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Get Down on It
1981 single by Kool & the Gang

"Get Down on It" is a 1981 song by American band Kool & the Gang. It was originally released on their Something Special album in 1981. The single was certified Gold by the RIAA.

Record World called it a "kinetic dancer" and said that the "chant-like chorus hook is contagious."

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Track listing

French 12-inch Vogue Records – 310933, De-Lite Records – 3109332
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Get Down on It"James Taylor, Ronald Bell & Kool & the Gang6:07
2."No Show"George Brown, James Taylor, Ronald Bell & Kool and the Gang4:19
Get Down on It/Steppin' Out, De-Lite Records – DE 8183
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Get Down on It"James Taylor, Ronald Bell & Kool & the Gang3:33
2."Steppin' Out"Ronald Bell, James Taylor & Kool & the Gang3:28
Get Down on It/Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It), De-Lite Records – DG2607:4
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Get Down on It"James Taylor, Ronald Bell & Kool & the Gang3:33
2."Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It)"Claydes Charles Smith, James Taylor & George Brown3:59

Charts

The song hit the top 10 of the US Pop and R&B charts in Billboard in early 1982. It entered the UK charts in December 1981 and reached number three, their highest-charting hit in the UK at that time. It spent a total of 12 weeks on the British play list. Ten years later, it was re-released in the UK charts – on the Mercury label – but only charted for a week (at number 69).

Weekly charts

Chart (1982)Peakposition
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)515
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)65
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)78
Netherlands (Single Top 100)810
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)93
South Africa (Springbok Radio)101
UK Singles (OCC)113
US Billboard Hot 1001210
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)1316
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)144
West Germany (GfK)1543

Year-end charts

Chart (1982)Position
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)1698
Netherlands (Single Top 100)1787
US Billboard Hot 1001882

Charts for Eiffel 65 remix

Chart (2000)Peakposition
France (SNEP)1935
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)2098

Certifications

RegionCertificationCertified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)21Gold45,000‡
Italy (FIMI)22Gold50,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)23Platinum600,000‡
United States (RIAA)24Platinum1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Peter Andre version

"Get Down on It" was re-recorded and released as the third overall single from English-Australian singer Peter Andre's second studio album, Natural. The single features the band Past to Present and reached No. 5 in Australia and No. 1 in New Zealand, achieving Platinum status there in April 1996.

Track listings

Australian CD125

  1. "Get Down on It"
  2. "Tell Me When"
  3. "Get Down on It" (The One World Mix)

Australian CD2 and cassette single2627

  1. "Get Down on It" (single version)
  2. "Get Down on It" (The One World Mix)
  3. "Get Down on It" (instrumental)
  4. "Get Down on It" (extended version)
  5. "Get Down on It" (The Toyboy Mix)
  6. "Get Down on It" (no rap)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1996)Peakposition
Australia (ARIA)285
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)291

Year-end charts

Chart (1996)Position
Australia (ARIA)3043
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)3119

Certifications

RegionCertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)32Gold35,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)33Platinum10,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Blue version

In 2004, British pop group Blue recorded the song for their greatest hits compilation album Best of Blue, which features Kool & the Gang and American rapper Lil' Kim. The song was released as the second single from the compilation in Japan and across Europe except in the UK. Blue's version became a hit in mainland Europe, including Spain, where it reached number three and spent eight weeks in the top 20.

Critical reception

Sarah Harris of the Evening Chronicle praised the single, scribing "There isn't much to say about this single, apart from yet again we are treated to another great single from hit band Blue. This time they have teamed up with Kool & the Gang and Lil' Kim, to produce a great cover of 'Get Down on It', originally released by Kool & the Gang." She continued saying "The whole band seems to be involved, and it's a great song to dance to."34 Music Week also noted "Blue have added rap sections, most notably a sassy contribution from Lil' Kim, to the hand-clapping funk of James Taylor and the Gangs' original version."35

Track listings

European CD136

  1. "Get Down on It" (radio edit) – 3:36
  2. "Get Down on It" (Obi & Josh mix) – 4:01

European CD237

  1. "Get Down on It" (radio edit) – 3:36
  2. "Get Down on It" (Obi & Josh mix) – 4:01
  3. "Elements" – 3:40
  4. "Welcome to the Show" – 3:30
  5. "Ballad Medley" – 5:24
  6. Special content

