How 'Bout Us (song)

"How 'Bout Us" is the most successful single released by R&B music group Champaign. Composed by band keyboardist Dana Walden and originally released on the band's debut album How 'Bout Us, the title track peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. A romantic ballad, the song was released on Valentine's Day, 1981.[1]

"How 'Bout Us"
Single by Champaign
from the album How 'Bout Us
B-side"Lighten Up"
ReleasedFebruary 14, 1981 (1981-02-14)
GenreR&B
Length3:22 (Single Version) 4:38 (Album Version)
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Dana Walden
Champaign singles chronology
"I'm on Fire" / "Spinnin'"
(1981)		 "How 'Bout Us"
(1981)		 "Can You Find the Time?" / "Whiplash"
(1981)

Song information

The song was originally released in 1975 by an earlier incarnation of the group, then called the Water Brothers Band.[2] It was released as the B side of their single, "Have You Ever Been Lonely?" on Sky Records NR6668. The single didn't chart.[3][4] The band at the time of recording was made up of Dana Walden on keyboards & vocals, Howard "Leon" Reeder on vocals, lead & rhythm guitars, Keith Harden on vocals, lead & rhythm guitars, Scott Karlstrom on bass, and Bobby Carlin on drums.[5][6]

It was re-recorded by Champaign, and it was Champaign's version that became a hit single. "How 'Bout Us" peaked at number 4 on the soul chart and was one of three releases to make the Top 10 on the soul chart.[7] It was on the Hot 100 chart for 23 weeks, peaking at number 12 on June 6, 1981, and also reached the top of the Adult Contemporary chart for two weeks.[8] Jet magazine listed the song in its "Soul Brothers Top 20 Singles" list for May and June 1981.[9]

Champaign's membership included former Water Brothers members, Walden, Reeder and Day.[10][11]

Casey Kasem played a portion of the Champaign version on his American Top 40 show. He then played the entire version of the Water Brothers release. This was broadcast on June 6, 1981.[4]

Chart performance

Cover versions

See also

References
  1. Hoffman, Frank W.; Hoffman, Lee Ann (1983). The Cash Box Singles Charts, 1950-1981. Scarecrow Press. p. 95. ISBN 9780810815957.
  2. American Top 40, June 6, 1981
  3. Rate Your Music - Have You Ever Been Lonely? / How 'Bout Us
  4. Battistini, Pete (2010). American Top 40 with Casey Kasem. AuthorHouse. ISBN 978-1-4520-5038-6.
  5. Down State Sounds, Saturday, October 24, 2020 - Michael Day & His Unreleased Solo Album (1973)
  6. 45Cat - Record Details, Artist: The Water Brothers Band, Comments and Reviews, downstatesounds, 6th Sep 2021
  7. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 109.
  8. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 51.
  9. "Soul Brothers Top 20 Singles". Jet. Vol. 60, no. 12. 4 June 1981. p. 65. ISSN 0021-5996.
  10. Down State Sounds, Saturday, October 24, 2020 - Michael Day & His Unreleased Solo Album (1973)
  11. 45Cat - Record Details, Artist: The Water Brothers Band, Comments and Reviews, downstatesounds, 6th Sep 2021
  12. "Australian Chart Book". Austchartbook.com.au. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
  13. "Champaign – How 'Bout Us" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  14. "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. July 17, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
  15. "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. July 17, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
  16. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 22, 1981" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  17. "Champaign – How 'Bout Us" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  18. "Champaign – How 'Bout Us". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  19. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  20. "Champaign: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  21. "Champaign, HSI". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  22. "Champaign, ASI". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  23. "Champaign, BSI". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  24. "Cash Box Top 100 6/13/81". Tropicalglen.com. June 13, 1981. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
  25. "Offiziellecharts.de – Champaign – How 'Bout Us" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  26. "Jaaroverzichten 1981". Ultratop. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  27. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1981". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  28. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1981" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  29. "Top Selling Singles of 1981 | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. December 31, 1981. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
  30. "Chart File Top 100" (PDF). Record Mirror. London: Spotlight Publications. December 26, 1981. p. 27. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  31. "Top 100 Hits of 1981/Top 100 Songs of 1981". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
  32. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1981". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  33. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1981". Tropicalglen.com. December 26, 1981. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
  34. Whitburn, Joel (2013). Hot Country Songs 1944–2012. Record Research, Inc. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-89820-203-8.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.