"Wrap It Up" is a soul song originally recorded by the American duo Sam & Dave and written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter. It was released in January 1968 as the B-side to "I Thank You".

It was also recorded by other artists, such as Archie Bell & the Drells in 1970, Romeo Void in 1982 and Eurythmics in 1983. It was a minor hit in a version by the Fabulous Thunderbirds in 1986.

Sam & Dave version

Wrap it Up
A-sideI Thank You
B-sideWrap It Up
ReleasedJanuary 1968
LabelStax 45-242
ComposerIsaac Hayes - David Porter
ProducerIsaac Hayes & David Porter

Background

"Wrap it Up" was written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter. It was the B side of I Thank You. Hayes and Portner also produced the single which was released on Stax 45-242 in January 1968.[1] As far as Radio was concerned in March 1968, Sam & Dave had a two-sided hit with their single.[2]

Reception

Both "I Thank You" and "Wrap It Up" were reviewed by Derek Johnson in the 17 February issue of English publication New Musical Express. In spite of his praise of the A side, he did write that it was a pity that it was so tuneless. With the flip side ("Wrap it Up") he wrote that it had a "compulsive jerk beat, a raving duet and an urgent brassy backing" that "almost set the turntable alight".[3]

According to Kal Rudman in his Money Music column,[4] WCLS in Columbus, Georgia and many other pop and R&B stations had pointed out the B side of Sam & Dave's hit was a powerhouse and his advice was to check it out.[5]

Airplay

According to the R&B Beat section in the 2 March issue of Record World, "Wrap It Up had broken wide open. Radio WVON in Chicago had made it the "Top and Bottom of the Week".[6]

It was reported in the 20 April 1968 issue of Record World that "Wrap It was at No. 22 at WWRL in New York City.[7] It was also breaking out there.[8]

Archie Bell and the Drells version

Wrap it Up
ArtistArchie Bell and the Drells
A-sideWrap It Up
B-sideDeal with Him
ReleasedOctober 1970
LabelAtlantic 45-2768
ComposerIsaac Hayes & David Porter
ProducerDave Crawford & Brad Shapiro

Background

"Wrap it Up" was composed by Isaac Hayes and David Porter. Working with producers Dave Crawford and Brad Shapiro and arranger Wade Marcus, Archie Bell and the Drells recorded the song. Backed with an Archie Bell composition, "Deal with Him", it was released on Atlantic 45-2768 in October 1970.[9]

It was reported in R&B Beat section of the 24 October issue of Record World that the Atlantic label rushing out a fantastic new Archie Bell called "Wrap It Up".[10]

It was reported in the 31 October issue of Record World that in the previous week, Atlantic Records had mistakenly sent out acetates of "Wrap it Up" without any labels. Before they could rectify the situation, they were hit with enthusiastic responses from deejays and program directors from across the country. They were now shipping the records that week.[11]

Reception

"Warp it Up" was reviewed in the 31 October 1970 issue of Cash Box. where it was one of the Picks of the Week. The reviewer wrote that it should reap fiery results with teen listeners on the blues and rock sides and finished off with calling it a powerful dancer.[12]

The single was a Four-Star Pick in the 31 October issue of Record World with the reviewer writing that Archie Bell and the Drells had revived a great Sam & Dave tune that sounded good. The sales potential was also noted.[13]

Charts

Billboard

The record peaked at No. 93 on the Billboard singles chart and No. 33 on the Soul Singles chart.[14]

Record World

"Wrap it Up" debuted at No. 120 in the Record World 101 - 150 Singles chart for the week of 21 November.[15] It peaked at No. 105 in that chart for the week of 12 December.[16][17] It also debuted at No. 47 in the Record World R&B Singles chart that week.[18] The single debuted at No. 96 in the Record World Singles Chart for the week of 19 December.[19][20][21] By 2 January 1971, the single was at No. 29 in the R&B Singles chart[22] and at No. 87 in the Singles chart.[23]

The Fabulous Thunderbirds version

Wrap it Up
ArtistThe Fabulous Thunderbirds
AlbumTuff Enuff
A-sideWrap It Up
B-sideTrue Love
ReleasedJuly 1986
LabelCBS Associated ZS4 06270
ComposerI. Hayes D. Porter
ProducerDave Edmunds

Background

The Fabulous Thunderbirds recorded "Wrap It Up" which was backed with "True Love", and released on single, CBS Associated ZS4 06270 in July 1986. Both sides were produced by Dave Edmunds.[24]

Charts

The single made it to No. 50 on the Billboard Singles chart and No. 8 on the Rock chart.[25]

Other versions

"Wrap it Up" was recorded by Buddy Miles and included on his 1968 album, Expressway to Your Skull.[26] Miles performed at the Fillmore venue on Saturday 22 February 1969. He closed his set with "Wrap It Up" which was described by Record World as doing it as only Buddy Miles could do it.[27] A 19:03 version of the song also appears on Miles' Buddy Miles Live album that was released in 1971.[28]

Romeo Void recorded the song which was included on their Benefactor album that was released in 1982.[29][30] The 18 September issue of Billboard showed that it had been added to the playlist of KYYX-FM in Seattle.[31]

The Eurythmics recorded a version of the song which is included on their Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) album.[32]

