"How 'Bout Us" is the most successful single released by R&B music group Champaign. Composed by band keyboardist Dana Walden and originally released on the band's debut album How 'Bout Us, the title track peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. A romantic ballad, the song was released on Valentine's Day, 1981.
Song information The song was originally released in 1975 by an earlier incarnation of the group, then called the Water Brothers Band.American Top 40, June 6, 1981 It was released as the B-side of their single, "Have You Ever Been Lonely?" on Sky Records NR6668. The band at the time of recording was made up of Dana Walden on keyboards & vocals, Howard "Leon" Reeder on vocals, lead & rhythm guitars, Keith Harden on vocals, lead & rhythm guitars, Scott Karlstrom on bass, and Bobby Carlin on drums.Down State Sounds, Saturday, October 24, 2020 - Michael Day & His Unreleased Solo Album (1973)45Cat - Record Details, Artist: The Water Brothers Band, Comments and Reviews, downstatesounds, 6th Sep 2021
It was re-recorded by Champaign, and it was Champaign's version that became a hit single. "How 'Bout Us" peaked at number 4 on the soul chart and was one of three releases to make the Top 10 on the soul chart. It was on the Hot 100 chart for 23 weeks, peaking at number 12 on June 6, 1981, and also reached the top of the Adult Contemporary chart for two weeks. Jet magazine listed the song in its "Soul Brothers Top 20 Singles" list for May and June 1981.
Champaign's membership included former Water Brothers members, Walden, Reeder and Day.
Casey Kasem played a portion of the Champaign version on his American Top 40 show. He then played the entire version of the Water Brothers release. This was broadcast on June 6, 1981.
Chart performance
Weekly charts Chart (1981) PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)24Canada Top Singles (RPM)19Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)3South Africa (Springbok Radio)8US Billboard Hot 10012US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)1US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard)4US Cash Box Top 100 10
Year-end charts Chart (1981)PositionBelgium (Ultratop Flanders)1Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)1Netherlands (Single Top 100)2New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)4UK Singles (OCC)45US Billboard Hot 100 45US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)13US Cash Box 69
All-time charts +All-time chart rankings for "How 'Bout Us"ChartPositionDutch Love Songs (Dutch Top 40) 28
Cover versions The song has been covered as a duet between blue-eyed soul singer Grayson Hugh and R&B singer Betty Wright; their version, from the soundtrack of the 1989 film True Love, peaked at number 30 on Billboard R&B chart, crossing over to number 67 on the pop singles chart and number 15 on the Adult Contemporary chart. A cover by American country music group Girls Next Door peaked at number 71 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1990.
See also List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1981 (U.S.)
References
External links MOODS channel - Champaign - How 'bout Us (single version) (audio) downstate sounds channel - The Water Brothers Band - How 'Bout Us (Sky, 1975) (Original version) (audio)