The Boss (Diana Ross song)
"The Boss" is a 1979 song written and produced by Ashford & Simpson and recorded by singer Diana Ross, who released it as a single on the Motown label. It was the first release from the album of the same title (1979).
"The Boss" | ||||
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Single by Diana Ross | ||||
from the album The Boss | ||||
B-side | "I'm in the World" | |||
Released | May 22, 1979 | |||
Recorded | 1979 | |||
Genre | Disco | |||
Length | 3:52 | |||
Label | Motown | |||
Songwriter(s) | Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson | |||
Producer(s) | Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson | |||
Diana Ross singles chronology | ||||
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Commercial performance
The single peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart,[1] reached #12 on the Hot Soul Singles chart, and went to number 1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.
The song debuted at number 64 in the UK Singles Chart on July 21, 1979, reaching its highest peak on August 4, 1979.[2][3] The song spent 7 weeks in the top 75 before leaving the chart on September 1, 1979.[4]
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Formats
The track was remixed by David Morales in 1993 and included on Ross' album Diana Extended: The Remixes. The track was also remixed by Almighty Records in 2009 and was included on their album "Almighty – We Love Diana Ross". In 2019, a remix by Eric Kupper, entitled "The Boss 2019" went to number one on the Billboard, US Dance Club Songs chart.[10]
Personnel
- Lead vocals by Diana Ross
- Background vocals by Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson, Maxine and Julia Waters
- Produced and written by Ashford & Simpson
The Braxtons version
"The Boss" | ||||
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Single by The Braxtons | ||||
from the album So Many Ways | ||||
Released | March 17, 1997 | |||
Recorded | 1996 | |||
Length | 9:41 (album version) 4:27 (video version) 4:13 (radio edit) | |||
Label | Atlantic | |||
Songwriter(s) | Ashford & Simpson | |||
Producer(s) |
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The Braxtons singles chronology | ||||
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"The Boss" is a song performed by American recording R&B group The Braxtons. The song was written by Ashford & Simpson and produced by Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez, "Little" Louie Vega. It was released as the third single from their first studio album So Many Ways on March 17, 1997.
Music video
A music video was released featuring The Braxtons Trina, Towanda and Tamar with a length of the video at 4 minutes and 27 seconds. The video starts with Towanda kissing goodbye her lover as he rushes off to work. Then the video brings you to a living room where Towanda, Trina, and Tamar are singing and dancing. The video also shows them talking on the phone to each other and also singing by a tree. The plot of the video revolves around Towanda acquiring photos of her husband with another woman, and after he leaves for work, the sisters have a garage sale clearing out the entire house. The video ends with Towanda's husband coming home to an empty house with the pictures left in an envelope on the floor.[11]
Commercial performance
On February 1, 1997 the Masters At Work version topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart for one week a #1 in the United States.[12] The song stayed in the chart for 14 weeks.[13]
On March 29, 1997 the song debuted at number 31 on the UK Singles Chart.[14] The song spent a total of three weeks on the chart at numbers 50 and 69 respectively before leaving the Top 75 on April 12, 1997 becoming their second top 40 in the UK.[15][16]
Track listing and formats
- The Boss – US vinyl[17]
- "The Boss" (Kenlou Mix) – 9:03
- "Only Love" (Radio Mix) – 4:13
- "The Boss" (Masters At Work Dub) – 7:15
- "The Boss" (MAW Album Mix) – 9:41
- "The Boss" (MAW Groove) – 7:33
- "The Boss" (Kenlou Mix)- 9:03
- "The Boss" (Kenlou Radio Mix) – 4:13
- "The Boss" (Masters At Work Dub) – 7:15
- "The Boss" (Reprise) – 6:12
- "The Boss" (MAW Album Mix) – 9:41
- "The Boss" (Hip Hop Vocal) – 1:33
- "The Boss" (MAW Groove) – 7:33
- The Boss – US Promotional Maxi-Single[20]
- "The Boss" (Radio Edit Of Album) – 3:32
- "The Boss" (Spyda Mix With Rap Radio Edit) – 4:21
- "The Boss" (Spyda Mix Without Rap Radio Edit) – 4:23
- "The Boss" (H.O.P. Quiet Storm Mix Radio Edit) – 4:20
- The Boss – UK vinyl[21]
- "The Boss" (Masters At Work Album Mix) – 9:40
- "The Boss" (Reprise) – 6:12
- "The Boss" (Kenlou Mix) – 9:03
- "The Boss" (Masters At Work Dub) – 7:15
- "The Boss" (Kenlou Radio Mix) – 4:13
- "The Boss" (Kenlou Mix)- 9:03
- "The Boss" (Masters At Work Album Mix) – 9:40
- "The Boss" (Masters At Work Dub) – 7:15
- "The Boss" (Reprise) – 6:12
- The Boss – Germany CD[24]
- "The Boss" (Kenlou Radio Mix) – 4:13
- "The Boss" (Kenlou Mix)- 9:03
- "The Boss" (Masters At Work Album Mix) – 9:40
Chart performance
Chart (1997) | Peak position |
---|---|
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[25] | 20 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[26] | 26 |
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[27] | 49 |
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[14] | 31 |
UK Dance (Official Charts Company)[28] | 6 |
US Billboard Dance Club[13] | 1 |
Other cover versions
On February 12, 2008, American dance-pop singer Kristine W released a cover of this song as the first single off her album The Power of Music. Kristine's version also hit number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart[29] in March 2008, becoming her eleventh US dance chart-topper and the third version of the song to top this survey.
The song was covered by Ashford and Simpson during a televised live concert special in 1982, and by Whitney Houston during her live shows in 1997/98.
Korean pop singer J covered the song on her 2001 special English album Chocolate.
References
- Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 6th Edition (Billboard Publications)
- "UK Singles Chart Archive 21.07.1979". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- "UK Singles Chart Archive 04.08.1979". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- "UK Singles Chart Archive 01.09.1979". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.6839a&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.6839a.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.6839a
- "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. October 20, 1979. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
- http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.6826&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.6826.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.6826 boss
- Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- "1979 Talent in Action – Year End Charts : Pop Singles". Billboard. 91 (51): TIA-10. December 22, 1979.
- "Dance Club Songs – April 13, 2019". Billboard. April 8, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
- "The Braxtons – The Boss". YouTube. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- "The Braxtons – Chart History Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- "Hot Dance Club Songs, Billboard.com, issue date February 1, 1997". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- "UK Singles Chart Archive 29.03.1997". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- "UK Singles Chart Archive 05.04.1997". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- "UK Singles Chart Archive 12.04.1997". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- "The Braxtons – The Boss (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- "The Braxtons – The Boss at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- "The Braxtons – The Boss (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- "The Braxtons – The Boss Maxi Single Promo". Discogs. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- "The Braxtons – The Boss UK (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- "The Braxtons – The Boss Australia Maxi Single at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- "The Braxtons – The Boss (CD) Europe at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- "The Braxtons – The Boss Germany CD at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- "Íslenski Listinn NR. 222 Vikuna 22.5. '97 – 28.5. '97" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir. May 23, 1997. p. 16. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
- "Dutch Top 40". August 7, 1997. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
- "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". officialcharts.com.
- Current Billboard Hot Dance Club Play