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Am I the Same Girl

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"Soulful Strut" redirects here. For the album by Grover Washington Jr., see Soulful Strut (album).
"Am I the Same Girl?"
US single of Barbara Acklin recording
Single by Barbara Acklin
from the album Seven Days of Night
B-side"Be By My Side"
ReleasedFebruary 1969
Recorded1968
Length2:56
LabelBrunswick
Songwriter(s)Eugene Record, Sonny Sanders
Producer(s)Carl Davis
Barbara Acklin singles chronology
"From the Teacher to the Preacher"
(1968) 		"Am I the Same Girl?"
(1969) 		"After You"
(1969)
"Soulful Strut"
US single of Young-Holt Unlimited recording
Single by Young-Holt Unlimited
from the album Soulful Strut
B-side"Country Slicker Joe"
ReleasedNovember 1968
Recorded1968
GenreSoul, instrumental
Length2:52
LabelBrunswick
Songwriter(s)Eugene Record, Sonny Sanders
Producer(s)Carl Davis
Young-Holt Unlimited singles chronology
"Soul Sister"
(1968) 		"Soulful Strut"
(1968) 		"Who's Making Love"
(1969)

"Am I the Same Girl?" is a popular song written by Eugene Record and Sonny Sanders. First recorded in 1968 by Barbara Acklin, "Am I the Same Girl?" charted most successfully in the US as a 1992 release by Swing Out Sister. However, the song had its greatest impact as a 1968–69 instrumental hit single by Young-Holt Unlimited under the title "Soulful Strut".

Background

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Although Barbara Acklin recorded the song first, producer Carl Davis removed her voice from the track, replaced it with a piano solo by Floyd Morris, and released the resultant track in November 1968 as "Soulful Strut" credited to Young-Holt Unlimited; it became a No. 3 hit in the United States and went to No. 1 in Canada.[1] It became a gold record. Neither Eldee Young nor Red Holt is believed to have played on the track, which was the work of session musicians identified only as the Brunswick Studio Band.[2] Acklin's version was released in February 1969 and reached No. 33 on the R&B chart, crossing over and peaking at No. 79 on the pop listing.[3]

Charts

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Weekly charts for "Soulful Strut" by Young-Holt Unlimited
Chart (1969) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[4] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[5] 3
US Easy Listening (Billboard)[6] 2
US Rhythm & Blues Singles (Billboard)[7] 3
Weekly charts for "Am I the Same Girl" by Barbara Acklin
Chart (1969) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[8] 52
US Billboard Hot 100[9] 79
US Rhythm & Blues Singles (Billboard)[10] 33

Dusty Springfield version

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"Am I the Same Girl?"
Single by Dusty Springfield
B-side"Earthbound Gypsy"
ReleasedSeptember 12, 1969
RecordedAugust 1969
Length2:58
LabelPhilips
Songwriter(s)Eugene Record, Sonny Sanders
Producer(s)Bill Landis
Dusty Springfield UK singles chronology
"Son of a Preacher Man"
(1968) 		"Am I the Same Girl?"
(1969) 		"Brand New Me"
(1969)

British singer Dusty Springfield, on the recommendation of Douggie Reece, the bassist in her touring band the Echoes,[11] recorded "Am I the Same Girl?" at Philips Studios Marble Arch in August 1969; Bill Landis produced the session, which was arranged by Keith Mansfield.[12] The track marked Springfield's last UK chart appearance of the 1960s, though it was not a major hit, stalling at No. 43.[13] "Am I the Same Girl?" also gave Springfield a minor hit in Australia (No. 75).

Chart (1969) Peak
position
Australia 75
UK Singles (OCC)[14] 43

Swing Out Sister version

[edit]
"Am I the Same Girl?"
Single by Swing Out Sister
from the album Get in Touch with Yourself
B-side
  • "Breakout" (N.A.D. Mix)
  • "I Can Hear You But I Can't See You"
  • "Spirit Moves"
ReleasedMarch 30, 1992 (1992-03-30)[15]
GenreSynth-pop[16]
Length4:07
LabelFontana
Songwriter(s)Eugene Record, Sonny Sanders
Producer(s)Paul Staveley O'Duffy
Swing Out Sister singles chronology
"You on My Mind"
(1990) 		"Am I the Same Girl?"
(1992) 		"Notgonnachange"
(1992)
Audio
"Am I the Same Girl" by Swing Out Sister on YouTube

The vocal version "Am I the Same Girl?" had its most successful incarnation via a 1992 remake by British pop group Swing Out Sister, recorded for their third album, Get in Touch with Yourself (1992). The group's vocalist Corinne Drewery has acknowledged Dusty Springfield as a major influence;[17] however, it was a chance hearing of the original Barbara Acklin version at a Manchester disco specializing in Northern soul that convinced Drewery and her Swing Out Sister partner Andy Connell to remake "Am I the Same Girl?".[18]

