Rumors (Timex Social Club song)

"Rumors" is the debut single by San Francisco Bay Area-based music group Timex Social Club. It was a top-ten hit in the United States, peaking at number 8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart and number one on Billboards Hot Black Singles, Hot Dance/Disco Club Play, and Hot Dance/Disco 12 Inch Singles Sales charts.

The song was re-recorded for the band's debut album Vicious Rumors, and this version went to number 13 in the UK, top-ten in Ireland and a top-five hit in the Netherlands and in New Zealand, and was a number-one hit in Canada.

Background and recording Timex Social Club members Marcus Thompson, Michael Marshall and Alex Hill had written a song "Rumors" while seniors at Berkeley High School in 1984. Aspiring Sacramento-area producer and promoter Jay King heard the demo and offered it to Con Funk Shun, who rejected it. King then arranged for Timex Social Club to record it in his studio.

Release and success "Rumors" was released as a seven and a twelve-inch single on King's fledgling Jay Records and distributed by regional Macola Records. The long-version b-side of the twelve-inch single was titled "Vicious Rumors".

On the strength of King's regional promotion, mostly in the South, the song was added to playlists at major Black music stations such as KKDA-FM in Dallas and KMJQ in Houston.

On 26 April 1986, the song debuted at number 83 on the Black Singles chart as "Vicious Rumors", entered the top ten in early July and peaked at number one on 19 July for two weeks. The song also charted on the dance charts, reaching number one in both club play and 12-inch single sales in July. The song debuted on the Hot 100 at number 81 on 14 June 1986. It entered the top 40 in early July and peaked at number eight on 16 August and again on 30 August.

By July, while "Rumors" was still rising on the charts, the group split with King and arranged to record an album with Danya Records. "Rumors" was re-recorded for the album and a music video was made to this new version. As "Rumors" became popular outside of the US in the fall of 1986, it was this re-recorded version that charted in Canada and Europe.

Aftermath The success of the single "Rumors" prompted hip hop impresario Russell Simmons to hire the group as the opening act for 38 dates on Run DMC's Raising Hell tour in 1986, along with the Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, and Whodini. Besides solo dates, the group also opened for New Edition, Midnight Star, the S.O.S. Band, Kool & the Gang, and Jermaine Jackson. However, despite two other top-twenty hits on the Black Singles chart, Timex Social Club disbanded in 1987, shortly after the success of "Rumors".

Charts Weekly charts Chart (1986–1987)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)94Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)20US Billboard Hot 1008US Billboard Hot Black Singles1US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play1US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales1US Cash Box8

Year-end charts Chart (1986)PositionBelgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)97Canada Top Singles (RPM)11Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)57Netherlands (Single Top 100)42New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)38US Billboard Hot 10077US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)7

Certifications

Other notable versions In 1986, a European version was released by Van & His Crew as "Rumors (The Rap Version)".

In 1997, the British band Awesome released their version of "Rumors" which hit number 8 in New ZealandZealand singles charts and also charted in some European countries.

Parodies The song was parodied as "Roaches" by Bobby Jimmy and the Critters, also released in 1986.

Rumors (Timex Social Club song)

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