"Backfield in Motion" is a 1969 song by the vocal duo Mel & Tim. It uses American football terminology to describe the nature of a relationship between a man and woman. It made the Cash Box and Billboard charts that same year.
Background "Backfield in Motion" bw "Do it Right Baby" was released in the US on Bamboo 107, it was reviewed in the September 20 issue of Cash Box. The football terminology was noted with the reviewer saying that the "football imagery was given a strange and novel twist". The top forty probability was also noted.Cash Box, September 20, 1969 - Page 32 Cash Box Record Reviews
This song is unrelated to the 1964 song "Backfield in Motion" by girl group The Angelos, which appeared on Tollie Records and Vee Jay Records or the Poindexter Brothers' 1966 release "(Git Your) Backfield In Motion" on Verve.
Airplay United States According to Cash Box in the magazine's September 20 issue, the song was reportedly making noise in Chicago.Cash Box, September 20, 1969 - Page 20 Cash Box Insights & Sounds, Chicago Also in the same week, Cash Box noted that it had been added to the playlist of New Orleans Top 40 station WTIX.Cash Box, September 20, 1969 - Page 40 New Additions To Radio Playlists, WTIX - New Orleans It was also in the R&B section of Stan's Juke Box Picks of the Week.Cash Box, September 20, 1969 - Page 72 Stan's Jukebox Picks Of The Week, R&B It was added to the playlist of WQXI in Atlanta on the week ending October 4, 1969.Cash Box, October 4, 1969 - Page 24 New Additions To Radio Playlists, WQXI — Atlanta On the week ending October 11, it was added to the playlist of WCAO in Baltimore.Cash Box, October 11, 1969 - Page 24 New Additions To Radio Playlists, WCAO — Baltimore Also that week, 8% of key radio stations in the US had added the song to their playlists.Cash Box, October 11, 1969 - Page 12 Cash Box Radio Active Canada It was getting attention from CKFH in Toronto as per the RPM Action Centres list for the week of 8 November 1969.RPM Weekly, Volume 12 No. 1 November 1st. 1969 - Page 4 RPM Action Centres, CKFH TORONTO For the week of 8 November, it was getting attention from CKOC in Hamilton as per the RPM Action Centres list in Canada for the week of 1 November 1969.RPM Weekly, Volume 12 No. 1 November 1st. 1969 - Page 6 RPM Action Centres, CKOC HAMILTON
Also in Toronto, CHUM-AM moved it from 30–9 in the week of 15 November.
For the week of 22 November, the RPM Action Centres list showed that the song was getting attention from Radio Mutuel.RPM Weekly, Volume 12 No. 1 - Page 6 RPM Action Centres, RADIOMUTUEL
Charts Cash Box Top 50 In R & B Locations On the week ending September 27, 1969, "Backfield in Motion" made its debut at no. 43 in the Cash Box Top 50 In R & B Locations chart.Cash Box, September 20, 1969 - Page 51 Cash Box Top 50 In R & B LocationsCash Box, September 27, 1969 - Page 45 Cash Box Top 50 In R & B Locations, 43, _ It peaked at no. 1 on the week ending November 8.Cash Box, November 8, 1969 - Page 34 Cash Box Top 50 In R & B Locations, 1, 6 It would hold that position for an additional two weeksCash Box, November 8, 1969 - Cash Box Top 50 In R & B Locations, 1, 6Cash Box, November 15, 1969 - Cash Box Top 50 In R & B Locations, 1, 1Cash Box, November 22, 1969 - Page 40 Cash Box Top 50 In R & B Locations, 1, 1 with "Someday We'll Be Together" by Diana Ross & the Supremes taking the no. 1 spot on the week ending November 29.Cash Box, November 29, 1969 - Page 44 Cash Box Top 50 In R & B Locations, 5, 1 Top 100 On the week ending October 25, it debuted in the Cash Box Top 100 chart.Cash Box, October 25, 1969 - Page 4 59, 10/18 _, 10/11 _ It would reach the peak position of no. 12 on the week ending December 6.Tropical Glen - CASH BOX Top 100 Singles Week ending DECEMBER 6, 1969, 12, LW 13, 2WK 17, 3WK 22, WKS 7 It would drop down to no. 13 the following week but regain the no. 12 position one more time on the week ending December 20.Tropical Glen - CASH BOX Top 100 Singles, Week ending December 13, 1969, 13, LW 12, 2WK 13, 3WK 17, WKS 8Tropical Glen - 24, LW 12, 2W 13, 3WK 12, WKS 10
