Hi-Jack (1974 song)
"Hi-Jack" is a 1974 song written by Spanish musician Fernando Arbex and originally recorded by the group Barrabás for their album ¡Soltad a Barrabás!. It was later a hit single for jazz flautist Herbie Mann.
| "Hi-Jack" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single by Barrabás | |
| from the album ¡Soltad a Barrabás! | |
| B-side | "Lady Love" |
| Released | 1974 |
| Recorded | 1973 - 1974 |
| Genre | Disco, Latin funk |
| Length | 5:46 |
| Label | Ariola Records |
| Songwriter(s) | Fernando Arbex |
Herbie Mann version
| "Hi-Jack" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Herbie Mann & Cissy Houston | |
| from the album Discothèque | |
| B-side | "Lady Marmelade" |
| Released | 1975 |
| Genre | Disco, Jazz-funk |
| Length | 5:16 |
| Label | Atlantic Records |
| Songwriter(s) | Fernando Arbex |
Mann's recording of the song featured Cissy Houston on vocals and hit number one on the US Disco Action chart for three weeks in early 1975[1] and made the top 30 on the R&B and pop singles charts.[2] The song was banned on several AM radio stations because of the recent cases of hijackings in the middle East, as well as for the suggestive repeated lyric lines:. "Hijack your love", and "I'm gonna steal your love".
In addition to Mann's version, the song has been covered many other artists (notably by Enoch Light) and the various versions have been sampled in songs by hip-hop artists, including The Beatnuts and Jennifer Lopez.
Chart positions (Herbie Mann version)
| Chart (1975) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[3] | 73 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 14 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles | 24 |
| U.S. Billboard Disco Action | 1 |
References
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 356.
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 375.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 191. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.