Jump to content

Yes We Can Can

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Ferdblivid (talk | contribs) at 17:54, 14 July 2020 (Added new cover by Maceo Parker.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

"Yes We Can Can"
Single by the Pointer Sisters
from the album The Pointer Sisters
ReleasedFebruary, 1973
RecordedPacific Recording,
Wally Heider Recording/ Studio A [?]
San Francisco[1]
GenreFunk, soul, disco
Length6:02
3:54 (7" version)
LabelBlue Thumb
Songwriter(s)Allen Toussaint
Producer(s)David Rubinson

"Yes We Can Can" is a 1973 funk song recorded by the American R&B girl group the Pointer Sisters and released on the Blue Thumb record label.

Written by Allen Toussaint, "Yes We Can Can" is a song advocating unity and tolerance. The Pointer Sisters' version features intricate background vocals and Anita Pointer's lead vocal.

The song is also used in the films The Associate, Big Momma's House, Ali, Maid in Manhattan, and Sunday Driver.

Background

"Yes We Can Can" was originally recorded as "Yes We Can" by Lee Dorsey on his album Yes We Can, released by Polydor in 1970, and co-produced with Allen Toussaint.[2] It was producer David Rubinson's suggestion that the Pointer Sisters record the song. As Rubinson said, "I loved almost everything Allen Toussaint ever wrote, and "Yes We Can Can" was one of the songs the Pointer Sisters recorded as a demo while they were seeking a label deal.[1]

"Yes We Can Can" was one of the first tracks the group cut in fall 1972 for their debut album. Its basic track was recorded at Pacific Recording Studio in San Francisco. The sessions were eventually moved to Studio A of Wally Heider Recording Studio in San Francisco, and Rubinson is unclear as to whether or not further recording for "Yes We Can Can" was done there.[1]

Released in February 1973, the song became the Pointers' first hit single, reaching No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 12 on the Hot Soul Songs chart.[3]

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1973) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 11
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs 12
Australian Singles Chart 86
Canadian Singles Chart 58
French Singles Chart 59
Italian Singles Chart 30
Dutch Singles Chart (the Netherlands) 25

Other covers

References

  1. ^ a b c "Classic Tracks: The Pointer Sisters' "Yes We Can Can"". Mixonline.com. 3 January 2006. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  2. ^ Billboard.com - Discography - Lee Dorsey - Yes We Can
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 465.