"That's the Way (I Like It)" is a song by American disco and funk band KC and the Sunshine Band from their self-titled second studio album (1975). The single became the band's second No. 1 hit in the Billboard Hot 100, and it is one of the few chart-toppers in history to hit No. 1 on more than one occasion during a one-month period, as it did between November and December 1975. It topped the American pop chart for one week, and then was replaced by another disco song, "Fly, Robin, Fly" by Silver Convention. "That's the Way (I Like It)" returned to No. 1 for one more week after "Fly, Robin, Fly" completed three weeks at the top. "That's the Way (I Like It)" also spent one week at No. 1 in the soul singles chart.[3] The song is in natural minor.[4]
"That's the Way (I Like It)" | ||||
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![]() German CD maxi single (1989 remix) | ||||
Single by KC and the Sunshine Band | ||||
from the album KC and the Sunshine Band | ||||
B-side | "What Makes You Happy" | |||
Released | June 10, 1975 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | TK | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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KC and the Sunshine Band singles chronology | ||||
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The song was also an international chart hit, reaching No. 1 in Canada[5] and the Netherlands and charting in Australia (No. 5), Belgium (No. 2), Ireland (No. 17), New Zealand (No. 12), Norway (No. 5), the United Kingdom (No. 4) and West Germany (No. 20).
Record World said that "A spirited, uplifting sound is based around a theme which should be reverberating across the country in no time!"[6]
For release as a single and radio airplay, the song was toned down from the original recording, which would have jeopardized it receiving getting radio airplay at the time. However the sexual overtones may have improved the record's reception at discos, increasing its overall popularity in the charts.[7]
"That's the Way (I Like It)" was referenced by English comedian Joe Lycett on his 2016 live stand-up special That's the Way, A-Ha A-Ha, Joe Lycett.
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
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Year-end chartsedit
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Certifications
editRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Canada (Music Canada)[27] | Platinum | 150,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[28] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Dead or Alive version
edit"That's the Way (I Like It)" | ||||
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Single by Dead or Alive | ||||
from the album Sophisticated Boom Boom | ||||
B-side | "Keep That Body Strong (That's The Way)" | |||
Released | March 1984 | |||
Recorded | 1983 | |||
Length | 3:38 | |||
Label | Epic | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Dead or Alive singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"That's the Way (I Like It)" on YouTube |
In 1979, singer Pete Burns used the chorus in the song "Black Leather", composed and recorded in the early stages of Dead or Alive (then Nightmares in Wax). In 1984, the group covered the song for their debut studio album, Sophisticated Boom Boom (1984), creating their first UK Top 40 single.
Track listings
edit- 7" single
- "That's the Way (I Like It)" – 3:38
- "Do It" – 3:53
- 7" picture single
- "That's the Way (I Like It)" – 3:37
- "Keep That Body Strong (That's the Way)" – 3:37
- 12" maxi
- "That's the Way (I Like It)" (Extended Version) – 5:52
- "Keep That Body Strong (That's the Way)" – 3:37
Chart
editChart (1984) | Peak position |
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Australia (Kent Music Report)[8] | 45 |
Ireland (IRMA)[10] | 23 |
UK Singles (OCC)[29] | 22 |
US Hot Dance Club Play (Billboard)[30] | 28 |
Clock version
edit"That's the Way (I Like It)" | ||||
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Single by Clock | ||||
from the album Boogie Sound | ||||
Released | 1997 | |||
Genre | Eurodance | |||
Length | 3:45 | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) | ||||
Clock singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"That's the Way (I Like It)" on YouTube |
In 1997, British pop/dance act Clock released a cover of the song, which appears on their Japan-only album release Boogie Sound. It was a moderate hit in early 1998, peaking at No. 17 in Ireland,[31] No. 11 in the United Kingdom[32] and No. 66 in France.[33]
Critical reception
editA reviewer from Music Week rated Clock's version two out of five, adding, "But with Clock's established grip on the Top 20, no doubt it will sell."[34] The magazine's Alan Jones wrote, "Clock get short shrift from critics, though record buyers can't get enough of them. They will certainly tick up another hit with That's The Way (I Like It), an obvious cover of the old KC & The Sunshine Band track currently doing service as a TV commercial soundtrack. It stays close to the original, and will provide one of the first big hits of 1998."[35]
Track listing
edit- CD single, CD 1, UK (1998)
- "That's The Way (I Like It)" (Radio Mix) – 3:45
- "That's The Way (I Like It)" (Ultra Disco Radio Mix) – 3:19
- "That's The Way (I Like It)" (Short Stab) – 4:01
- "That's The Way (I Like It)" (video) – 3:12
Charts
editChart (1998) | Peak position |
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Ireland (IRMA) | 17 |
France (SNEP) | 66 |
UK Singles (OCC) | 11 |
Bibliography
edit- Craig MacInnis (2002). That's the Way I Like It (The Harry Wayne Casey Story). Team Power Publishing. ISBN 2-89568-059-0.
