How 'Bout Us (song)

"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.^[1]

"How 'Bout Us"
Single by Champaign
from the album How 'Bout Us
B-side	"Lighten Up"
Released	February 14, 1981 (1981-02-14)
Genre	R&B
Length	3:22 (Single Version) 4:38 (Album Version)
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Dana Walden
Producer(s)	Leo Graham
Champaign singles chronology
"I'm on Fire" / "Spinnin'" (1981) "How 'Bout Us" (1981) "Can You Find the Time?" / "Whiplash" (1981)
Official video
"How 'Bout Us" on YouTube

Song information

The song was originally released in 1975 by an earlier incarnation of the group, then called the Water Brothers Band.^[2] 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.^[3][4]

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.^[5] 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.^[6] Jet magazine listed the song in its "Soul Brothers Top 20 Singles" list for May and June 1981.^[7]

Champaign's membership included former Water Brothers members, Walden, Reeder and Day.^[3][4]

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.^[8]

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1981) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] 24 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] 1 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[11] 19 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[12] 3 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[13] 1 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] 1 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[15] 2 South Africa (Springbok Radio)[16] 8 UK Singles (OCC)[17] 5 US Billboard Hot 100[18] 12 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[19] 1 US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard)[20] 4 US Cash Box Top 100 [21] 10 West Germany (Official German Charts)[22] 42

Year-end charts Chart (1981) Position Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[23] 1 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[24] 1 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[25] 2 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[26] 4 UK Singles (OCC)[27] 45 US Billboard Hot 100 [28] 45 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[29] 13 US Cash Box [30] 69

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's 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.^[31]

See also

• List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1981 (U.S.)

References

1. Hoffman, Frank W.; Hoffman, Lee Ann (1983). The Cash Box Singles Charts, 1950-1981. Scarecrow Press. p. 95. ISBN 9780810815957.
2. American Top 40, June 6, 1981
3. Down State Sounds, Saturday, October 24, 2020 - Michael Day & His Unreleased Solo Album (1973)
4. 45Cat - Record Details, Artist: The Water Brothers Band, Comments and Reviews, downstatesounds, 6th Sep 2021
5. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 109.
6. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 51.
7. "Soul Brothers Top 20 Singles". Jet. Vol. 60, no. 12. 4 June 1981. p. 65. ISSN 0021-5996.
8. Battistini, Pete (2010). American Top 40 with Casey Kasem. AuthorHouse. ISBN 978-1-4520-5038-6.
9. "Australian Chart Book". Austchartbook.com.au. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
10. "Champaign – How 'Bout Us" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
11. "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. July 17, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
12. "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. July 17, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
13. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 22, 1981" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
14. "Champaign – How 'Bout Us" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
15. "Champaign – How 'Bout Us". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
16. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved September 2, 2018.
17. "Champaign: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
18. "Champaign, HSI". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
19. "Champaign, ASI". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
20. "Champaign, BSI". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
21. "Cash Box Top 100 6/13/81". Tropicalglen.com. June 13, 1981. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
22. "Offiziellecharts.de – Champaign – How 'Bout Us" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
23. "Jaaroverzichten 1981". Ultratop. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
24. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1981". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
25. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1981" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
26. "Top Selling Singles of 1981 | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. December 31, 1981. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
27. "Chart File Top 100" (PDF). Record Mirror. London: Spotlight Publications. December 26, 1981. p. 27. Retrieved June 13, 2016.^{[permanent dead link]}
28. "Top 100 Hits of 1981/Top 100 Songs of 1981". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
29. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1981". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
30. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1981". Tropicalglen.com. December 26, 1981. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
31. Whitburn, Joel (2013). Hot Country Songs 1944–2012. Record Research, Inc. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-89820-203-8.

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)