Get Down on It
"Get Down on It" is a 1981 song by American band Kool & the Gang. It was originally released on their Something Special album in 1981. The single was certified Gold by the RIAA.
"Get Down on It" | ||||
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![]() One of side-A labels of US single | ||||
Single by Kool & the Gang | ||||
from the album Something Special | ||||
B-side | "Steppin' Out", "Summer Madness" (UK), "No Show" (France) | |||
Released | November 24, 1981 | |||
Recorded | 1981 | |||
Genre | Funk,[1] post-disco[2] | |||
Length |
| |||
Label | De-Lite | |||
Songwriter(s) | Ronald Nathan Bell, Claydes Charles Smith, George Melvin Brown, James "J.T." Taylor, Robert Spike Mickens, Robert Earl Bell, Eumir Deodato | |||
Producer(s) | Eumir Deodato in association with Kool & the Gang | |||
Kool & the Gang singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Get Down on It” on YouTube |
Record World called it a "kinetic dancer" and said that the "chant-like chorus hook is contagious."[3]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Get Down on It" | James Taylor, Ronald Bell & Kool & the Gang | 6:07 |
2. | "No Show" | George Brown, James Taylor, Ronald Bell & Kool and the Gang | 4:19 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Get Down on It" | James Taylor, Ronald Bell & Kool & the Gang | 3:33 |
2. | "Steppin' Out" | Ronald Bell, James Taylor & Kool & the Gang | 3:28 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Get Down on It" | James Taylor, Ronald Bell & Kool & the Gang | 3:33 |
2. | "Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It)" | Claydes Charles Smith, James Taylor & George Brown | 3:59 |
Charts
The song hit the top 10 of the US Pop and R&B charts in Billboard in early 1982. It entered the UK charts in December 1981 and reached number three, their highest-charting hit in the UK at that time. It spent a total of 12 weeks on the British play list. Ten years later, it was re-released in the UK charts – on the Mercury label – but only charted for a week (at number 69).
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Charts for Eiffel 65 remix
Chart (2000) | Peak position |
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France (SNEP)[21] | 35 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[22] | 98 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[23] | Gold | 400,000![]() |
United States (RIAA)[24] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Cover versions
Peter Andre version
"Get Down on It" | ||||
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![]() | ||||
Single by Peter Andre featuring Past to Present | ||||
from the album Natural | ||||
B-side | "Tell Me When" | |||
Released | February 12, 1996[25] | |||
Length | 4:47 | |||
Label | Melodian | |||
Songwriter(s) | Bell, Taylor, Brown, Hickens, Nash, Giftens, Thomas, Smith, West | |||
Producer(s) | Ashley Cadell | |||
Peter Andre singles chronology | ||||
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"Get Down on It" was re-recorded and released as the third overall single from English-Australian singer Peter Andre's second studio album, Natural. The single features the band Past to Present and reached No. 5 in Australia and No. 1 in New Zealand, achieving Platinum status there in April 1996.
Track listings
Australian CD1[26]
- "Get Down on It"
- "Tell Me When"
- "Get Down on It" (The One World Mix)
Australian CD2 and cassette single[27][28]
- "Get Down on It" (single version)
- "Get Down on It" (The One World Mix)
- "Get Down on It" (instrumental)
- "Get Down on It" (extended version)
- "Get Down on It" (The Toyboy Mix)
- "Get Down on It" (no rap)
Charts
Weekly charts
Chart (1996) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[25] | 5 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[29] | 1 |
Year-end charts
Chart (1996) | Position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[30] | 43 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[31] | 19 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[30] | Gold | 35,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[32] | Platinum | 10,000* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Blue version
"Get Down on It" | ||||
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![]() | ||||
Single by Blue featuring Kool & the Gang and Lil' Kim | ||||
from the album Best of Blue | ||||
Released | January 3, 2005[33] | |||
Length | 4:37 | |||
Label | Innocent, Virgin | |||
Songwriter(s) | Ronald Nathan Bell, Claydes Charles Smith, George Melvin Brown, James "J.T." Taylor, Robert Spike Mickens, Robert Earl Bell, Eumir Deodato | |||
Producer(s) | Ronald Bell, Leigh Guest, Damien Egan[34] | |||
Blue singles chronology | ||||
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In 2004, British pop group Blue recorded the song from their greatest hits compilation Best of Blue, featured Kool & the Gang and American rapper Lil' Kim. The song was released as the second single across Europe except in the UK. It became a hit in mainland Europe, including Spain, where it reached number three and spent eight weeks in the top 20.