Billboard Hot 100 It was noted by Billboard for the week ending October 18, 1969 that "Backfield in Motion" was a national breakout.Billboard, October 18, 1969 - Page 72 Action Records, Singles-, * NATIONAL BREAKOUTS It debuted at no. 48 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on that week.Billboard, October 18, 1969 - Page 88 Billboard Hot 100 for Week Ending October 18, 1969, THIS WEEK 48, 1 Wk. Ago, 2 Wks. Ago _, 3 Wks. Ago _, Weeks On Chart _ At week 9, on the week ending December 13, it peaked at no. 10.Billboard, December 13, 1969 - Page 80 Billboard Hot 100 For Week Ending December 13, 1969, THIS WEEK 10, 1 Wk. Ago 11, 2 Wks. Ago 11, Weeks On Chart 9MusicVF.com - Backfield in Motion, By: Mel & Tim Best Selling Soul Singles At week seven, it peaked at no. 3 on the Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles chart on the week ending November 29.Billboard, November 29, 1969 - Page 74 SOUL, Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles, This Week 3, Last Week 4, Weeks on Chart 7MusicVF.com - Backfield in Motion By: Mel & Tim, Chart US R&B, Peak Pos. 3
Canada The single debuted at no. 77 in the RPM 100 chart for the week of 1 November 1969.RPM Weekly, Volume 12 No. 1 November 1st. 1969 - Page 5 RPM100, 77 ... ... It its sixth charting week, it peaked at no. 14 on the RPM 100 chart for the week of 6 DecemberRecords and Charts - RPM Canada chart run Mel & Tim Backfield In MotionRPM Weekly, Volume 12 No. 1 December 6th. 1969 - Page 7 RPM100, 4 15 25 BACKFIELD IN MOTION during its eight-week run.Records and Charts - RPM Canada chart run Mel & Tim Backfield In Motion
It also debuted on the Canada 's Top Singles chart at no. 18 as shown by Billboard in the December 6 issue.Billboard, December 6, 1969 - Page 57 Billboard Canada 's Top Singles, This Week 18, Last Week _, Weeks on Chart 1
United Kingdom "Backfield in Motion" debuted in the UK chart on January 26, 1974.MusicVF.com - Backfield in Motion, By: Mel & Tim It was noted as a "Breaker" by Record Mirror in the magazine's February 9 and 16 issues.Record Mirror, February 9, 1974 - Page 2 -BreakerS-Record Mirror, February 16, 1974 - Page 2 -BreakerS- It peaked at no. 52.MusicVF.com - Backfield in Motion, By: Mel & Tim
Other versions The Mills Brothers recorded a version which appeared on their 1969 The Mills Brothers in Motion album.
Anthony Swete recorded a version of "Backfield in Motion". Backed with the Wayne Carson composition, "Soul Deep", it was released on RCA Victor 1905 in the UK.Hit History - Blue Eyed Soul (1000)Amazon - Backfield In Motion / Soul Deep It was released in New Zealand on Allied International PPX 302 with Swete's version backed with "Yester Me, Yester You, Yesterday" by Pip Bravo,Audio Culture - Allied International, Singles & EP's and in Australia on RCA 101882 on a two-artist single release with Mark Juhns covering "Make Believe".Australian Record Labels - Page 35 RCA / BMG 45s, 12” singles and EPs 1956–1992 It was actually released there before Mel & Tim's version was picked up. James Hamilton of Record Mirror reviewed Swete's version. After informing the readers that the Mel & Tim hit hadn't been picked up for release in the UK yet, and pointing out that Swete's release wasn't the same song as the Poindexter Brothers one, he called it a "Nicely dated beater with Sam & Dave-ish vocal touches", he also said it was quite good and gave it a two star rating.Record Mirror, February 7, 1970 - Page 12 America Awakes by James Hamilton, Taste of things to come
JB's Allstars recorded a version which made the UK charts in 1984. It spent four weeks in the charts and peaked at no. 48. Chartsurfer.de - Backfield In Motion Song by JB's All Stars, UK
References
External links Mel & Tim Topic channel, Nov 20, 2017 – Backfield in Motion (audio) Arbiters Records channel, Jan 18, 2020 – The Mills Brothers- Backfield In Motion (audio) Tony Rounce channel, Feb 13, 2025 - Anthony Swete - Backfield In Motion