Dancing Machine
Encyclopedia
"Dancing Machine" is a 1973 song recorded by The Jackson 5
, released as a single in 1974. The group's first US Top Ten hit since 1971's "Sugar Daddy", "Dancing Machine" reached number two on the Billboard pop music charts in May 1974, and number one on the R&B charts. It bought The Jackson 5
their second Grammy Award
nomination in 1975
for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, losing to Rufus
and Chaka Khan
's "Tell Me Something Good
".
dance technique, devised by Charles Washington in the late 1960s. Michael Jackson
first performed the dance on television while singing "Dancing Machine" with the Jackson 5 on an episode of Soul Train
.
"Dancing Machine", originally recorded for the group's 1973 album G.I.T.: Get It Together
, was also the title track of their 1974 album Dancing Machine
released in 1974 as a remix for a response to the success of the single.
The song was most notably sampled by MC Hammer
on his 1990 album Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em (for the song "Dancin' Machine"), again in 1990 by Vanilla Ice
on the album To The Extreme
, later on by Too $hort
(featuring Bun B
) on the song "Shout It Out", and more recently in 2008 by Q-tip
on the album The Renaissance
("Move") and Yung Wun
for his song "Tear It Up
" on his album The Dirtiest Thirstiest
(in which the sample was uncredited).
The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5 , later known as The Jacksons, were an American popular music family group from Gary, Indiana...
, released as a single in 1974. The group's first US Top Ten hit since 1971's "Sugar Daddy", "Dancing Machine" reached number two on the Billboard pop music charts in May 1974, and number one on the R&B charts. It bought The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5 , later known as The Jacksons, were an American popular music family group from Gary, Indiana...
their second Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nomination in 1975
Grammy Awards of 1975
The 17th Grammy Awards were presented March 1, 1975, and were broadcast live on American television. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1974.- Award winners :*Record of the Year...
for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, losing to Rufus
Rufus (band)
Rufus was an American funk band from Chicago, Illinois best known for launching the career of lead singer Chaka Khan. They had several hits throughout their career, including "Tell Me Something Good," "Sweet Thing," and "Ain't Nobody."-Origins:...
and Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
's "Tell Me Something Good
Tell Me Something Good
"Tell Me Something Good" is a song by Rufus and Chaka Khan, released in 1974. It was a big hit peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, though it didn't chart in the United Kingdom. Written by Stevie Wonder, the song is among the earliest hits to use the guitar talk box. The single...
".
Background
The song, which sold over three million copies, popularized the physically complicated RobotRobot (dance)
The robot is an illusionary street dance style – often confused with popping – that attempts to imitate a dancing robot or mannequin...
dance technique, devised by Charles Washington in the late 1960s. Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
first performed the dance on television while singing "Dancing Machine" with the Jackson 5 on an episode of Soul Train
Soul Train
Soul Train is an American musical variety show that aired in syndication from October 1971 to March 2006. In its 35-year history, the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists, although funk, jazz, disco, and gospel artists have also appeared.As a nod to Soul Trains...
.
"Dancing Machine", originally recorded for the group's 1973 album G.I.T.: Get It Together
G.I.T.: Get It Together
G.I.T.: Get It Together was the seventh official studio album by The Jackson 5, released in September 1973 for the Motown label....
, was also the title track of their 1974 album Dancing Machine
Dancing Machine (album)
Dancing Machine was the eighth official studio album released by Motown quintet The Jackson 5 in 1974. The album's title track was a #2 pop hit and a #1 R&B hit in the United States, and the album sold over 2.6 million copies worldwide briefly returning the group to their former prominence...
released in 1974 as a remix for a response to the success of the single.
Cover versions
- "Dancing Machine" was covered by Suburban LegendsSuburban LegendsSuburban Legends are a third wave ska/pop band that formed in Huntington Beach, California, in 1998, and are currently based out of Santa Ana, California.- History :...
on their JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
-only EP, Dance Like Nobody's Watching: Tokyo Nights.
The song was most notably sampled by MC Hammer
MC Hammer
Stanley Kirk Burrell , better known by his stage name MC Hammer , is an American rapper, entertainer, business entrepreneur, dancer and actor. He had his greatest commercial success and popularity from the late 1980s until the mid-1990s...
on his 1990 album Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em (for the song "Dancin' Machine"), again in 1990 by Vanilla Ice
Vanilla Ice
Robert Matthew Van Winkle , best known by his stage name Vanilla Ice, is an American rapper, extreme athlete and home improvement television personality...
on the album To The Extreme
To the Extreme
To the Extreme is the major label debut studio album of American rapper Robert "Vanilla Ice" Van Winkle. Released in 1990, it is Van Winkle's best selling album. The album was initially released in 1989 by independent record label Ichiban Records under the title Hooked. Van Winkle signed to SBK...
