Whodunit (song)
"Whodunit", written by Keni St. Lewis and Freddie Perren, was a hit song for American R&B/disco group Tavares in 1977. Released from their album Love Storm, it spent one week at number one on the R&B singles chart in May 1977 and peaked at number twenty-two on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart[1] and in the UK peaked at number 5 the week ending 7 May 1977, where it stayed for 2 weeks.[2] "Whodunit" was re-released in February 1986.
"Whodunit" | ||||
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Single by Tavares | ||||
from the album Love Storm | ||||
B-side | "Fool of the Year" | |||
Released | March 1977 | |||
Recorded | 1977 | |||
Genre | Pop, Soul | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Songwriter(s) | Freddie Perren Keni St. Lewis | |||
Producer(s) | Freddie Perren | |||
Tavares singles chronology | ||||
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The lyrical hook to the song was the repeated query "Whodunit? / Who stole my baby?" The singer then appealed to a series of famous fictional detectives to help "solve" the case, including Sherlock Holmes, Charlie Chan, Ellery Queen, McCloud, Kojak, Baretta and Dirty Harry. The gimmick was reminiscent of "Searchin'", a 1957 single by The Coasters which also invoked a series of lawmen to track down a missing love interest.
Chart performance
Weekly singles charts
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Year-end charts
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References
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 567.
- UK release Capitol CL 15914 Whodunit (St. Lewis / Perren) / Fool Of The Year (F Tavares / St. Lewis)
- "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
- https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1977&cat=s
- NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, 31 July 1977
- Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 236.
- https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1977&cat=s
- "Top 100 1977 - UK Music Charts". Uk-charts.top-source.info. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
- "1977 Year End". Bullfrogspond.com. Retrieved 2016-10-13.