Harlem Shuffle (song)
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| "Harlem Shuffle" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by Rolling Stones | ||
| from the album Dirty Work | ||
| Released | 1986 | |
| Format | CD, 7" | |
| Recorded | 8 April - 17 June 1985 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 3 min 23 s | |
| Label | Rolling Stones/Virgin | |
| Producer(s) | The Glimmer Twins, Steve Lillywhite | |
| Chart positions | ||
| Rolling Stones singles chronology | ||
| "She Was Hot" (1983) |
"Harlem Shuffle" (1986) |
"One Hit (to the Body)" (1986) |
"Harlem Shuffle" is an R&B song originally recorded by the duo Bob & Earl in 1963, and covered by Booker T and the MG's, as well as the The Rolling Stones in 1986. House Of Pain later sampled the song's opening horn line in their breakthrough single "Jump Around".
The original single, co-arranged by Barry White and Gene Page, peaked at #44 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #36 on the Cash Box chart. However, the record was much more successful upon its UK release in 1969, making the Top 10 there. In 2003, the Bob & Earl original version of the song was ranked #23 by the music critics of The Daily Telegraph on their list of the 50 Best Duets Ever.
The Rolling Stones' cover version, with soul legend Bobby Womack on backing vocals, appeared on their album Dirty Work, and went to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and #13 in the UK. Keith Richards had been looking for songs to possibly include on the album and had been working up songs with Ron Wood and Womack waiting for Jagger to return to the studio in Paris after doing promo work on his solo album. 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 1964. It opens with:
| “ | You move it to the left and you go for yourself You move it to the right yeah if it takes all night now take it kinda slow with a whole lot of soul. | ” |
The Stones produced an accompanying three minute music video, which combinded live-action and animation. The live-action was directed by infamous animation director Ralph Bakshi and the animation was directed by future Ren and Stimpy creator John Kricfalusi. [1] Other animators who also worked on the video included Lynne Naylor, Jim Smith, Bob Jaques, Vicki Jensen, Pat Ventura and two other, unknown animators . [2], [3]
