Something Got Me Started
Encyclopedia
"Something Got Me Started" was the first single released from what would become Simply Red
's biggest selling album, Stars; at the time, the group had not released a record for almost two years, so anticipation was high for the new song.
The single was released in several forms — a 7-inch single, a 12-inch single and a CD version, which included a remix by Perfecto (Paul Oakenfold
and Steve Osborne
). The single version eventually made number 11 in the UK and German
charts, number 23 in the US Billboard Hot 100
(plus number 21 in the Adult Contemporary chart) and number 4 in Italy
. Although a relative flop when compared with previous singles, which had nearly all made the top 10, "Something Got Me Started" went on to become a massive club hit in late 1991. The 12-inch single (which included remix
es by Steve "Silk" Hurley
and E-Smoove
) hit dancefloors everywhere in Britain and Europe
and illustrated that Simply Red's popularity was not confined just to the pop domain.
. It also became the second single release from the album, as a double A-side with a new cover
of the Leon Russell
song "A Song for You
". This made it the only Simply Red song to date to be released as a single twice.
NEWLIN
Simply Red
Simply Red were a British soul band that sold more than 50 million albums over a 25-year career. Their style drew influences from blue-eyed soul, new romantic, rock, reggae and jazz...
's biggest selling album, Stars; at the time, the group had not released a record for almost two years, so anticipation was high for the new song.
History
"Something Got Me Started" is an unusual record for the group, as it is (alongside "Fairground") probably their most dance oriented record, featuring then-trendy piano breaks, soulful vocals and a rhythmic back-beat.The single was released in several forms — a 7-inch single, a 12-inch single and a CD version, which included a remix by Perfecto (Paul Oakenfold
Paul Oakenfold
Paul Mark Oakenfold is a British record producer and a trance DJ.-Early Career: 1979–84:Paul Oakenfold's career was set to be a chef, after having hopes of becoming part of a band. He describes his early life as a "bedroom deejay" in a podcasted interview with Vancouver's 24 Hours, stating he grew...
and Steve Osborne
Steve Osborne
Steve Osborne is a multi-platinum selling British record producer. He has worked with a wide variety of musicians, such as New Order, Doves, U2 and KT Tunstall. During the 1990s, Osborne was half of the Perfecto Records team, a production and remix collaboration with Paul Oakenfold; the artists...
). The single version eventually made number 11 in the UK and German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
charts, number 23 in the US Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
(plus number 21 in the Adult Contemporary chart) and number 4 in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Although a relative flop when compared with previous singles, which had nearly all made the top 10, "Something Got Me Started" went on to become a massive club hit in late 1991. The 12-inch single (which included remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
es by Steve "Silk" Hurley
Steven Hurley
Steve "Silk" Hurley is an American club DJ, pioneering house-music producer, songwriter, and four time Grammy Award-nominee...
and E-Smoove
Eric Miller (musician)
Eric Miller is an American house music DJ, record producer and remixer. As E-Smoove he worked for a number of years with Steve "Silk" Hurley and Maurice Joshua, before he hit the U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1998 with "Deja Vu," which climbed to #16. The song reached #63 in the UK...
) hit dancefloors everywhere in Britain and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and illustrated that Simply Red's popularity was not confined just to the pop domain.
Simplified version
In 2005, "Something Got Me Started" was one of the eight previously released Simply Red songs re-recorded for the album SimplifiedSimplified (Simply Red album)
Simplified is a Simply Red album released in 2005. It features new, rearranged recordings of the band's older songs, and four new songs: "Perfect Love" and an alternate version, "My Perfect Love", a cover of Leon Russell's "A Song for You", and "Smile"....
. It also became the second single release from the album, as a double A-side with a new cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the Leon Russell
Leon Russell
Claude Russell Bridges , known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American musician and songwriter, who has recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career in music....
song "A Song for You
A Song for You
"A Song for You" is a soulful love song written and originally recorded by rock singer-songwriter and pianist Leon Russell for his first solo album 'Leon Russell', which was released in 1970 on Shelter Records. A slow, pained plea for forgiveness and understanding from an estranged lover, the tune...
". This made it the only Simply Red song to date to be released as a single twice.
Formats and track listings
1991 version
|
NEWLIN
|
Peak positions
| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
29 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 5 |
| Canadian Singles Chart | 11 |
| Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... |
5 |
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 19 |
| German Singles Chart | 11 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
9 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 18 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 6 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
11 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
23 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 21 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
13 |
End of year charts
| End of year chart (1991) | Position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... |
64 |