Uptown Festival (song)

"Uptown Festival" is the first single credited to the band Shalamar, released on Soul Train Records in 1977. The song is a medley of ten Motown classics sung over a 1970s disco beat. The radio edit, "Uptown Festival (Part 1)," became a hit peaking at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 10 on the R&B chart and No. 2 on the Dance chart. It also charted internationally. After the success of the single, Dick Griffey, the booking agent for Soul Train, formed a vocal group, resulting in the first incarnation of Shalamar with Jody Watley, Jeffrey Daniels and Gary Mumford.[1]

"Uptown Festival"
Single by Shalamar
from the album Uptown Festival
B-side"Simón's Theme (Instr.)"
ReleasedMarch 1977
Recorded1976
StudioBolic Sound, Inglewood, California
Genrefunk, disco, R&B
Length8:52 (album)
3:59 (single)
LabelSoul Train
Songwriter(s)Holland–Dozier–Holland, Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore, Bobby Rogers, Marvin Tarplin, Stevie Wonder, Sylvia Moy, Henry Cosby, Hank Cosby, Norman Whitfield, William "Mickey" Stevenson, Edward Holland, Jr.
Producer(s)Simon Soussan
Shalamar singles chronology
"Uptown Festival"
(1977)		 "Ooo Baby Baby"
(1977)

Recording and songs

The medley "Uptown Festival" was recorded at Ike & Tina Turner's Bolic Sound studio in Inglewood in 1976. It features various session musicians, including Mike Lewis and Laurin Rinder from El Coco, and the Motown musicians, including Eddie "Bongo" Brown and Jack Ashford.[2]

List of songs
  1. "Going to a Go-Go"
  2. "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)"
  3. "Uptight (Everything's Alright)"
  4. "Stop! In the Name of Love"
  5. "It's the Same Old Song"
  6. "The Tears of a Clown"
  7. "Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart"
  8. "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)"
  9. "Baby Love"
  10. "He Was Really Saying Somethin'"

Chart performance
Chart (1977) Peak

Position

US Billboard Hot 100[3] 25
US Billboard Hot Soul Singles[4] 10
US Disco Action Top 40[5] 2
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] 20
Belgium[7] 16
Canada RPM Top 100 Singles[8] 69
New Zealand[7] 15
United Kingdom[9] 30

References
  1. Bogdanov, Vladimir; Woodstra, Chris; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2002). All Music Guide to Rock: The Definitive Guide to Rock, Pop, and Soul. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 997. ISBN 978-0-87930-653-3.
  2. "Ian Dewhirst". Red Bull Music Academy.
  3. "Billboard Hot 100" (PDF). Billboard: 74. June 4, 1977.
  4. "Billboard Hot Soul Singles" (PDF). Billboard: 52. May 21, 1977.
  5. "National Disco Action Top 40" (PDF). Billboard: 51. April 2, 1977.
  6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 270. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. "Shalamar - Uptown Festival (Song)". charts.org.nz. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand.
  8. "RPM Top 100 Singles". RPM Weekly. 27 (15). July 4, 1977 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  9. ""Uptown Festival (song by Shalamar)". Music VF, US & UK hits charts.
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