"Automatic Man"
Side-A label of U.S. 7-inch vinyl single
Single by Michael Sembello
from the album Bossa Nova Hotel
B-side"Summer Lovers"
ReleasedSeptember 1983
Recorded1983
GenreSynth-pop
Length3:57 (7-inch single version)
4:15 (album version)
6:59 (12" single version)
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Phil Ramone
Michael Sembello singles chronology
"Maniac"
(1983)		 "Automatic Man"
(1983)		 "Talk"
(1984)

"Automatic Man" is a song written by Michael Sembello, David Batteau, and Danny Sembello that was the first official single to be released from the 1983 album Bossa Nova Hotel by Michael Sembello. It reached number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Background

The second single released from the soundtrack album of the 1983 film Flashdance was Michael Sembello's "Maniac," which spent 2 weeks at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 that began in the magazine's September 10, 1983, issue.[1] Sembello chose to continue to work with the co-producer of that song, Phil Ramone, on what would be his debut album, Bossa Nova Hotel. The first new single from the album, "Automatic Man", was narrated by the creator of the title character, a robot meant to stand in for the creator during romantic encounters that runs off with the creator's love interest in the end.

Commercial performance

The September 24, 1983, issue of Billboard magazine included the first appearance of "Automatic Man" on the Billboard Hot 100, where it spent 10 weeks[2] and peaked at number 34 in the November 5 issue.[3] It also reached number 49 in Australia[4] and number 66 in Germany.[5]

Critical reception

In Cash Box magazine's review of "Automatic Man," they wrote, "As with 'Maniac,' Sembello combines steady counterrhythms, a sure-footed melodic approach, and pleasingly offbeat fills and lyrics. A strong release from a significant artist."[6] Billboard Dance Trax columnist Brian Chin opined that the song was the best dance cut on the album and that it "latches a dynamic Simmons drum beat onto a Doobie-ish track."[7]

Promotional appearance and video

Some of Sembello's appearances to promote "Automatic Man" included programs where performers would lip sync to the hit recording of their song, such as American Bandstand, which included a brief interview of him by Dick Clark, on September 10.[8]

Unlike the video for "Maniac," which was a series of clips from Flashdance that were edited together by the film's director, Adrian Lyne,[9] Sembello appeared in the music video for "Automatic Man," which had a plot that illustrated the lyrics of the song. The clip was listed on the reports that MTV provided to Billboard that indicated what videos were in rotation on the cable network and made its first appearance there in the November 12 issue, which indicated that it had been added to their playlist as of November 2.[10]

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1983) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[4] 49
Germany (Official German Charts)[5] 66
US Billboard Hot 100[2] 34

References

  1. ↑ Bronson 2003, p. 576.
  2. 1 2 Whitburn 2009, p. 869
  3. ↑ "Billboard > Michael Sembello Chart History > Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  4. 1 2 "The Countdown Chart – Week Ending 4th December, 1983". ARIA. Retrieved July 11, 2021 – via Imgur.
  5. 1 2 "Michael Sembello – Automatic Man" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Reviews—Singles". Cashbox. New York: Cash Box Publishing Co., Inc. September 24, 1983. p. 9.
  7. ↑ Chin, Brian (October 1, 1983). "Dance Trax". Billboard. p. 49.
  8. ↑ "Episode #27.1". American Bandstand. Season 27. Episode 1. September 10, 1983.
  9. ↑ Ressner, Jeffrey (May 7, 1983). "Polygram Gears Up Push For Flashdance LP". Cashbox. New York: Cash Box Publishing Co., Inc. p. 18.
  10. ↑ "Video Music Programming". Billboard. New York: Billboard Publications, Inc. November 12, 1983. p. 33.
  11. ↑ Bossa Nova Hotel (liner notes). Michael Sembello. Warner Bros. Retrieved September 17, 2016.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ↑ Automatic Man (US 12-inch Single liner notes). Michael Sembello. Warner Bros. 1983. 0-20153.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

Bibliography

  • Bronson, Fred (2003), The Billboard Book of Number One Hits, Billboard Books, ISBN 9780823076772
  • Whitburn, Joel (2009), Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 1955-2008, Record Research Inc., ISBN 978-0-89820-180-2
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