And the Beat Goes On (The Whispers song)

"And the Beat Goes On" is a 1979 single by the American music group the Whispers.^[3] The song was their first of two number-one singles on the Soul chart, and their first Top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 19.^[4] "And the Beat Goes On" was the group's only number-one song on the dance chart.^[5] It was also their first and biggest hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. The song also peaked at number 27 on the Canadian RPM chart.

"And the Beat Goes On"
A-side label of U.S. 12-inch vinyl single
Single by the Whispers
from the album The Whispers
B-side	"Can You Do the Boogie"
Released	1979
Genre	Post-disco[1] electro-funk[2]
Length	7:30 (Long version) 4:30 (Video edit) 3:25 (7' version)
Label	SOLAR
Songwriter(s)	Leon Sylvers Stephen Shockley William Shelby
Producer(s)	Dick Griffey The Whispers
The Whispers singles chronology
"A Song for Donny" (1979) "And the Beat Goes On" (1979) "Lady" (1980)
Music video
"And the Beat Goes On" on YouTube

In 1996 after Phyllis Hyman died, the Whispers honored her with a musical: Thank God! The Beat Goes On. The fictionalized story intertwines the long-running career of the Whispers with the rise of Hyman, using songs by the Whispers including ones Hyman sang with them such as "The Beat Goes On". The Whispers played themselves while R&B singer Alyson Williams played the role of Hyman.^[6]

Track listing

7" single^[7]

1. "And the Beat Goes On" – 3:25
2. "Can You Do the Boogie" – 3:50

12" single^[7]

1. "And the Beat Goes On" – 7:30
2. "Can You Do the Boogie" – 6:07

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "And the Beat Goes On" Chart (1980) Peak position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] 30 Canada Top AC (RPM)[8] 33 Canada Top 100 (RPM)[9] 27 Germany (GfK)[10] 20 Ireland (IRMA)[11] 14 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[12] 26 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 19 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] 7 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[15] 16 UK Singles (OCC)[16] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[17] 19 US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[17] 1 US Billboard Hot Soul Singles[17] 1 US Cash Box[18] 19 US Record World[19] 23

1987 weekly chart performance for "And the Beat Goes On" Chart (1987) Peak position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[20] 26 France (SNEP)[21] 39 Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "And the Beat Goes On" Chart (1980) Rank US Billboard Hot Soul Singles[22] 5

Other notable versions

• In 1996, Lorenza released a dance club version of the song that reached number 87 in Germany.^[23]
• In 2024, the song was remixed with Celine Dion's 2002 single "I'm Alive" by Majestic and the Jammin Kid.^[24][25] The single, titled "Set My Heart on Fire", debuted at number 6 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart.^[26]

In popular culture

The song was sampled in Monie Love's 1989 single "I Can Do This" from her debut album Down to Earth, Will Smith's 1998 single "Miami"^[27] and BigXthaPlug's 2023 single "Mmhmm". It was also featured in the 2002 video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.^[28]

See also

• List of number-one dance singles of 1980 (U.S.)
• List of number-one R&B singles of 1980 (U.S.)