Track listings
European CD1[35]
- "Get Down on It" (radio edit) – 3:36
- "Get Down on It" (Obi & Josh mix) – 4:01
European CD2[36]
- "Get Down on It" (radio edit) – 3:36
- "Get Down on It" (Obi & Josh mix) – 4:01
- "Elements" – 3:40
- "Welcome to the Show" – 3:30
- "Ballad Medley" – 5:24
- Special content
Charts
Chart (2005) | Peak position |
---|---|
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[34] | 41 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[37] | 24 |
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[38] | 1 |
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[39] | 16 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[40] | 29 |
Greece (IFPI)[41] | 27 |
Ireland (IRMA)[42] | 47 |
Hungary (Single Top 40)[43] | 6 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[44] | 96 |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[45] | 3 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[46] | 35 |
Other versions and sampling
- In 1997, German rapper and DJ Der Wolf covered it in German in the song "Gib's doch gar nicht".
- My Morning Jacket covered the song at their midnight set at Bonnaroo 2008. The concert featured many special covers, including "Hit It and Quit It" and "Across 110th Street".[47]
- In 2008, the song was performed by Westlife on their Back Home Tour.
- The Canadian-American boy band 3Deep recorded a cover of the song in 1999 for their debut album Yes Yes Yes...No No No, featuring guest vocals from Canadian hip hop artist Michie Mee.
- This song was sampled by Snoop Dogg in "We Just Wanna Party with You" (1997) for the Men in Black soundtrack.
- This song was sampled by 98 Degrees in "Do You Wanna Dance" from 98 Degrees and Rising.
- Nelly's "Ride wit Me", though it does not strictly sample "Get Down on It", does use an identical chord progression to the Kool & The Gang selection, especially in the refrain.
- This song was sampled by The Game in "Up on the Wall" from The Documentary 2.5.
References
- Big Gigantic (September 20, 2016). "The 30 Best Funk Songs Ever". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- "Kool & The Gang – Gangthology". Uncut. June 1, 2003. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
- "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. March 6, 1982. p. 1. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
- "Get Down on It/No Show". Discogs. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
- "Get Down on It/Steppin' Out". Discogs. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
- "Get Down on It/Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It)". Discogs. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
- "Kool & The Gang – Get Down On It" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
- "Kool & The Gang – Get Down On It" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
- "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 16, 1982" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
- "Kool & The Gang – Get Down On It" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
- "Kool & The Gang – Get Down On It". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
- "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved September 5, 2018.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
- "Kool & The Gang Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
- "Kool & The Gang Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
- "Kool & The Gang Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Kool & The Gang – Get Down On It". GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- "Jaaroverzichten 1982". Ultratop. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
- "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1982". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
- "Talent in Action : Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 94, no. 51. December 25, 1982. p. TIA-20.
- "Kool & The Gang – Get Down On It (Eiffel 65 remix)" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
- "Kool & The Gang – Get Down On It (Eiffel 65 remix)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
- "British single certifications – Kool & the Gang – Get Down on It". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
- "American single certifications – Kool & the Gang – Get Down". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
- "Peter Andre feat. Past to Present – Get Down on It". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
- Get Down on It (Australian CD1 liner notes). Peter Andre. Melodian. 1996. D1312.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Get Down on It (Australian CD2 liner notes). Peter Andre. Melodian. 1996. D1312.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Get Down on It (Australian cassette single sleeve). Peter Andre. Melodian. 1996. C1312.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - "Peter Andre feat. Past to Present – Get Down on It". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
- "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1996". ARIA. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
- "End of Year Charts 1996". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
- "New Zealand single certifications – Peter Andre with P.T.P – Get Down on It". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
- "New Releases: Singles 03.01.05". Music Week. December 18, 2004. p. 23.
- "Blue feat. Kool & The Gang and Lil' Kim – Get Down On It" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
- Get Down on It (European CD1 liner notes). Blue. Innocent Records, Virgin Records. 2004. 0724387037922.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Get Down on It (European CD2 liner notes). Blue. Innocent Records, Virgin Records. 2004. SINDX70, 0724387061521.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - "Blue feat. Kool & The Gang and Lil' Kim – Get Down On It" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
- "Blue feat. Kool & The Gang and Lil' Kim – Get Down On It" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
- "Blue feat. Kool & The Gang and Lil' Kim: Get Down On It" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
- "Blue feat. Kool & The Gang and Lil' Kim – Get Down On It" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
- "Top 50 Singles Εβδομάδα 13–19/2" (in Greek). IFPI. Archived from the original on February 22, 2005. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
- "Irish-charts.com – Discography Blue". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
- "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
- "Blue feat. Kool & The Gang and Lil' Kim – Get Down On It" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
- "Blue feat. Kool & The Gang and Lil' Kim – Get Down On It" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
- "Blue feat. Kool & The Gang and Lil' Kim – Get Down On It". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
- Posted by Ray Padgett at 4:00 pm (September 29, 2016). "In the Spotlight: My Morning Jacket – Cover Me". Covermesongs.com. Retrieved October 17, 2016.