References
edit- ^ a b Alex Henderson. "KC and the Sunshine Band review on AllMusic". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 9 June 2013. "Fueled by such addictive funk hits as "That's the Way (I Like It)" and "Get Down Tonight," the album established K.C. as one of the top stars of the disco era."
- ^ Weeks, Marcus (2015). "KC & The Sunshine Band - "That's the Way (I Like It)". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die. New York: Universe. p. 350.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 315.
- ^ Stephenson, Ken (2002). What to Listen for in Rock: A Stylistic Analysis, p.89. ISBN 978-0-300-09239-4.
- ^ a b "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4043a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
- ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. October 18, 1975. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
- ^ Dimery, Robert (2010). 1001 songs you must hear before you die. United Kingdom: Cassell Illustrated. p. 350. ISBN 978-1-84403-736-0.
- ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. pp. 85, 163. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.
- ^ "KC & the Sunshine Band – That's the way (I like it)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ a b "That's the way (I like it) in Irish Chart". IRMA. Retrieved 30 May 2013. Only results when searching "That's the way (I like it)"
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – KC and the Sunshine Band" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ^ "KC & the Sunshine Band – That's the way (I like it)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "KC & the Sunshine Band – That's the way (I like it)". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "KC & the Sunshine Band – That's the way (I like it)". VG-lista.
- ^ John Samson. "That's the way (I like it) by KC & the Sunshine Band in South African Chart". Retrieved 4 June 2013.
- ^ "KC & the Sunshine Band – That's the way (I like it)". Singles Top 100.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
- ^ a b c "KC and the Sunshine Band Awards on Allmusic". Allmusic. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 12/13/75".
- ^ "That's the way (I like it) by KC and the Sunshine Band on charts.de". Media Control. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". collectionscanada.gc.ca.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1975" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
- ^ "Britain's best selling records of '75" (JPG). Scans.chartarchive.org. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
- ^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1975".
- ^ "National Top 100 Singles for 1976". Kent Music Report. December 27, 1976. Retrieved January 15, 2022 – via Imgur.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1976/Top 100 Songs of 1976". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – K.C. and the Sunshine Band – That's the Way I Like It". Music Canada. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
- ^ "American single certifications – KC & The Sunshine Band – the Way (I Like It)". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
- ^ "1984 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive - 21st April 1984". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
- ^ "Dead or Alive awards on AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – All there is to know > Search results for 'Clock' (from irishcharts.ie)". Imgur.com (original document published by Fireball Media).
- ^ "Official Charts > Clock". The Official UK Charts Company.
- ^ "lescharts.com > Clock dans les Charts Français" (in French). Hung Medien.
- ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 27 December 1997. p. 21. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
- ^ Jones, Alan (15 November 1997). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 10. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
External links
edit- "Song lyrics from the band's official website". Archived from the original on 12 August 2007.
- Music Legends Part 1: KC & The Sunshine Band
- "The Complexity of Songs", Knuth, Donald E. (1984).