copies worldwide,[1][6] selling about 6 to 700,000 copies in the US.[1] It was also certified gold by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) for certified sales of 75,000 copies.[25]
Critical reception
Critically, AllMusic's Henderson provided a mixed description of the track. Although he criticized the lyrics for being "usual disco clichés", he also called the song "quirky", "infectious" and "interesting" and viewed "Let's All Chant" as one of the most "unorthodox disco hits of 1978".[3] In their book Saturday Night Forever: The Story of Disco, Alan Jones and Jussi Kantonen described the song as being "supremely catchy and melodic, with a quite miraculous classical chamber music-style break in the middle" and considered the track "a key recording that instantly defines the disco era."[2] They also regarded "Let's All Chant" as the high point in Michael Zager's career.[2] In 2006, Slant Magazine ranked the song number 50 in its 100 Greatest Dance Songs list, describing it as a "deft mix of disco, funk and baroque-pop" and writing that the song's breakdown made it special.[4] The track was also ranked 165th on the 700 Top Disco Songs, a list drawn up by several DJs from all over the world.[26]
Track listings
- 7" single[22]
- "Let's All Chant" – 3:07
- "Love Express" – 2:52
- 12" single[22]
- "Let's All Chant" – 7:03
- "Love Express" – 7:01
- Reissue – 12" maxi[22]
- "Let's All Chant" – 7:05
- "Traffic Jam" – 7:09
- "Traffic Jam (Dub Mix)" – 4:03
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
Sales and certifications
|
Impact and influence
Following the song's release and worldwide success, "Let's All Chant" introduced Michael Zager in the mainstream[2] and became a turning point in his career :
The song is bigger than ever, along with many other recordings I produced/composed etc. For example the
Spinners' 'Working My Way Back to You' and 'Cupid' along with 'Right Before My Eyes' by Patti Day. But 'Let's All Chant' really put me on the 'map' as a composer, producer and arranger.[7]
Private Stock promoted Michael Zager Band's eponymous LP due to the success of the song. It became a contributing factor the success of the LP.[2] It also remains an influential dance track[2] that has been heavily used on TV and in movies, as well as being covered or remixed by numerous artists or interpolated or sampled in other songs.
Appearances
Movies
- "Let's All Chant" is heard in the 1978 movie Eyes of Laura Mars, while Laura Mars is setting up an elaborate shoot juxtaposing murder and high fashion.[33]
- The song is featured on the soundtrack of the 1998 movie The Last Days of Disco.[34]
- It is used in the 1999 movie Summer of Sam.[35]
- It is used in the 2021 Spanish-language Netflix film Las Leyes de la Frontera.
Television
- On November 17, 1978, the song was featured in "Ute und Manuela", the twelfth episode of the fifth season of the TV series Derrick.[36]
- In September 2006, it was used in a TV advertising for Médiatis.[37]
Cover versions and remixes
- In 1988, British duo UK Indie Chart.[39]
- In 1996, "Let's All Chant" was remixed by UK based producer and DJ Gusto. His version peaked at number 43 on the Flemish Ultratop 50 Singles chart[40] and at number 21 on the UK Singles Chart.[41]
- In 2002, it was remade by DJ Valium under the title "DJ Valium feat. Michael Zager". It charted in several countries, reaching number 42 in France,[42] number 44 in Austria[43] and number 73 in Germany.[44]
- In the same year, it was covered by French act Seventy Three. Their version reached number 41 on the French Singles Chart[45] and was used in an advertisement for Orangina in June 2003—and later in an advertisement for McDonald's in November 2003—in that country.[46]
- Disco Queen also covered the song in 2003. Their version peaked at number 10 on the Greek charts.[47]
- In 2010, Bob Sinclar remixed the song. The remix was used in a TV advertising for Oasis Tea.[48]
- In the same year, the song was remixed by French DJs DatA, Nôze and DJ Zebra.[48][49]
Interpolations
- In 2011, "Let's All Chant" was interpolated in "Galera" by Congolese-French singer Jessy Matador, which features King Kuduro and Bra Zil, and peaked at number 68 in France.[50]
- In 2012, it was interpolated in "My Party" by German female artist DJane HouseKat and rapper Rameez. "My Party" charted well in Europe, reaching number 25 in Denmark,[51] the top 20 in Switzerland[52] and the top 10 in Austria and Germany.[53][54] It also peaked at number 19 on the Dance Bubbling Under in Wallonia.[55]
Charts
Pat & Mick version
|
Gusto version
|
DJ Valium version
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Seventy Three version
|
Disco Queen version
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Jessy Matador feat. King Kuduroand Bra Zil interpolation
|
DJane HouseKat feat. Rameez interpolation
Chart (2012) | Peak position |
---|---|
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[53] | 3 |
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia Dance Bubbling Under)[55] | 19 |
Denmark (Tracklisten)[51] | 25 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[54] | 4 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[52] | 14 |
Samples
In 2008 Buy Now! sampled "Let's All Chant" on their song "Body Crash". The track peaked at number six on both the Flemish and Walloon Ultratop Dance charts[64]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Arena 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Jones & Kantonen 2000.
