Harlem Shuffle#The Rolling Stones version
{{short description|1963 single by Bob & Earl}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Harlem Shuffle
| cover = Harlem_Shuffle_-_Bob_&_Earl.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Bob & Earl
| album = Harlem Shuffle
| B-side = I'll Keep Running Back
| released = 1963
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
- R&B{{cite book|title= Electric Shock: From the Gramophone to the iPhone - 125 Years of Pop Music|first=Peter|last=Doggett|date= 1 January 2015|chapter= High Life|page= 346|publisher=The Bodley Head|location= London|isbn=978-1-847-92218-2
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=guSsCAAAQBAJ|access-date= 21 February 2025}}
| length = 2:35
| label = Marc Records 104{{cite web|url= http://www.globaldogproductions.info/m/marc.html |title= 45 Discography for Marc Records |work= Global Dog Productions |publisher= Globaldogproductions.info |access-date= August 14, 2011}}
| writer = Bob Relf/Earl Nelson
| producer = Fred Smith
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = My Woman
| next_year = 1964
}}
"Harlem Shuffle" is an R&B song written and originally recorded by the duo Bob & Earl in 1963. The song describes a dance called the “Harlem Shuffle”, and mentions several other contemporary dances of the early 1960s, including the Monkey Shine, the Limbo, the Hitch hike, the Slide, and the Pony.
In 1986, it was covered by the British rock band The Rolling Stones on their album Dirty Work.
Bob & Earl
There was no pre-existing dance called the "Harlem Shuffle".{{cite book |last1=Stratton |first1=Jon |title=Spectacle, Fashion and the Dancing Experience in Britain, 1960-1990 |date=31 October 2022 |publisher=Springer International Publishing |isbn=9783031090127 |page=39 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BVSZEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Harlem+Shuffle%22+Bob+%26+Earl+-wikipedia&pg=PA39}} The song was based on an instrumental number called "Slauson Shuffletime" (named after a boulevard in Los Angeles) by another Los Angeles singer, Round Robin.{{cite web|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article3047219.ece|title=The Times & The Sunday Times|website=The Times|date=December 14, 2007|access-date=June 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724213006/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article3047219.ece|archive-date=July 24, 2008}} Bob & Earl's original single, arranged by Gene Page, peaked at {{thinspace|No.|44}} on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and {{thinspace|No.|36}} on the Cash Box chart. The record was a commercial failure when first released in the UK in 1963, but on reissue in 1969 peaked at {{thinspace|No.|7}} on the UK singles chart.{{cite web|title= Bob & Earl Page |url= http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Bob%20&%20Earl.html |publisher= Soulwalking.co.uk |access-date= August 14, 2011}} It was released on Marc Records, a subsidiary of Titan Records. Barry White stated in a 1995 interview with the Boston Herald that, despite many claims to the contrary, he had no involvement with "Harlem Shuffle", though Page and White later worked extensively together.White, Barry. [http://thekatztapes.com/barry-white/ "Telephone interview with Larry Katz."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704083214/http://thekatztapes.com/barry-white/ |date=July 4, 2022 }} June 1 or 2, 1995. The Katz Tapes. Retrieved June 4, 2015.Nelson, Valerie J. [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jul-25-me-nelson25-story.html "'Harlem Shuffle' co-writer was part of the soul duo Bob & Earl."] Los Angeles Times, July 25, 2008. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
In 2003, the original Bob & Earl version of the song was ranked {{thinspace|No.|23}} by the music critics of The Daily Telegraph on their list of the "50 Best Duets Ever".{{cite web|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2003/11/08/bmduet08.xml |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20040327172724/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2003/11/08/bmduet08.xml |url-status= dead |archive-date= March 27, 2004 |title= List of the 50 Best Duets Ever |work= The Daily Telegraph |date= November 8, 2003 |access-date= August 14, 2011}} The song was used in the 1989 comedy-drama film Shag and the 2017 Edgar Wright-directed film Baby Driver and also appeared on its soundtrack.{{Citation|title=Baby Driver (2017)|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3890160/soundtrack|access-date=2017-09-08}}
=Charts=
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1963–64) !Peak |
| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url= http://www.allmusic.com/artist/bob-earl-mn0000046450/awards |title= Bob & Earl awards at Allmusic |work= Allmusic |publisher= Rovi Corporation |access-date= July 28, 2013}}
|align="center"|44 |
| US Billboard Hot R&B Singles
|align="center"|44 |
| US Cash Box Top 100[http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/19640215.html Cash Box Top 100 Singles, February 15, 1964]
|align="center"|36 |
{{col-2}}
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1969) !Peak |
| {{singlechart|Flanders|8|artist=Bob And Earl|song=Harlem Shuffle|access-date=July 28, 2013}} |
| {{singlechart|Dutch40|8|artist=Bob And Earl - Harlem Shuffle|access-date=July 28, 2013}} |
| {{singlechart|Dutch100|7|artist=Bob And Earl|song=Harlem Shuffle|access-date=July 28, 2013}} |
| {{singlechart|UK|7|date=1969-05-03|artist=Bob & Earl|access-date=July 28, 2013}} |
{{col-end}}
The Rolling Stones version
{{Infobox song
| name = Harlem Shuffle
| cover = Harlem Shuffle One Sheet.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = The Rolling Stones
| album = Dirty Work
| B-side = Had It with You
| released = 3 March 1986{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1986/Music-Week-1986-03-01.pdf|title=Music Week|page=10}}
| recorded = April – October 1985
| studio =
| genre = Pop rock, dance-rock{{cite web|url= http://articles.philly.com/1986-04-06/entertainment/26078032_1_parents-music-resource-center-artist-rhythm-and-blues-music |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131016144231/http://articles.philly.com/1986-04-06/entertainment/26078032_1_parents-music-resource-center-artist-rhythm-and-blues-music |url-status= dead |archive-date= October 16, 2013 |title= R&B Gets The Superstar Treatment |author= Ken Tucker |work= Philadelphia Daily News |date= April 6, 1986 |access-date= June 28, 2013}} "The Stones raise the rhythm-and-blues issue explicitly on "Harlem Shuffle," the first single to be released from Dirty Work. (...) Mick Jagger smears the lyrics with lascivious glee, while the rest of the band attempts to turn the tune into a hip dance-rock number."
