"Pillow Talk"
Side-A label of the 7-inch single
Single by Sylvia
from the album Pillow Talk
B-side"My Thing"
ReleasedMarch 1973
Genre
Length4:20
LabelVibration
Songwriter(s)
  • Sylvia Robinson
  • Michael Burton
Producer(s)
  • Sylvia Robinson
  • Michael Burton
Sylvia singles chronology
"A Million Tears"
(1954)		 "Pillow Talk"
(1973)		 "Have You Had Any Lately"
(1973)

"Pillow Talk" is a 1973 song by American singer and songwriter Sylvia, written by Sylvia along with Michael Burton.[2]

History

According to Billboard, the song is about sex.[3] Sylvia had originally hoped the song would be recorded by Al Green, who turned it down as he thought it was too risqué and against his religious beliefs. Thereafter, Sylvia decided to return as a musical artist and record "Pillow Talk" herself, finally releasing the song in 1973. "Pillow Talk" is an early example of prototypical disco music. The vocals are replete with moaning and heavy breathing, predating Donna Summer's orgasmic moans on 1975's "Love to Love You Baby". At the Coda section, Sylvia growls out the phrase: "Aw, Would Ya". Several AM radio stations shortened the song, due to its sexual content, omitting the coda portions where Sylvia intones in a whisper" "Oh, My God", and repeatedly, "Nice steady!".

Chart history

"Pillow Talk" spent two weeks at number one on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart and peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100.[4]

Accolades

The song was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 1974 Grammy Awards, losing to "Master of Your Eyes (The Deepness of Your Eyes)" by Aretha Franklin.

Track listing

  • 7" single
A. "Pillow Talk" – 3:41
B. "My Thing" – 2:45

Charts

Cover versions

  • In 1979, disco singer Fern Kinney covered the song on her debut album Groove Me.
  • In 1983, an Italo disco version of the song was released by Lustt, which was later sampled by vaporwave artist Saint Pepsi in the song "Private Caller", in 2013.
  • In 1983, singer Tanya Jackson covered the song. This version became very popular at discos around Asia and Europe.
  • In 1993, singer Janet Jackson covered the song for her janet. album but it was not used. Jackson later stated in 2018, "Not sure what I was thinking when I excluded it. Now that I'm hearing it for the first time in years, maybe I made a mistake. Maybe it should have gone on the record. Maybe I just wasn't willing to do a cover because of my eagerness to hone my craft as a writer.".
  • In 1999, R&B singer Cherelle did a cover on her LP, "The Right Time".
  • In 2006, R&B singer Miki Howard recorded a cover version for her album, Pillow Talk.
  • In 2012, Joss Stone covered it for The Soul Sessions Vol. 2.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Stanley, Bob (13 September 2013). "Adventures on the Wheels of Steel: Early Rap". Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Faber & Faber. p. 524. ISBN 978-0-571-28198-5.
  2. ↑ "Original versions of Pillow Talk written by Michael Burton, Sylvia Robinson | SecondHandSongs". SecondHandSongs.
  3. ↑ M. Tye Comer; Mariel Concepcion; Monica Herrera; Jessica Letkemann; Evie Nagy; David J. Prince (February 11, 2010). "The 50 Sexiest Songs Of All Time". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  4. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 564.
  5. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 303. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  6. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4840." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  7. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Pillow Talk". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  8. ↑ Flavour of New Zealand, 23 July 1973
  9. ↑ "Sylvia: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Sylvia rb Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Sylvia (R&B) Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending June 23, 1973". Cash Box. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Top 100 Singles of '73". RPM. Vol. 20, no. 20. December 29, 1973. ISSN 0315-5994. Retrieved December 16, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  14. ↑ "Top Pop Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 85, no. 52. December 29, 1973. p. TA-28. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved December 16, 2019 – via American Radio History.
  15. ↑ "The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1973 – Top 100 Pop Singles". Cash Box. December 29, 1973. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
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