, later on by Too $hort
Too $hort
Todd Anthony Shaw , better known by the stage name Too Short , is an American rapper, producer, and actor who started his career at the age of fourteen in East Oakland, Oakland, California.-Career:...
(featuring Bun B
Bun B
Bernard Freeman better known by his stage name Bun B, is an American rapper and was one half of the southern hip hop duo UGK . He is also a guest lecturer at Rice University located in Houston, Texas...
) on the song "Shout It Out", and more recently in 2008 by Q-tip
Q-Tip (rapper)
Kamaal Ibn John Fareed , better known by his stage name Q-Tip, is an American hip hop artist, producer, singer, and actor from St. Albans, Queens, New York, part of the critically acclaimed group A Tribe Called Quest...
on the album The Renaissance
The Renaissance (Q-Tip album)
The Renaissance is the second studio album by American hip hop artist Q-Tip, released November 3, 2008, on Universal Motown Records. The follow-up to his solo debut album, Amplified , it was recorded after Q-Tip's Kamaal/The Abstract was initially shelved in 2002 by his former label Arista Records...
("Move") and Yung Wun
Yung Wun
James Carlton Anderson better known by his stage name Yung Wun is an American rapper from Atlanta, Georgia.-Biography:Yung Wun was raised in Eastlake Meadows housing projects, otherwise known as "Little Vietnam". Yung Wun was very quickly exposed to the effects of crime and soon became involved...
for his song "Tear It Up
Tear It Up (Yung Wun song)
"Tear It Up" is the second single from rapper Yung Wun's debut album, The Dirtiest Thirstiest. It features DMX, Lil' Flip and David Banner, the latter two of which had already scored a hit together in the form of "Like a Pimp"....
" on his album The Dirtiest Thirstiest
The Dirtiest Thirstiest
-Samples:*"Tear It Up"**"Dancing Machine" by The Jackson 5 *"One More Day In The Hood"**"Ships Ahoy!" by The O'Jays...
(in which the sample was uncredited).
- An alternate longer version (4:25) appears on the "Jackson 5 - I Want You Back! Unreleased Masters" released in 2009.
- A remix by Polow da DonPolow Da DonPolow-Freache Jamal Fincher Jones , better known by known by professional name Polow da Don or Awesome Jones, is an American record producer, songwriter, rapper, and singer. His cousin is Atlanta singer Monica. He has produced for a variety of artists including Usher, Nelly, Christina Aguilera, T.I...
was featured in a commercial for SvedkaSvedkaSvedka is a brand of vodka manufactured in Lidköping, Sweden and owned by New York-based Constellation Brands. The product's name is a portmanteau of the words Sverige and the word vodka. The spirit is 80 proof . The flavored versions are 70 proof or 35% alcohol...
.
Personnel
- Lead vocals by Michael JacksonMichael JacksonMichael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
and Jermaine JacksonJermaine JacksonJermaine La Jaune Jackson is an American singer, bassist, composer, a member of The Jackson 5, older brother of American pop stars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson and occasional film director... - Background vocals by Michael Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Tito JacksonTito JacksonToriano Adaryll "Tito" Jackson is an American singer and lead guitarist and original member of The Jackson 5. He is the older brother of American pop stars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson.-Early life and rise to stardom:...
, Jackie JacksonJackie JacksonSigmund Esco "Jackie" Jackson is an American singer and musician, a member of The Jackson 5, and the second child in the Jackson family.-Life and career:...
, and Marlon JacksonMarlon JacksonMarlon David Jackson is an American entertainer singer, dancer, former member of The Jackson 5, and elder brother of American pop stars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson.-Personal life:...
. - Instrumentation by assorted Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
musicians including James GadsonJames GadsonJames Gadson is an American drummer and session musician. Beginning his career in the late 1960s, Gadson has since become one of the most-recorded drummers in the history of R&B music....
and Charles WrightCharles WrightCharles Wright may refer to:*Charles Wright , American botanist*Charles Frederick Wright , U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania*Charles Wright , Nottinghamshire and England cricketer*C. S...