Peak
2
Weeks
22
Score
4,266
Chart Year
1974
///
This song is about a woman who is blessed with the boogie. Most of the lyric is a description of her moves: automatic, systematic, filled with space-age design. Jackson 5 producer Hal Davis, who worked at Motown Records' headquarters in Los Angeles, said he came up with the idea after a woman on the staff would repeatedly come into his office and dance when he was playing music. "She's a dancing machine," he told Don Fletcher, another songwriter at the label. Hitting on the title, Davis and Fletcher composed the song with guitarist Dean Parks. They recorded it at the Sound Factory in Los Angeles with session musicians William Salter (bass), James Gadson (drums) and Joe Sample (keyboards). The funky track hinted at the disco sound that was on the horizon in 1973. Michael and Jermaine Jackson share lead vocals on this track. It was one of Michael's favorites and a precursor to his dance-flavored solo material in the late '70s and early '80s. The first version of this song was just an album cut, including on the Jackson 5 album Get It Together in September 1973. The group had cooled off by this point: their first four Motown singles went to #1 in 1970, but they didn't crack the Top 10 in 1972 or 1973 (Michael Jackson had a #1 hit as a solo artist in this time with "Ben"). On December 15, 1973, Jermaine married Hazel Gordy, daughter of Motown chief Berry Gordy. This may have encouraged the label to get the group a hit: In 1974, a remixed version of "Dancing Machine" was released as a single and went to #2 on the Hot 100. It also topped the R&B chart, giving the group their sixth and final #1 on that tally. The 1973 version opens with some space sounds and a robotic female voice that is low in the mix. According to Hal Davis, she represents an alien dancing machine emerging from her spaceship. She says, "What can I do for you, master?" This song provided a showcase for Michael Jackson's dancing. When the band performed the song, he would break out some captivating moves, including The Robot, while his brothers looked on. To this point, Jackson's dancing was usually integrated into group choreography, and his solo spots were variations of James Brown moves. With "Dancing Machine," he came into his own with his dancing, which would become as famous as his singing. The earliest TV appearance we know of where he activates the dancing machine is on Soul Train, November 3, 1973.
Dancin, dancin, dancin! She's a dancin' machine Oh babe, move it baby Mmm bop doo wop Automatic, systematic Full of color self contained Tuned and gentle to your vibes Captivating, stimulating She's such a sexy lady Filled with space-age design She's movin', she's groovin' Dancin' until the music stops now, yeah Rhythmatic, acrobatic She's a dynamite attraction At the drop of a coin she comes alive, yeah She knows what she's doin', she's super bad now She's geared to really blow your mind Dancin, dancin', dancin'! She's a dancin' machine Ah, baby Do it baby Dancin, dancin', dancin'! She's a dancin' machine Ah, baby Move it baby She's a dance, dance, dance, dance, dancin' machine Watch her get down,watch her get down As she do,do,do her thing, right on the scene She's a dance, dance, dance, dance, dancin' machine Watch her get down,watch her get down As she do,do,do her thing, right on the scene Come on baby,oh bop shoo bop Come on baby,oh bop shoo bop Oh baby, bop shoo bop Oh baby bop shoo bop Shake it baby Ooh bop shoo bop (Shake it baby) Oh baby, bop shoo bop Oh baby bop shoo bop She's a dance, dance, dance, dance, dancin' machine Watch her get down,watch her get down As she do,do,do her thing, right on the scene She's a dance, dance, dance, dance, dancin' machine Watch her get down,watch her get down As she do,do,do her thing, right on the scene She's a dance, dance, dance, dance, dancin' machine Watch her get down,watch her get down As she do,do,do her thing, right on the scene She's a dance, dance, dance, dance, dancin' machine Watch her get down,watch her get down As she do,do,do her thing, right on the scene
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mar 16, 1974 | 79 | 47 |
| 2 | Mar 23, 1974 | 58 | 68 |
| 3 | Mar 30, 1974 | 40 | 86 |
| 4 | Apr 6, 1974 | 31 | 95 |
| 5 | Apr 13, 1974 | 19 | 107 |
| 6 | Apr 20, 1974 | 13 | 113 |
| 7 | Apr 27, 1974 | 8 | 118 |
| 8 | May 4, 1974 | 5 | 121 |
| 9 | May 11, 1974 | 3 | 123 |
| 10 | May 18, 1974 | 2 | 124 |
| 11 | May 25, 1974 | 2 | 124 |
| 12 | Jun 1, 1974 | 3 | 123 |
| 13 | Jun 8, 1974 | 4 | 122 |
| 14 | Jun 15, 1974 | 6 | 120 |
| 15 | Jun 22, 1974 | 8 | 118 |
| 16 | Jun 29, 1974 | 16 | 110 |
| 17 | Jul 6, 1974 | 19 | 107 |
| 18 | Jul 13, 1974 | 33 | 93 |
| 19 | Jul 20, 1974 | 47 | 79 |
| 20 | Jul 27, 1974 | 49 | 77 |