"Somebody's Watching You" is a song by Sly and the Family Stone. It was a single for Little Sister in 1970. It became a hit for the group and registered in the Billboard and Cash Box charts.
| "Somebody's Watching You" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Sly and the Family Stone | |
| from the album Stand! | |
| Released | 1969 |
| Recorded | 1968–1969 |
| Label | Epic |
| Composer | Sylvester Stewart |
| Producer | Sly Stone |
| "Somebody's Watching You" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Little Sister | ||||
| A-side | "Somebody's Watching You" | |||
| B-side | "Stanga" | |||
| Released | 1970 | |||
| Label | Stone Flower 45-9001 | |||
| Composer | Sylvester Stewart | |||
| Producer | Sly Stone | |||
| Little Sister singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
editThis single was a follow up to Little Sister's previous single, "You're the One".[1] Composed by Sylvester Stewart,[2] it was previously recorded by Sly and the Family Stone and appeared on the group's 1969 Stand! album[3]
The recording by Little Sister was reviewed in the November 7, 1970 issue of Record World where it was a four star pick with the reviewer calling it "perfect".[4] It was also at no. 26 in the magazine's Singles Coming Up chart that week.[5]
The song made number 16 on the Cash Box Top Hits of the Year list.[6]
"Stanga" charted as well and made it to no. 44 on the Billboard Soul chart.[7]
Airplay
editThe November 14 issue of Record World reported that the record was getting played on KATZ in St. Louis.[8]
On the week of January 23, 1971, Record World reported the song at #13 on WAYS; #14 on WQXI; #8 on WBBQ ; #10 on KXOK ; #14 on WSAI; #24 on WRKO; and #11 on WHBQ. It was also on CKLW, WLS, KRLA, KHJ.[9]
Charts
editRecord World
editFor the week of October 31, 1970, the single debuted at no. 34 on the Record World Singles Coming Up chart.[10][11] On November 14, the single was at no. 7 on the Record World One Stop Top Ten chart, Nor Cal section.[12] It also peaked at no. 7 on the Record World R&B chart on January 23, 1971.[13][14]
Cash Box
editOn the week of November 28, the single made its debut in the Cash Box Looking Ahead chart at no. 28.[15][16] It also debuted that week at no. 54 in the Cash Box Top 60 in R and B Locations chart.[17]
On the week of December 5, and at is second week in the Looking Ahead chart, it got to no. 21.[18] On the week of December 12, it made its debut at no. 78 in the Cash Box Top 100.[19]
On the week of January 23, 1971, it peaked at no. 19 in the Top 60 in R and B Locations chart.[20][21][22] On the week of February 13, 1971 it peaked at no. 22 in the Cash Box Top 100.[23][24]
Billboard
editOn the Billboard Hot 100, it reached no. 32 and peaked at no. 8 on the Billboard soul singles chart.[25]
Other versions
editA version was recorded by U.F.O. and released on the Semp label.[26] Al Jarreau recorded a version which appeared on a release in 1976. Black Uhuru recorded a version that was released in 1984. Eternity's Children recorded a version that was released in 2003.[27] Clarence Burke recorded a live version that was released in 2011,[28] and Marcus Shelby had a version that was released in 2014.[29] The song also appeared on a 1979 compilation by Climax. Reissued in 2014 on another compilation. [30][31] SFJazz Collective had a live version that appeared on a release in 2020.[32]
References
edit- ↑ Record World, November 7, 1970 - Page 8 record world Single Reviews, FOUR STAR **** PICKS
- ↑ MusicGuru - Somebody's Watching You Songtext von Little Sister
- ↑ Pop Vortex - #90 Stand! by Sly and the Family Stone
- ↑ Record World, November 7, 1970 - Page 8 record world Single Reviews, FOUR STAR **** PICKS
- ↑ Record World, November 7, 1970 - Page 15 record world Singles Coming Up
- ↑ Cash Box, March 6, 1971 - Page 12 TOP HITS OF THE YEAR, PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR'S BIGGEST HITS TO DATE
- ↑ MusicVF.com - Little Sister Top Songs, Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography, 1972
- ↑ Record World, November 14, 1970 - Page 36 R & B Beat (Continued from page 34)
- ↑ Record World, January 23, 1971 - RECORD WORLD MONEY MUSIC By KAL RUDMAN Little Sister:
- ↑ Record World, October 24, 1970 - Page 22 record world Singles Coming Up
- ↑ Record World, October 31, 1970 - Page 26 record world Singles Coming Up, 34. SOMEBODY'S WATCHING YOU
- ↑ Record World, November 14, 1970 - Page 23 record world ONE STOP Top Ten, NOR CAL ONE STOP (San Francisco)
- ↑ Record World, January 23, 1971 - Page 44 RECORD WORLD THE R&B SINGLES CHART, JANUARY 23. 1971, THIS WK. 7, LAST WK. 18
- ↑ Record World, January 30, 1971 - Page 42 RECORD WORLD THE R&B SINGLES CHART, JANUARY 30, 1971, THIS WK. 13, LAST WK. 7
- ↑ Cash Box, November 22, 1970 - Page 20 Cash Box LOOKING AHEAD
- ↑ Cash Box, November 28, 1970 - Page 34 Cash Box LOOKING AHEAD 28
- ↑ Cash Box, November 28, 1970 - Page 50 Cash Box Top 60 In R and B Locations, 54
- ↑ Cash Box, December 5, 1970 - Page 14 Cash Box LOOKING AHEAD 21
- ↑ Cash Box, December 12, 1970 - Page 4 Cash Box Top 100 78, _, _
- ↑ Cash Box, January 16, 1971 - Page 32 Cash Box Top 60 In R and B Locations, 22
- ↑ Cash Box, January 23, 1971 - Page 39 Cash Box Top 60 In R and B Locations, 19
- ↑ Cash Box, January 30, 1971 - Page 30 Cash Box Top 60 In R and B Locations, 25
- ↑ Cash Box, February 13, 1971 - Page 4 Cash Box Top 100 22, 24, 25
- ↑ Cash Box, February 20, 1971 - Page 4 Cash Box Top 100 25, 22, 24
- ↑ MusicVF.com - Somebody's Watching You By: Little Sister
- ↑ Popsike - U.F.O - Somebodys Watching You / Gotta Nice Buzz RARE DEEP FUNK GRAIL TRINIDAD
- ↑ Second Hand Songs - SONG, Somebody's Watching You VERSIONS
- ↑ JioSaavn - Somebody's Watching You (Live), Somebody's Watching You (Live) by Clarence Burke
- ↑ Second Hand Songs - SONG, Somebody's Watching You VERSIONS
- ↑ Discogs - Climax (6) Featuring Sonny Geraci – Best Of Climax Featuring Sonny Geraci
- ↑ muziekweb - Best of Climax featuring Sonny Geraci : Precious and few Climax (US)
- ↑ Second Hand Songs - SONG, Somebody's Watching You VERSIONS