"Move On Up" is a song by Curtis Mayfield from his 1970 debut album, Curtis. Nearly nine minutes long on the album version, it was released as a single in the United States, but failed to chart. An edited version of the song spent 10 weeks in the top 50 of the UK Singles Chart in 1971, peaking at number 12, and it has become a soul classic over the years.[3][4] In 2021, it was listed at No. 474 on Rolling Stone's "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".[5]
| "Move On Up" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Curtis Mayfield | ||||
| from the album Curtis | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | June 25, 1971 | |||
| Studio | RCA Studios, Chicago | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length |
| |||
| Label | Curtom | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Curtis Mayfield | |||
| Producer(s) | Curtis Mayfield | |||
| Curtis Mayfield singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Official audio | ||||
| "Move On Up" on YouTube | ||||
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[6] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Other cover versions and sampling
editIn 1979, disco trio Destination recorded a medley, incorporating "Keep On Pushing", a 1964 hit by the Impressions, also written by Mayfield. Along with the tracks "Up Up Up" and "Destination's Theme", "Move On Up" hit number one on the disco chart for four weeks.[7] It peaked at number sixty-eight on the soul singles chart.[8]
The Jam, an English rock band active in the late 1970s to the early 1980s led by Paul Weller, released a version of the song on an extended play record in 1982,[9] as did Weller's The Style Council in 1985.
Kentucky-based jam-band My Morning Jacket frequently covers the song in their live shows.[10]
Just Blaze heavily sampled the song for Kanye West's 2006 single "Touch the Sky", using a slowed-down version of the horns.[11][12]
The song was also used in the credits for the 2024 film Lift. [13]
In popular culture
editEnglish football club Arsenal adopted the song as a popular post-game anthem at their Emirates Stadium.[14]
The song appears on the soundtrack of the 2002 British film Bend It Like Beckham.[15]
The song can also be heard on the radio in the 2014 video game Watch Dogs.[16]
The song was used by Joe Biden following the end of his speeches during his 2020 presidential campaign.[17]
References
edit- ^ Bogdanov, Vladimir; Woodstra, Chris; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas, eds. (2001). All Music Guide: The Definitive Guide to Popular Music. Backbeat Books/All Media Guide. p. 252. ISBN 9780879306274.
- ^ Maginnis, Tom. "Move on Up - Curtis Mayfield | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
- ^ Warwick, Neil; Jon Kutner; Tony Brown (2004). The Complete Book of the British Charts. Omnibus Press. p. 713. ISBN 1-84449-058-0.
- ^ "Search for UK Singles - 1952-2009". Polyphex.com. Retrieved June 5, 2009.
- ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 15, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
- ^ "British single certifications – Curtis Mayfield – Move On Up". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
- ^ Joel Whitburn's, Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003, 2004
- ^ Joel Whitburn's Presents Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004, 2004
- ^ Keith (May 27, 2017). "The Jam - Move On Up". The Most Important Song. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
- ^ Bernstein, Scott (August 5, 2012). "MY MORNING JACKET : MOVE ON UP AT RED ROCKS WITH JOHN OATES, BEN BRIDWELL AND TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE". Glide Magazine. Glide Publishing LLC. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
- ^ Late Registration (Media notes). Kanye West. Roc-A-Fella Records. 2005.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Cantor, Paul (March 2, 2015). "I'ma Let You Finish, But This is the Greatest Kanye West Song of All Time". Medium. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
- ^ "Here Are All the Songs in Netflix's "Lift"". January 13, 2024.
- ^ "Arsenal issue response". Football London.com. August 6, 2017.
- ^ "'Bend It Like Beckham' is Still One of the All-Time Great Films".
- ^ "Watch Dogs Soundtrack List". Gamersheroes.com. May 27, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
- ^ Caitlin Byrd (February 29, 2020). "Joe Biden wins South Carolina primary, momentarily stopping Bernie Sanders' rise". Charleston Post and Courier. Retrieved March 7, 2020.