I'm In the Mood for Dancing
Encyclopedia
"I'm In the Mood for Dancing" is a single by pop group, The Nolan Sisters. Originally released in November 1979, the song became a top three hit in the UK in February 1980. The song, a cross between pure pop
and disco, has since become synonymous with the group and remains their biggest hit. It was also a big hit in many countries around the world such as Australia and Japan, where it was a No.1 hit.
in 1979. It was written by Ben Findon, Mike Myers and Bob Puzey, and featured lead vocals by member Bernie Nolan. It became the second single from the album, following the group's first UK top 40 hit, "Spirit, Body and Soul" some weeks earlier. After a slow start in the charts, the single became their first top 10 hit in January 1980, eventually peaking at No.3 during a 15 week run. The single was certified Gold by the BPI and was the 27th biggest-selling single of 1980 in the UK. The group recorded a promotional video for the song, which featured youngest sister Coleen
, who was not an official member of the group at the time and had not featured on the recording. Soon after the release of this song, the group changed their name to The Nolans and Coleen became a full-time member, replacing eldest sister, Anne. "I'm In the Mood for Dancing" charted well elsewhere, particularly so in Japan, where it reached No.1 - a rarity for English-language songs, and began a run of success for them there. Released as ダンシング・シスター (literal translation: "Sister Dancing"), it remained at No.1 for two weeks and sold 670,000 copies. It was included on the album Happy Dating Love
, which also reached No.1. In over 40 years of the Japanese charts
, they remain the only Irish group to ever reach No.1. Eventually, they recorded a version of the song in Japanese.
The group have re-recorded "I'm In the Mood for Dancing" a number of times, with two further single releases of the song in the UK. Firstly in 1989 and again in 1995 - both times reaching the lower regions of the charts. In 2009, The Nolans made a one-off comeback and embarked on a UK and Ireland tour in honour of the 30th anniversary of "I'm In the Mood for Dancing", with the tour and accompanying album titled I'm In the Mood Again.
1989 single
1995 single
|-
! Country
! Peak position
(1980)
|-
| UK
| 3
|-
| Ireland
| 2
|-
| Japan
| 1
|-
| Australia
| 43
|}
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and disco, has since become synonymous with the group and remains their biggest hit. It was also a big hit in many countries around the world such as Australia and Japan, where it was a No.1 hit.
Background
The song was originally recorded as part of the Nolan Sisters' first mainstream pop album, simply titled The Nolan SistersThe Nolan Sisters (album)
Nolan Sisters is the self-titled 1979 album by the Irish sibling pop group The Nolan Sisters. It was their first album to be released on Epic Records, and contained a mixture of original material and covers of popular songs...
in 1979. It was written by Ben Findon, Mike Myers and Bob Puzey, and featured lead vocals by member Bernie Nolan. It became the second single from the album, following the group's first UK top 40 hit, "Spirit, Body and Soul" some weeks earlier. After a slow start in the charts, the single became their first top 10 hit in January 1980, eventually peaking at No.3 during a 15 week run. The single was certified Gold by the BPI and was the 27th biggest-selling single of 1980 in the UK. The group recorded a promotional video for the song, which featured youngest sister Coleen
Coleen Nolan
Coleen Patricia Nolan is an English born television presenter, author and singer of Irish descent. She was the youngest member of the girl group, The Nolans, in which she sang alongside her sisters...
, who was not an official member of the group at the time and had not featured on the recording. Soon after the release of this song, the group changed their name to The Nolans and Coleen became a full-time member, replacing eldest sister, Anne. "I'm In the Mood for Dancing" charted well elsewhere, particularly so in Japan, where it reached No.1 - a rarity for English-language songs, and began a run of success for them there. Released as ダンシング・シスター (literal translation: "Sister Dancing"), it remained at No.1 for two weeks and sold 670,000 copies. It was included on the album Happy Dating Love
Making Waves (The Nolans album)
Making Waves is a 1980 album released by the pop group The Nolans. In the UK, the album went gold and featured four top 20 singles. Worldwide it became their biggest-selling album, being certified double platinum in Australia and reaching No.1 in Japan....
, which also reached No.1. In over 40 years of the Japanese charts
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
, they remain the only Irish group to ever reach No.1. Eventually, they recorded a version of the song in Japanese.
The group have re-recorded "I'm In the Mood for Dancing" a number of times, with two further single releases of the song in the UK. Firstly in 1989 and again in 1995 - both times reaching the lower regions of the charts. In 2009, The Nolans made a one-off comeback and embarked on a UK and Ireland tour in honour of the 30th anniversary of "I'm In the Mood for Dancing", with the tour and accompanying album titled I'm In the Mood Again.
Track listing
1979 single- "I'm In the Mood for Dancing" (3:16)
- "Let's Make Love" (2:56)
- Epic RecordsEpic RecordsEpic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
, produced by Ben Findon
- Epic Records
1989 single
- "I'm In the Mood for Dancing '89"
- "No Question"
- BCM Records, produced by Barry UptonBarry UptonBarry Upton is an English songwriter, arranger, musician and producer of various forms of pop music. He is also a audio engineer and stage performer having appeared around the world in various capacities.-Career:...
- BCM Records, produced by Barry Upton
1995 single
- "I'm In the Mood for Dancing (From Hell Radio Edit)" (3:10)
- "I'm In the Mood for Dancing (From Hell Club Mix)" (5:05)
- "I'm In the Mood for Dancing (Original Version)" (3:00)
- "Somebody Loves You (We Love Dogging Remix)" (3:55)
- Living Beat Records, produced by Clive ScottClive ScottClive Scott was a former keyboard player of the British 1970s pop / rock group, Jigsaw, as well as the composer of most of the group's recordings, together with the singer, Des Dyer...
and Ray HedgesRay HedgesRay Hedges from Surrey, England is a songwriter and record producer.Ray Hedges has had over 60 top 20 singles and albums including 6 UK No 1’sas producer and or writer with many on his own record labels....
- Living Beat Records, produced by Clive Scott
Chart positions
{| class="wikitable"|-
! Country
! Peak position
(1980)
|-
| UK
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
| 3
|-
| Ireland
Irish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
| 2
|-
| Japan
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
| 1
|-
| Australia
| 43
|}