Wild Cherry – Play That Funky Music

“Play That Funky Music” – Single by Wild Cherry from the album Wild Cherry. B-side “The Lady Wants Your Money”. Released April 1976.

Charted No. 1 in US and No.7 in UK.

The single was the first released by the Cleveland-based Sweet City record label in April 1976 and distributed by Epic Records. The performers on the recording included lead singer Parissi, electric guitarist Bryan Bassett, bassist Allen Wentz, and drummer Ron Beitle, with session players Chuck Berginc, Jack Brndiar (trumpets), and Joe Eckert and Rick Singer (saxes) on the horn riff that runs throughout the song’s verses. The single hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 18, 1976; it was also No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.

Wild Cherry was a hard rock band. They had a regular gig at the 2001 Club, and with disco big at the time, their sound didn’t go over well. After one show, a black audience member shouted, “Play some funky music, white boy.” Parissi decided they should, and wrote down the phrase on a bar order pad. They recorded it in Cleveland with a disco sound: drum and bass mixed way up front. The band was concerned about the lyrics, but Parissi insisted on keeping them.

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Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music

Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music03:07

This was going to be the B-side of Wild Cherry’s cover of the Commodores’ “I Feel Sanctified.” When they heard it, the owners of their record label suggested that the B-side become the A-side. The song sold over two million copies, but was Wild Cherry’s only hit.

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