Float On (The Floaters song)

"Float On"
Single by The Floaters
from the album The Floaters
B-side "Everything Happens for a Reason"
Released June 1977
Format 7" single, 12" single
Genre Soul
Length

4:13 (single edit)

11:49 (album version)
Label ABC
Writer(s) Marvin Willis
Arnold Ingram
James Mitchell
Producer(s) Woody Wilson
Certification Gold

"Float On" is a 1977 hit song by the R&B/soul group The Floaters. The spoken verses combine two popular memes from the time, star signs and video and phone dating, in lines such as Aquarius and my name is Ralph / Now I like a woman who loves her freedom. The song was co-written by James Mitchell of The Detroit Emeralds group.

Released from their self-titled debut album, it became one of the biggest singles of the year, spending six weeks at number one on the US Hot Soul Singles chart. "Float On" was also a crossover hit, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100,[1] but with no other Hot 100 hits, The Floaters became a one-hit wonder on that chart. "Float On" also reached number one on the UK Singles Chart,[2] and number five on the Irish Singles Chart. The song was covered by hip-hop band Stetsasonic on its album In Full Gear (1988).[3]

Also in 1977, Cheech and Chong released a parody of the song called "Bloat On". It was later included on their 1980 album Let's Make a New Dope Deal.

The song was adapted in the early 1990s to advertise Cadbury's Crème Eggs.

See also

References

  1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 208.
  2. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 343. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. "Stetsasonic". TrouserPress.com. Retrieved 2014-03-28.

External links

Preceded by
"Strawberry Letter 23" by The Brothers Johnson
Billboard's Hot Soul Singles number one single
August 13 - September 17, 1977
Succeeded by
"Keep It Comin' Love" by K.C. & the Sunshine Band
Preceded by
"Angelo" by Brotherhood of Man
UK number one single
August 27, 1977
Succeeded by
"Way Down" by Elvis Presley