| length = 3:23 (7" single)
6:19 (12" "London Mix")
6:35 (12" "New York Mix")
| label = Rolling Stones
| writer = Bob Relf, Earl Nelson
| producer = Steve Lillywhite and The Glimmer Twins
| prev_title = She Was Hot
| prev_year = 1983
| next_title = One Hit (To the Body)
| next_year = 1986
}}
The Rolling Stones' cover version appeared on their 1986 album Dirty Work. It went to number 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 13 in the United Kingdom, and number 1 in New Zealand. Keith Richards had been looking for songs to possibly include on the album and had been working up songs with Ronnie Wood and Bobby Womack while waiting for Mick Jagger to return to the studio in Paris after doing promo work on his solo album She's the Boss. To Richards' surprise, Jagger liked the feel and cut the vocals quickly. It became the first cover song the Stones had released as an opening single off a new studio album since 1965.
In 1986, a 12" extended single mix of the song was released. One side contained the "London Mix" and ran 6:19. The other side had a "New York Mix" and ran 6:35. Both mixes were variations of the 7" mix. The "New York Mix" is available on the CD, Rarities 1971–2003, although it has been edited to 5:48. Both full-length 12" versions can be found on Disc 25 of Singles 1971–2006.
=Music video=
The Rolling Stones produced an accompanying four-minute music video, which combined with live-action and animation.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6868934/ IMDb ~ Rolling Stones Harlem Shuffle (1986 video) ] The live-action was directed by animation director Ralph Bakshi and the animation was directed by future The Ren & Stimpy Show creator John Kricfalusi.{{cite book|title= The Guide to United States Popular Culture |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=U3rJxPYT32MC&q=new+york+times+harlem+shuffle+bakshi+john+kricfalusi&pg=PA676 |author= Ray Broadus Browne, Pat Browne |editor= Popular Press |year= 2001 |isbn= 978-0-87972-821-2 |page= 676| publisher=Popular Press }} Other animators who worked on the video included Lynne Naylor, Jim Smith, Bob Jaques, Vicky Jenson, Pat Ventura and two other unknown animators.{{cite web|url= http://classiccartoons.blogspot.com/2006/09/harlem-shuffle.html |title= Classic Cartoons: Harlem Shuffle |publisher= Classiccartoons.blogspot.com |date= September 20, 2006 |access-date= August 14, 2011}}
=Personnel=
The Rolling Stones
- Mick Jagger – lead and backing vocals, harmonica
- Keith Richards – electric and acoustic guitars, piano, backing vocals
- Ronnie Wood – electric, acoustic and pedal steel guitar, tenor saxophone, backing vocals
- Bill Wyman – bass guitar, synthesizer
- Charlie Watts – drums
Additional personnel
- Chuck Leavell – keyboards{{cite web |publisher=Music Legends| url= http://musiclegends.ca/interviews/chuck-leavell-interview-rolling-stones/|title=Chuck Leavell Interview| access-date=6 May 2013|date=8 April 2010|last=Saulnier|first=Jason}}
- Ivan Neville – backing vocals, bass guitar, organ, synthesizer
- Philippe Saisse – keyboards
- Anton Fig – shakers
- Dan Collette – trumpet
- Ian Stewart – piano
- Marku Ribas – percussion
- Jimmy Cliff, Don Covay, Beverly D'Angelo, Kirsty MacColl, Dolette McDonald, Janice Pendarvis, Patti Scialfa and Tom Waits – backing vocals
=Charts=
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==Weekly charts==
1Remix
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==Year-end charts==
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=Certifications=
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|artist=The Rolling Stones|title=Harlem Shuffle|award=Gold|relyear=1986|certyear=1986|access-date=July 24, 2020}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
Other versions
A version by The Traits from the fall of 1966 reached number 94 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 91 on Cash Box. Wayne Cochran released a version in 1965 that reached 127 on the Billboard charts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicvf.com/Wayne+Cochran.art|title=Wayne Cochran Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts|website=www.musicvf.com}} The Action recorded the song in 1968 and released it as a single in Germany.
Samples
The song's opening horn section was sampled by the hip-hop group House of Pain for their breakthrough hit single "Jump Around" from their self-titled album in 1992.{{cite web|url= http://www.whosampled.com/sample/view/622/House%20of%20Pain-Jump%20Around_Bob%20%26%20Earl-Harlem%20Shuffle/ |title= House of Pain's Jump Around sample of Bob & Earl's Harlem Shuffle |publisher= WhoSampled.com |access-date= July 28, 2013}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{The Rolling Stones}}
{{The Rolling Stones singles}}
{{John Kricfalusi}}
{{authority control}}
Category:1986 animated short films
Category:Animated music videos
Category:Hansa Records singles
Category:Rolling Stones Records singles
Category:Music videos directed by John Kricfalusi
Category:Novelty and fad dances
Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand
Category:The Rolling Stones songs
Category:Song recordings produced by Jagger–Richards