"Jump to the Beat" is a song written by Narada Michael Walden and Lisa Walden. It was originally released by American singer Stacy Lattisaw in 1980, when it reached number three on the UK singles chart. It was later covered by Australian singer Dannii Minogue on her debut album, Love and Kisses, in 1991. Bob Stanley noted the similarity between Lattisaw's recording and the musical style of Madonna, some four years later.
Release Stacy Lattisaw was only 13 years old when "Jump to the Beat" was released in May 1980. Although it was not released as a North American single, and therefore did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100, it reached No. 1 (along with another song "Dynamite!") on the Billboard dance charts. Released in edited form as a single internationally, it became a big hit during the summer of 1980 in the UK, where it peaked at No. 3 in July.Official UK Charts - Stacy Lattisaw It was to be her only major hit there although she continued to achieve success in the US with later singles. The song also performed well in Europe, hitting the charts in a number of countries. The song was included on Lattsaw's second album, Let Me Be Your Angel.
Charts +Chart (1980–1981)PeakpositionBelgium (Joepie)1Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)Jump to the Beat. Retrieved November 3, 2014.7Ireland (IRMA)11Netherlands (Single Top 100)13Sweden (Topplistan)15UK Singles (OCC)3US Hot Dance/Disco (Billboard)1West Germany (Media Control)38
Dannii Minogue version
Australian singer Dannii Minogue released a cover of "Jump to the Beat" in 1991. Her version was produced by Les Adams, Emma Freilich (L.A. Mix) and Andy Whitmore and received a mixed reception from music critics. It was released as the third single from her debut album, Love and Kisses in the third quarter of 1991 by Mushroom and MCA Records. The song reached the top five in Ireland and the top ten in the United Kingdom, and became Minogue's second top ten single. In Australia, the song did not perform as well, charting outside the top forty. In North America, the single was released as Minogue's debut release in November 1991; however, it failed to generate much interest outside of the United Kingdom, Australia and Israel. The accompanying music video was directed by Australian film director, screenwriter and cinematographer Paul Goldman.
Critical reception Larry Flick from Billboard magazine wrote, "Kylie's younger sister bows with a hyper pop/house jam that is fueled with a fun, sing-along chorus and a groove that should easily rope in programmers at both club and crossover radio levels. Rap by Einstein is miscellaneous, while Minogue's chirpy voice endears." Marc Andrews from Smash Hits named the song one of the highlights on the Love and Kisses album, describing it as a "dance-fantastic single". Retrospectively, Matthew Hocter from Albumism noted that "with a clearer focus on that New Jack Swing sound" and the addition of some "heavy on house music" covers "Jump to the Beat" and "Baby Love", "the younger Minogue demonstrated that she had a very soulful approach to music." John Lucas from AllMusic named the song "a fairly perfunctory cover".
Track listings Australian CD single "Jump to the Beat" (album version) "Jump to the Beat" (extended mix) "Hallucination"
Australian cassette single "Jump to the Beat" "Jump to the Beat" (LP edit)
UK vinyl single "Jump to the Beat" (extended mix) "Hallucination" "Success" (Funky Tony mix)
UK cassette single "Jump to the Beat" "Jump to the Beat" (LP edit)
European CD single "Jump to the Beat" "Hallucination" "Success" (Funky Tony dub)
Australian 12-inch vinyl single "Jump to the Beat" (extended mix) "Hallucination" "Success" (Funky Tony mix)
US vinyl single "Jump to the Beat" (12-inch mix) "Hallucination" "Jump to the Beat" (7-inch mix)
US CD single "Jump to the Beat" (7-inch version) "Jump to the Beat" (7-inch remix) "Jump to the Beat" (12-inch version) "Hallucination"
Japanese single "Jump to the Beat" (7-inch mix) "Jump to the Beat" (album version)
Personnel Dannii Minogue – lead vocals Colin "Einstein" Case – rap vocals Les Adams, Emma Freilich, Andy Whitmore – production Phil Bodger – remix, additional production Simon Fowler – photography
Charts +Chart (1991)PeakpositionAustralia (ARIA) 48Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) 44Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 19Ireland (IRMA)"Search Charts". IrishCharts.ie. Retrieved April 15, 2008. 5Israel (Israeli Singles Chart) Search "Jump to the Beat" for Israeli chart history. 12Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg)Radio Luxembourg Singles. 4 August 1991. 5UK Airplay (Music Week) 14UK Dance (Music Week) 29
Release history +RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United KingdomJuly 15, 1991MCAJapanSeptember 21, 1991Mini-CDAlfaAustraliaSeptember 30, 1991Mushroom
References