Charts

Chart (2005)Peakposition
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)3841
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)3924
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)401
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)4116
Germany (GfK)4229
Greece (IFPI)4327
Ireland (IRMA)4447
Hungary (Single Top 40)456
Netherlands (Single Top 100)4696
Spain (PROMUSICAE)473
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)4835

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
JapanFebruary 2, 2005CDEMI49
EuropeFebruary 21, 200550

See also

References

  1. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. March 6, 1982. p. 1. Retrieved March 2, 2023. https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/80s/82/Record-World-1982-03-06.pdf ↩

  2. "Get Down on It/No Show". Discogs. Retrieved November 6, 2016. https://www.discogs.com/fr/Kool-The-Gang-Get-Down-On-It-No-Show/release/156315 ↩

  3. "Get Down on It/Steppin' Out". Discogs. Retrieved November 6, 2016. https://www.discogs.com/fr/Kool-The-Gang-Get-Down-On-It-Steppin-Out/release/576872 ↩

  4. "Get Down on It/Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It)". Discogs. Retrieved November 6, 2016. https://www.discogs.com/fr/Kool-The-Gang-Celebration-Take-My-Heart/release/486829 ↩

  5. "Kool & The Gang – Get Down On It" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 22, 2013. https://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Kool+%26+The+Gang&titel=Get+Down+On+It&cat=s ↩

  6. "Kool & The Gang – Get Down On It" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved June 22, 2013. https://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?interpret=Kool+%26+The+Gang&titel=Get+Down+On+It&cat=s ↩

  7. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 16, 1982" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 24, 2021. https://www.top40.nl/top40/1982/week-16 ↩

  8. "Kool & The Gang – Get Down On It" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 22, 2013. https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Kool+%26+The+Gang&titel=Get+Down+On+It&cat=s ↩

  9. "Kool & The Gang – Get Down On It". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 22, 2013. https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Kool+%26+The+Gang&titel=Get+Down+On+It&cat=s ↩

  10. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved September 5, 2018. http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(K).html ↩

  11. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 22, 2013. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/191981/7501/ ↩

  12. "Kool & The Gang Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2013. https://www.billboard.com/artist/Kool-%26-The-Gang/chart-history/HSI ↩

  13. "Kool & The Gang Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2021. https://www.billboard.com/artist/Kool-%26-The-Gang/chart-history/DSI ↩

  14. "Kool & The Gang Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2021. https://www.billboard.com/artist/Kool-%26-The-Gang/chart-history/BSI ↩

  15. "Offiziellecharts.de – Kool & The Gang – Get Down On It" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 3, 2020. https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-15594 ↩

  16. "Jaaroverzichten 1982". Ultratop. Retrieved October 24, 2021. https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1982 ↩

  17. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1982". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved October 24, 2021. https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1982&cat=s ↩

  18. "Talent in Action : Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 94, no. 51. December 25, 1982. p. TIA-20. ↩

  19. "Kool & The Gang – Get Down On It (Eiffel 65 remix)" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved June 22, 2013. https://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Kool+%26+The+Gang&titel=Get+Down+On+It+(Eiffel+65+remix)&cat=s ↩

  20. "Kool & The Gang – Get Down On It (Eiffel 65 remix)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 22, 2013. http://swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Kool+%26+The+Gang&titel=Get+Down+On+It+(Eiffel+65+remix)&cat=s ↩

  21. "Danish single certifications – Kool & the Gang – Get Down on It". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved December 31, 2023. http://ifpi.dk/node/13314 ↩

  22. "Italian single certifications – Kool & the Gang – Get Down on It" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved August 12, 2024. Select "2024" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Get Down on It" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione". https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/certificazioni/certificazioni.kl#/certifications ↩

  23. "British single certifications – Kool & the Gang – Get Down On It". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 17, 2025. https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/2486-2191-1 ↩

  24. "American single certifications – Kool & the Gang – Get Down on It". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 9, 2024. https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Kool+%26+the+Gang&ti=Get+Down+on+It&format=Single&type=#search_section ↩

  25. Get Down on It (Australian CD1 liner notes). Peter Andre. Melodian. 1996. D1312.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) /wiki/Peter_Andre ↩

  26. Get Down on It (Australian CD2 liner notes). Peter Andre. Melodian. 1996. D1312.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) /wiki/Template:Cite_AV_media_notes ↩

  27. Get Down on It (Australian cassette single sleeve). Peter Andre. Melodian. 1996. C1312.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) /wiki/Template:Cite_AV_media_notes ↩

