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"Harlem Shuffle" is an R&B song written and originally recorded by the duo Bob & Earl in 1963. It has been covered by Booker T and the MG's, John Fred and his Playboy Band in 1966 on their album, Vigon (1967), Johnny and Edgar Winter on the album Together (1976), and the The Rolling Stones in 1986 on the album Dirty Work. Pete Townshend also performed the song with his short-lived band Deep End. House of Pain later sampled the song's opening horn line in their breakthrough single "Jump Around".
Bob & Earl
The original single, co-arranged by Barry White and Gene Page, peaked at #44 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #36 on the Cash Box chart. However, the record was much more successful upon its UK release in 1969, making the Top 10 there[2]. It was released on Marc Records, a subsidiary of Titan Records.
In 2003, the Bob & Earl original version of the song was ranked #23 by the music critics of The Daily Telegraph on their list of the "50 Best Duets Ever"[3].
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones' cover version, with Bobby Womack on backing vocals, appeared on their 1986 album Dirty Work, and went to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and #13 in the UK. Keith Richards had been looking for songs to possibly include on the album and had been working up songs with Ronnie Wood and Womack while waiting for Jagger to return to the studio in Paris after doing promo work on his solo album. To Richards surprise, Jagger liked the feel and cut the vocals quickly. It became the first cover song the Stones had released as an opening single off a new studio album since 1964. It opens with:
| “ |
You move it to the left and you go for yourself
You move it to the right yeah if it takes all night
Now take it kinda slow with a whole lot of soul. |
” |
In 1986, a 12" extended single mix of the song was released. One side contained the "London Mix" and ran 6:19. The other side had a "New York Mix" and ran 6:35. Both mixes were variations of the 7" mix. The "New York Mix" is available on the CD, Rarities 1971–2003, although it has been edited to 5:48. The full-length versions have not been released commercially on CD.
Music video
The Rolling Stones produced an accompanying three minute music video, which combined live-action and animation. The live-action was directed by famous animation director Ralph Bakshi and the animation was directed by future Ren and Stimpy creator John Kricfalusi.[citation needed] Other animators who also worked on the video included Lynne Naylor, Jim Smith, Bob Jaques, Vicki Jensen, Pat Ventura and two other unknown animators.[citation needed] Lela Rochon appeared in the video.[citation needed]
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