Released in March 1992 by Fontana Records as the lead single from the album, "Am I the Same Girl?" gave Swing Out Sister their highest UK chart ranking since their inaugural chart singles in 1986–87, the Top Ten hits "Breakout" and "Surrender"; peaking at No. 21. The track had more impact in continental Europe, peaking at No. 8 in Germany, and No. 15 in the Netherlands. "Am I the Same Girl?" also represented a strong comeback for Swing Out Sister in the US, where it was released in September 1992 and reached No. 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 — the track's peak on the Cashbox Pop 100 was No. 32 — while reaching No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.[19]

Having recorded two distinct live renditions of "Am I the Same Girl?" which appear on, respectively, Live at the Jazz Café (1993) and Live in Tokyo (2005), Swing Out Sister recorded a new studio version of the song for their 2012 album Private View.[20]

Charts

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Other versions

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In 1969, Bill Deal and the Rhondels included a version of "Soulful Strut" on their Vintage Rock LP (on Heritage Records, HTS-35,003).

Brazilian organist Walter Wanderley recorded a Bossa Nova driven cover of Soulful Strut on his 1969 album, Moondreams.

German pianist Horst Jankowski recorded Soulful Strut as the opening track of his 1969 album, A Walk in the Evergreens.

In 1970, Salena Jones recorded "Am I the Same Girl?" for her album Everybody's Talkin' About Salena Jones.

In 1979 George Benson recorded a cover of "Soulful Strut" on his album Livin' Inside Your Love.

In 1996 Grover Washington Jr. covered the song for his album of the same name. It was also later released as a remix under the title The Top Down version.

In 1996 Paul Jackson, Jr. recorded a cover of "Soulful Strut" on his album Never Alone: Duets.

In 1999, saxophonist Kim Waters recorded "Am I the Same Girl (Soulful Strut)" for his One Special Moment album; featuring vocalist Meli'sa Morgan and Chuck Loeb, the track was a non-charting single release in February 2000.

In 2004, Joss Stone used the Young-Holt version as a starting point for her song "Don't Cha Wanna Ride", and credited the composers of "Am I the Same Girl?" as co-composers of her song.

In September 2005, Martha Stewart began to use the Swing Out Sister version in her promo commercials for her show Martha on NBC television in America and then as the opening introduction theme song of the show. Each show starts with the song playing over a montage of images and photos of Martha Stewart growing up.

Dionne Bromfield covered the song on her debut album Introducing Dionne Bromfield (2009).

References

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  1. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2010-11-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ "Young Holt Unlimited". Soulfulkindamusic.net.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 23.
  4. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5870." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  5. ^ "The Billboard Hot 100 (week of January 18, 1969)". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  6. ^ "Billboard Top 40 Easy Listening (week ending 2/8/69)". Billboard. February 8, 1969. p. 69.
  7. ^ "Billboard Best-Selling Rhythm & Blues Singles (week ending 2/8/69)". Billboard. February 8, 1969. p. 24.
  8. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6051." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  9. ^ "The Billboard Hot 100 (week of March 8, 1969)". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  10. ^ "Billboard Best-Selling Rhythm & Blues Singles (week ending 3/22/69)". Billboard. March 22, 1969. p. 24.
  11. ^ "Dusty Springfield Gets Down and Personal on Q&A" by Gordon Coxhill New Musical Express #1183 (13 September 1969) p. 12
  12. ^ "502 Bad Gateway nginx openresty 208.80.154.49". Wonderboymi.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2008.
  13. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 521. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  14. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  15. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. March 28, 1992. p. 21.
  16. ^ Phares, Heather. Swing Out Sister - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Swing Out Sister (2001) Review at AllMusic. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  17. ^ "Smoothjazznow.com". Archived from the original on 2011-01-11. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
  18. ^ Nowell, David (1999). Too Darn Soulful: the story of Northern soul. London: Robson Books. p. 196. ISBN 9781861052704.
  19. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 239.
  20. ^ "Swing Out Sister | Album Discography". AllMusic.
  21. ^ "Swing Out Sister – Am I the Same Girl" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  22. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1897." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  23. ^ "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 21. May 23, 1992. p. 40. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  24. ^ "– Am I the Same Girl" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  25. ^ "Swing Out Sister – Am I the Same Girl" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  26. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  27. ^ "Swing Out Sister Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  28. ^ "Swing Out Sister Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  29. ^ "Swing Out Sister Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  30. ^ "Swing Out Sister Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard.
  31. ^ "1992 Year-End Airplay Charts: European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 51/52. December 19, 1992. p. 20. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
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