  28. "Peter Andre feat. Past to Present – Get Down on It". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 22, 2013. https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Peter+Andre+feat.+Past+to+Present&titel=Get+Down+on+It&cat=s ↩

  29. "Peter Andre feat. Past to Present – Get Down on It". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 18, 2019. https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Peter+Andre+feat.+Past+to+Present&titel=Get+Down+on+It&cat=s ↩

  30. "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1996". ARIA. Retrieved November 18, 2019. https://www.aria.com.au/charts/1996/singles-chart ↩

  31. "End of Year Charts 1996". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 18, 2019. https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/1996-12-31 ↩

  32. "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1996". ARIA. Retrieved November 18, 2019. https://www.aria.com.au/charts/1996/singles-chart ↩

  33. "New Zealand single certifications – Peter Andre with P.T.P – Get Down on It". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024. https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/1996-04-26 ↩

  34. "CD reviews". Evening Chronicle. January 5, 2005. p. 2. ProQuest 349795608. /wiki/ProQuest ↩

  35. "REVIEWS - Records released 27.12.04 and 03.01.05: SINGLES". Music Week. December 25, 2004. p. 27. ProQuest 232204853. /wiki/ProQuest ↩

  36. Get Down on It (European CD1 liner notes). Blue. Innocent Records, Virgin Records. 2004. 0724387037922.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) /wiki/Blue_(boy_band) ↩

  37. Get Down on It (European CD2 liner notes). Blue. Innocent Records, Virgin Records. 2004. SINDX70, 0724387061521.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) /wiki/Template:Cite_AV_media_notes ↩

  38. "Blue feat. Kool & The Gang and Lil' Kim – Get Down On It" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 22, 2013. https://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Blue+feat.+Kool+%26+The+Gang+and+Lil'+Kim&titel=Get+Down+On+It&cat=s ↩

  39. "Blue feat. Kool & The Gang and Lil' Kim – Get Down On It" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 22, 2013. https://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Blue+feat.+Kool+%26+The+Gang+and+Lil'+Kim&titel=Get+Down+On+It&cat=s ↩

  40. "Blue feat. Kool & The Gang and Lil' Kim – Get Down On It" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved June 22, 2013. https://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?interpret=Blue+feat.+Kool+%26+The+Gang+and+Lil'+Kim&titel=Get+Down+On+It&cat=s ↩

  41. "Blue feat. Kool & The Gang and Lil' Kim: Get Down On It" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved June 22, 2013. https://www.ifpi.fi/lista/artistit/Blue+feat.+Kool+%26+The+Gang+and+Lil%27+Kim/Get+Down+On+It/ ↩

  42. "Blue feat. Kool & The Gang and Lil' Kim – Get Down On It" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved January 19, 2019. https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-6487 ↩

  43. "Top 50 Singles Εβδομάδα 13–19/2" (in Greek). IFPI. Archived from the original on February 22, 2005. Retrieved July 3, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20050222030559/http://www.ifpi.gr/chart03.htm ↩

  44. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Blue". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 18, 2020. http://irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Blue ↩

  45. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. https://slagerlistak.hu/single-track-top-40-lista/2005/6 ↩

  46. "Blue feat. Kool & The Gang and Lil' Kim – Get Down On It" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved January 19, 2019. https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Blue+feat.+Kool+%26+The+Gang+and+Lil'+Kim&titel=Get+Down+On+It&cat=s ↩

  47. "Blue feat. Kool & The Gang and Lil' Kim – Get Down On It" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved June 22, 2013. https://spanishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Blue+feat.+Kool+%26+The+Gang+and+Lil'+Kim&titel=Get+Down+On+It&cat=s ↩

  48. "Blue feat. Kool & The Gang and Lil' Kim – Get Down On It". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 22, 2013. http://swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Blue+feat.+Kool+%26+The+Gang+and+Lil'+Kim&titel=Get+Down+On+It&cat=s ↩

  49. "Get Down on It featuring Kool & the Gang and Lil' Kim" (in Japanese). Toshiba-EMI. Archived from the original on February 13, 2005. Retrieved August 26, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20050213104213/http://www.toshiba-emi.co.jp/international/release/200502/vjcp12185.htm ↩

  50. "Blue feat. Kool & The Gang and Lil' Kim – Get Down On It" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved January 19, 2019. https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-6487 ↩