"Get Down Tonight" is a song by American disco and funk band KC and the Sunshine Band, released in February 1975 by TK Records as the first single from their second and self-titled album (1975). The song became widely successful, becoming the first of their five No. 1 hits on the US Billboard Hot 100. It also reached the top of the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and was an international chart hit, reaching No. 1 in Canada and charting in Australia (No. 44), Belgium (No. 11), the Netherlands (No. 5), and the UK (No. 21). In 2022, Rolling Stone ranked "Get Down Tonight" number 100 in their list of the "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time".
Composition The song displays some of the signature characteristics of the disco era such as a fast tempo and repeating lyrics. It also features a distinctive introduction, employing a guitar solo rendered at double-speed. The song was originally titled "What You Want Is What You Get" before KC changed the title to "Get Down Tonight".
Personnel Credits adapted from the liner notes of the 1975 album KC and the Sunshine Band, on which "Get Down Tonight" originally appeared. Harry Wayne Casey – keyboards, vocals Richard Finch – bass guitar, drums, percussion Robert "Shotgun" Johnson – drums Jerome Smith – guitar Fermin Goytisolo – percussion Oliver C. Brown – percussion Ken Faulk – trumpet Vinnie Tanno – trumpet Mike Lewis – tenor saxophone Whit Sidener – baritone saxophone Beverly Champion – background vocals Margaret Reynolds – background vocals Jeanette Williams – background vocals
Sampling In 1998, the song was sampled by the house production act Bamboo for the hit single "Bamboogie". It reached No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart in January 1998.
Legacy In October 2000, VH1 ranked "Get Down Tonight" number 12 in their list of "100 Greatest Dance Songs". In July 2022, Rolling Stone ranked it number 100 in their list of the "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time".
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1975)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)44US Billboard Hot 1001US Hot Disco Singles (Billboard)6US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard)1US Cash Box Top 1001US Record World Singles1
Year-end charts Chart (1975)RankBrazil (ABPD)21Canada Top Singles (RPM)29Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)74Netherlands (Single Top 100)62US Billboard Hot 10065US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard)3US Cash Box Top 10033
Certifications
See also List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1975 List of Cash Box Top 100 number-one singles of 1975 List of number-one R&B singles of 1975 (U.S.) List of number-one singles of 1975 (Canada)
Notes
References
External links at TopPop