Dance with Me (Orleans song)

"Dance with Me" is a 1975 hit single by American soft rock band Orleans from their second studio album, Orleans II (1974).

"Dance with Me"
Single by Orleans
from the album Orleans II and Let There Be Music
B-side"Ending of a Song"
ReleasedJuly 1975
Format7" 45 RPM
Recorded1974
GenreSoft rock
Length3:19
LabelAsylum
Songwriter(s)John Hall; Johanna Hall
Producer(s)Chuck Plotkin
Orleans singles chronology
"Let There Be Music"
(1975)		 "Dance with Me"
(1975)		 "Still the One"
(1976)
Audio
"Dance with Me" on YouTube

Featuring a melodica solo by Larry Hoppen, "Dance With Me" was introduced on the band's third studio album Let There Be Music (1975) and was issued as that album's second single July 19, 1975 to become Orleans' first Top 40 single, reaching a Billboard Hot 100 peak of #6 that October.[1]

Composition

The song was written by group member John Hall and journalist-turned-lyricist Johanna Hall (then a married couple). According to Johanna Hall, John Hall wrote the melody first; Johanna suggested "Dance with Me" as the title after she first heard it, but John rejected the idea as too simple. The couple were out driving one day when Johanna, struck by inspiration, blurted out the lyrics: "Pick the beat up and kick your feet up", and John was won over to the idea of her writing the song's lyric for the title "Dance With Me".[2]

Chart performance

Other covers
  • In 1975, Joe Dassin recorded a French-language cover called "C'est la nuit" (Joe Dassin, Pierre Delanoë and Claude Lemesle).
  • In 1976, the cast of The Brady Bunch performed the song in the pilot of The Brady Bunch Variety Hour.
  • In 1977, American jazz guitarist Earl Klugh recorded an instrumental version for his album Finger Paintings
  • In 1980, Livingston Taylor covered the song for his album Man's Best Friend.
  • In 1982, Bobby McFerrin recorded a Latin jazz-influenced version for his album Bobby McFerrin.
  • In 1994, Canadian musicians, John McGale & Mario Chagnon (aka Toyo) recorded a French-language version of the song called "Angelie" on their album Symbiose.
  • In 1996, Filipino singer Regine Velasquez recorded the song as a duet with her mother, on her album Retro.
  • In 1999, Jose Feliciano arranged and played his guitar instrumental version of the song for his live album A Legend in Concert.
  • In 2002, Hank Marvin did an instrumental version of the song on his album Guitar Player.
  • In 2005, Engelbert Humperdinck recorded a version included on his album Let There Be Love.
  • In 2007, Shaw Blades recorded a version included on their album Influence.
  • In 2010, Kathy Troccoli recorded in a version included on her covers album "Heartsongs"
  • In 2017, Acclaimed guitarists Jack Jezzro & Sam Levine recorded an instrumental version of the song for the album "Mellow 70s".

In pop culture

"Dance With Me" served for the title of a musical revue of compositions by John and Johanna Hall which was mounted by the Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey at its Madison venue from 1–17 December 2000.

In 2017, the song (without lyrics) serves as the background music for a Xeljanz XR (Tofacitinib) commercial.

References
  1. "Dance With Me - Orleans". Billboard.com. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
  2. Rudetsky, Seth (2016-04-04). "Onstage & Backstage: How Disaster! Plans to Beat the Fundraising Competition in Honor of BC/EFA". Playbill. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
  3. Steffen Hung. "Forum - 1975 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 2016-09-23. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
  4. "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
  5. "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
  6. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  7. "Adult Contemporary Chart - Billboard", Billboard
  8. "Top 100 1975-10-18". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  9. "Top 100 Hits of 1975/Top 100 Songs of 1975". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
  10. "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1975". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2015-01-17.


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