References

  1. ^ 45Cat - Sam And Dave - I Thank You
  2. ^ Record World, March 2, 1968 - Page 42 R&B Beat (Continued from page 40), Sam & Dave is a Two -Sided Hit
  3. ^ New Musical Express, No. 1101. Week ending February 17th, 1968 - Page 10 MORE SINGLES REVIEWED BY DEREK JOHNSON, SAM AND DAVE † “ I Thank You "/" Wrap It Up ” (Stax).
  4. ^ Record World, March 2, 1968 - Page 20 MONEY MUSIC By Kal Rudman
  5. ^ Record World, March 2, 1968 - Page 50 Money Music (Continued from page 40), Flip Tip on Sam & Dave-Wrap It Up
  6. ^ Record World, March 2, 1968 - Page 42 R&B Beat (Continued from page 40), Sam & Dave is a Two -Sided Hit
  7. ^ Record World, April 20, 1968 - Page 40 R & B BEAT (Continued from page 30), WWRL, NYC, 4#22—"Wrap It Up," Sam & Dave;
  8. ^ Record World, April 20, 1968 - Page 40 R & B BEAT (Continued from page 30), WWRL, NYC, Note:
  9. ^ 45Cat - Archie Bell And The Drells - Wrap It Up
  10. ^ Record World, October 24, 1970 - Page 34 R&B Beat (Continued from page 32)
  11. ^ Record World, October 31, 1970 - Page 8 Drells Early Hit On Atlantic
  12. ^ Cash Box, October 31, 1970 - Page 24 cashbox /singles reviews, Picks of the Week, ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS (Atlantic 2768), Wrap it Up
  13. ^ Record World, October 31, 1970 - Page 6 record world SINGLE REVIEWS FOUR STAR ★★★★ PICKS, ARCHIE BELL AND THE DRELLTS-ATLANTIC 2768 WRAP IT UP
  14. ^ MusicVF.com - Wrap It Up : Archie Bell & the Drells
  15. ^ Record World, November 21, 1970 - Page 48 THE 101 - 150 SINGLES CHART, 120, - WRAP IT UP ARCHIE BELL & DRELLS-Atlantic 2768 (East/Memphis/Pronto, BMI)
  16. ^ Record World, December 12, 1970 - Page 36 THE 101 - 150 SINGLES CHART, WEEK OF DECEMBER 12, 1970, THIS WK. 105, LAST WK. 108, WRAP IT UP ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS-Atlantic 2768
  17. ^ Record World, December 19, 1970 - Page 36 THE 101 - 150 SINGLES CHART, WEEK OF DECEMBER 19, 1970
  18. ^ Record World, December 12, 1970 - Page 39 THE R&B SINGLES CHART WEEK OF DECEMBER 12, 1970, THIS WK. 47, LAST WEEK W -, WRAP IT UP ARCHIE BELL & DRELLS-Atlantic 2768
  19. ^ Record World, December 12, 1970 - Page 31 THE SINGLES CHART, WEEK OF DECEMBER 12, 1970
  20. ^ Record World, December 12, 1970 - Page 30 ALPHABETICAL LISTING SINGLES CHART PRODUCER, PUBLISHER, LICENSEE
  21. ^ Record World, December 19, 1970 - Page 30 ALPHABETICAL LISTING SINGLES CHART PRODUCER, PUBLISHER, LICENSEE, WRAP IT UP Dave Crawford & Brad Shapiro (East/Memphis/Pronto, BMI) ...... ...... 96
  22. ^ Record World, January 2, 1971 - Page 33 THE R&B SINGLES CHART JANUARY 2, 1971, THIS WK. 29, LAST WK. 31, WRAP IT UP ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS-Atlantic 2768
  23. ^ Record World, January 2, 1971 - Page 24 ALPHABETICAL LISTING SINGLES CHART PRODUCER, PUBLISHER, LICENSEE, WRAP IT UP Dave Crawford & Brad Shapiro (East/Memphis/Pronto, BMI) .............. 87
  24. ^ 45Cat - The Fabulous Thunderbirds - Wrap It Up
  25. ^ MusicVF.com - Wrap It Up: The Fabulous Thunderbirds
  26. ^ Downbeat, June 26, 1969 - Page 23 Record Reviews, Pages 23-24 Buddy Miles Express EXPRESSWAY TO YOUR SKULL—Mercury 61196
  27. ^ Record World, March 8, 1969 - Page 26 Concert Review, Inventive Performance
  28. ^ Billboard, November 13, 1971 - Page 52 Jukebox programming, Mercury Edits Cuts on 7 -in. DJ LP; Long Singles Problem Very Complex
  29. ^ Progrography, 11 Aug 2020 - (Review) Romeo Void: Benefactor (1982)
  30. ^ High Fidelity, Volume 32, Issues 7-12 - 1982 - Page 90
  31. ^ Billboard, September 18, 1982 - Page 22 Billboard Singles Radio Action Based on station playlists through Tuesday (9/7/82) KYYX -FM-Seattle (Elvin Ichiyama-MD) • ROMEO VOID-Wrap It Up A
  32. ^ Ultimate Eurythmics Archives - Lyrics for Wrap It Up by Eurythmics from the album Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)