Turn The Beat Around – Vicki Sue Robinson | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

Chart Performance: R&B (#73) , Pop (#10), and Dance (#1); 1976

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

Vicki Sue Robinson’s professional singing debut took place at a benefit for folksinger Pete Seeger when she was only six. While still in her teens, her powerful pipes landed Vicki on Broadway in the original production of Hair.

After six weeks, she moved on to other shows, including a role in Jesus Christ Superstar. In 1972 Vicki debuted on U.S. vinyl as a backup singer on the Todd Rundgren classic, Something/ Anything. Her solo coming-out was in 1975 with Baby Now That I’ve Found You, followed by Never Gonna Let You Go.

Although neither of them drew much notice, club deejays quickly slapped the 12″ promo single of Turn The Beat Around onto their turntables. It was a Vicki Sue tour de force: all the background parts were hers and she nailed the lead vocal in one take.

Within three weeks Beat sat atop the Dance chart, and in August it peaked at #10 on the Hot 100. For her effort, Vicki Sue received a Grammy nomination in the Best Pop Female Vocalist category.

This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.

Produced by:

• Warren Schatz

Lyrics Written by:

• Gerald Jackson
• Peter Jackson

Award:

• 19th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance