Just an Illusion

For the unrelated Netherlands hit song from 1983, see BZN.

"Just an Illusion" is a song by the British trio Imagination. Co-written by Steve Jolley, Tony Swain, Ashley Ingram and Leee John, the song was a major European hit, peaking at number 2 in the group's native UK. In the United States, "Just an Illusion" went to number 27 on the Black chart.^[2] The song also peaked at number 15 on the dance charts.^[2]

"Just an Illusion"
Single by Imagination
from the album In the Heat of the Night
Released	19 February 1982[1]
Genre	Post-disco R&B funk
Length	8:12 (12" version) 6:27 (album version) 3:55 (single version)
Label	R&B
Songwriter(s)	Steve Jolley Tony Swain Ashley Ingram Leee John
Imagination singles chronology
"Flashback" (1981) "Just an Illusion" (1982) "Music and Lights" (1982)
Audio video
"Just an Illusion" on YouTube

Track listing

7" single

1. "Just an Illusion" – 3:55
2. "Just an Illusion" (Instrumental) – 3:40

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1982)	Peak position
Australian (Kent Music Report)[3]	64
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[4]	6
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5]	9
France (IFOP)[6]	3
Ireland (IRMA)[7]	8
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[8]	8
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9]	12
Norway (VG-lista)[10]	5
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[11]	3
Spain (AFYVE)[12]	1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[13]	3
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[14]	2
UK Singles (OCC)[15]	2
US Billboard Hot Black Singles[2]	27
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[2]	15
West Germany (GfK)[16]	7

Year-end charts

Chart (1982)	Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[17]	65
France (IFOP)[18]	7
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[19]	87
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[20]	83
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[21]	9
UK (OCC)[22]	25

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)[23]	Gold	500,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[24]	Silver	250,000^
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Sample

"Get Your Number", co-written by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri, Johntá Austin and Bryan-Michael Cox and recorded by Carey for her album The Emancipation of Mimi (2005), samples the song.^[25]

See also

• List of number-one singles of 1982 (Spain)