- ^ a b c d Henderson, Alex. "Michael Zager – Let's All Chant". AllMusic. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b c Slant Staff (January 30, 2006). "100 Greatest Dance Songs". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014.
- ISBN 978-1-4116-1268-6.
- ^ a b Zager 2012, p. 247.
- ^ a b "Michael Zager". Disco-disco.com. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 356.
- ^ a b c d e "Michael Zager – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending MAY 13, 1978". Cash Box. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012.
- ^ ISSN 0034-1622. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
- ^ a b "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 5553." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
- ^ a b "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4564a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 31, 1978" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Let's All Chant". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b "The Michael Zager Band – Let's All Chant" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b c "The Michael Zager Band – Let's All Chant". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1978" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b "Le Détail par Artiste". InfoDisc (in French). Select "Michael Zager Band" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
- ^ a b "TOP – 1978". Top-france.fr (in French). Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "The Michael Zager Band – Let's All Chant" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b "Jaaroverzichten 1978" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ "Gold/Platinum". Music Canada. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ Lopez, Bernard. "700 Top Disco Songs [Official] (101–200)". DiscoMusic.com. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
- ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Michael Zager Band". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 288. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Michael Zager Band – Let's All Chant" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1978" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Michael Zager – Let's All Chant". Music Canada.
- ISBN 978-0-292-79091-9.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Original Soundtrack – Last Days of Disco". AllMusic. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
- ^ "Summer of Sam (1999) – Music". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
- ^ "Episode 51 (1978): Ute und Manuela". Derrick-database.com (in German). Retrieved February 8, 2014.
- ^ "Médiatis + Zager Band (Michael)". Musiquedepub.tv (in French). Retrieved February 8, 2014.
- ^ a b c "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
- ^ a b "Indie Hits "P"". Cherry Red Records. Archived from the original on January 23, 2001.
- ^ a b "Gusto – Let's All Chant" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
- ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
- ^ Les classement single. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
- ^ a b "DJ Valium feat. Michael Zager – Let's All Chant" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
- ^ a b "DJ Valium feat. Michael Zager – Let's All Chant" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
- ^ Les classement single. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Seventy Three dans ces 2 spots TV". Musiquedepub.tv (in French). Retrieved February 8, 2014.
- ^ a b "Top 50 Singles – Εβδομάδα 15-21/2" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. See "best position". Archived from the original on February 19, 2004.
- ^ L'Express(in French). Retrieved February 8, 2014.
- ^ "Actus > A la Une > 25 ans d'Happy Music ! – Ultime Music" (PDF). LaMixLetter (in French). Ultime Music. April 10, 2010. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
- ^ Les classement single. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
- ^ a b "DJane HouseKat feat. Rameez – My Party". Tracklisten. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
- ^ a b "DJane HouseKat feat. Rameez – My Party". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
- ^ a b "DJane HouseKat feat. Rameez – My Party" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
- ^ a b "DJane HouseKat feat. Rameez – My Party" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
- ^ a b "Dance Bubbling Under – 14/07/2012" (in French). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
- ^ "Ultratop Dance: 14/09/1996" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 37. September 14, 1996. p. 16. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
- ^ "Íslenski Listinn: Topp 40 No: 190 vikuna 3.10. – 9.10. '96" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir. October 4, 1996. p. 20. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
- ^ "Gusto – Let's All Chant". Top40.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved April 4, 2018.
- ^ "Gusto – Let's All Chant". Dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved July 9, 2021.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
- ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
- ^ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). August 24, 1996. p. 6. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
- ^
- "ultratop.be – Buy Now! – Body Crash" (in French). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
- "ultratop.be – Buy Now! – Body Crash" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
Bibliography
- Arena, James (2013). "Behind the Scenes > Michael Zager". First Ladies of Disco: 32 Stars Discuss the Era and Their Singing Careers. ISBN 978-0-7864-7581-0.
- ISBN 1-55652-411-0.
- ISBN 978-0-8108-8201-0.