Jack and Jill

Album: Raydio (1977)
Charted: 11 8
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Songfacts®:

  • This was the first hit for Raydio, which was fronted by Ray Parker Jr. The song uses the names from the popular children's poem "Jack & Jill," about a guy (Jack) who isn't getting enough attention from his wife (Jill). She's away from home a lot, presumably working overtime, so he "went down the hill," which clearly means he cheated. This song was timely, as it was released when women in the US started to enter management positions in the workplace, helping their family incomes, but sometimes at the expense of their marriages. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Mike - Santa Barbara, CA

Comments: 5

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 25, 1978, Raydio performed "Jack and Jill" on the Dick Clark ABC-TV Saturday-afternoon program, 'American Bandstand'...
    At the time the song was at #15 on Billboard's Top 100 chart, three weeks later it would peak at #8 {for 3 weeks} and it spent twenty-one weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #5 on Billboard's Hot R&B singles chart, and also #5 on the Canadian RPM Singles chart...
    Between 1978 and 1981 the Michigan group had eleven records on the Hot R&B Singles chart, four made the Top 10 with one reaching #1, "A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do)", for two weeks on May 10th, 1981...
    For the last seven of their eleven charted records they were know as Ray Parker, Jr. and Raydio...
    Ray Parker, Jr., has a solo artist, has charted ten times on the Hot R&B Singles chart, two made the Top 10 with "Ghostbusters" reaching #1* for two weeks in 1984...
    "Ghostbusters" was nominated for an Academy Award for 'Best Original Song', the Oscar went to "I Just Called to Say I Love You" by Stevie Wonder...
    Ray Erskine Parker Jr. will celebrate his 64th birthday in two months on May 1st {2018}...
    And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, it was "Ghostbusters" that ended Prince's "When Doves Cry" reign of eight weeks as the #1 record on the Hot R&B Singles chart.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn June 29th 1979, Raydio* performed "Jack and Jill" on the NBC-TV program 'The Midnight Special'...
    Fourteen months earlier on April 9th, 1978 it peaked at #8 for three weeks on Billboard’s Hot Top 100 chart {See 2nd post below}...
    As simply 'Raydio' they had one other Top 100 record, "You Can't Change That", it peaked at #9 in 1979...
    Then as 'Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio' they charted three more times; with their biggest hit being "A Woman Needs Love (Just Like We Do)", it reached #4 in 1981...
    * Raydio was also this episode's guest host, and they performed "You Can't Change That" on the same show.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 25th 1978, Raydio performed "Jack and Jill" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    At the time the song was at #15 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; fifteen days later on April 9th, 1978 it would peak at #8...
    {See the next post below}.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 8th, 1978, "Jack and Jill" by Raydio entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and on April 9th it peaked at #8 {for 3 weeks} and spent 21 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #5 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart...
    Charted a little bit higher 'Down Under'; peaked at #4 in both Australia and New Zealand...
    Was track five on their debut album, 'Raydio', and the album peaked at #8 on Billboard's Top R&B Albums chart...
    Two other tracks from the album made the R&B Singles chart; "Is This A Love Thing" {#20} and "Honey I'm Rich {#43}.
  • John from Eugene, OrThis is a great song! Try to find a recording of it.
    Soulful. Check out the YouTube version over on the right.
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