"Boogie Child"
Single by Bee Gees
from the album Children of the World
B-side"Lovers"
Released
  • January 1977
  • 4 February 1977 (UK)[1]
Recorded6 May 1976
StudioLe Studio (Quebec)
GenreDisco[2]
Length4:14 (album version)
3:30 (single version)
LabelRSO
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Bee Gees singles chronology
"Love So Right"
(1976) 		"Boogie Child"
(1976) 		"Edge of the Universe (Live)"
(1977)

"Boogie Child" is the third hit single from the Bee Gees' 1976 platinum album Children of the World, released in the US in early 1977. The song peaked at no. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 as an A-side and was then used as the B-side of the single "Children of the World" in the UK. It was the last song recorded by the Bee Gees for their album Children of the World.

Content

"Boogie Child" perhaps evolved from the unreleased "Boogie Summer" (recorded on 2 April). It was one of the two songs, alongside "Can't Keep a Good Man Down", that were the last new tracks recorded for the album.[3] "Boogie Child" was released as a single at the start of 1977 with "Lovers" as the B-side. In the UK, RSO Records issued "Children of the World" as the third single from the album with "Boogie Child" as the B-side.[4] In New Zealand, "Children of the World" was chosen as the B-side of this single.[5]

In December 1976, before the release of the single, the Bee Gees performed it at their concert at The Forum, Los Angeles which appears on their first concert album Here at Last... Bee Gees... Live released in May 1977. The original audio of "Boogie Child" on that concert, which features uncredited background vocalists, was replaced by Barry's background vocals when it was mixed in April 1977 in France.

Reception

Billboard described "Boogie Child" as the Bee Gees' "funkiest single to date."[6] Cash Box said it has "a Sly-influenced lead vocal, incredibly crisp instrumentation and several emotive choruses."[7] Record World said that "The Ohio Players-type groove should go across the board."[8]

Personnel

Chart history

Chart (1977) Peak
position
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[9] 43
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[10] 9
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11] 13
US Billboard Hot 100[12] 12
US Billboard Hot Soul Singles[12] 31
US Cash Box[13] 14
US Record World[14] 25

References

  1. ^ "Bee Gees - Boogie Child / Children of the World". 45cat. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  2. ^ Pickow, Peter; Appleby, Amy (1988). The Billboard Book of Song Writing. Billboard Publications. p. 146.
  3. ^ Brennan, Joseph. "Gibb Songs : 1976". Columbia University. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  4. ^ Brennan, Joseph. "Gibb Songs : 1977". Columbia University. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  5. ^ "Bee Gees - Boogie Child / Children of the World". 45cat. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  6. ^ "Billboard's Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 15 January 1977. p. 82. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. XXXVIII, no. 35. 15 January 1977. p. 15. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  8. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 15 January 1977. p. 1. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  9. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 5150." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  10. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5176a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  11. ^ "Bee Gees – Boogie Child". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  12. ^ a b "Children of the World – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  13. ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending MARCH 5, 1977". Archived from the original on 3 October 2012.. Cash Box.
  14. ^ "The Singles Chart" (PDF). Record World. 5 March 1977. p. 35. ISSN 0034-1622. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
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