Wikipedia
You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)
"You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)" is a song written by James Dean and John Glover and popularized by the husband/wife duo of Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., former members of the vocal group The 5th Dimension. Released from their album, I Hope We Get to Love in Time, it became a crossover success, spending six months on the charts and soaring to No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Singles charts during late 1976 and early 1977.[3] It also reached No. 6 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart and No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart.[4] It would eventually be certified gold, selling over one million copies, and winning the couple a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1977.[5]
| "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
French release cover | ||||
| Single by Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. | ||||
| from the album I Hope We Get to Love in Time | ||||
| B-side | "We've Got to Get it On Again" | |||
| Released | September 1976 | |||
| Genre | Disco[1][2] | |||
| Length | 4:41 (Album version) 3:40 (Single version) | |||
| Label | ABC Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | James Dean, John Glover | |||
| Producer(s) | Don Davis | |||
| Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative release | ||||
Side A of the US single | ||||
| Audio | ||||
| "You Don't Have to Be a Star" on YouTube | ||||
Personnel edit
- Marilyn McCoo – vocals
- Billy Davis Jr. – vocals
- James Jamerson – bass
- Horrace Ott – concertmaster
Chart performance edit
Weekly charts edit
| Year-end charts edit
|
Other versions edit
- Geri Reischl and Barry Williams performed the song in a 1977 episode of The Brady Bunch Variety Hour.
- In 1978, Ralph Carter and Janet Jackson performed it in the Season 5 finale of the CBS sitcom Good Times. At the time, Carter and Jackson were 16 and 11 years old, respectively.
References edit
- ^ Breihan, Tom (September 23, 2019). "The Number Ones: Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr.'s "You Don't Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show)"". Stereogum. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
if you were making Motown pastiche in the mid-'70s and not quite getting there, it just ended up sounding like disco.
- ^ Molanphy, Chris (March 25, 2022). "Killing Me Softly Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 338.
- ^ a b "Marilyn Mccoo and Billy Davis: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^ 19th Grammy Awards (1977) - Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5149a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 5179." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – You Don't Have to Be a Star". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
- ^ "Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. - Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
- ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-2002, Record Research Inc., 2004, ISBN 978-0898201550
- ^ "Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. - Billboard Hot". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. - You Don't Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show)". charts.nz. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5502a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ "Top Selling Singles of 1977 | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. December 31, 1977. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
- ^ "Top 100 1977 - UK Music Charts". Uk-charts.top-source.info. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1977/Top 100 Songs of 1977". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
External links edit
- Lyrics of this song
- Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. - You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be In My Show) on YouTube