Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)

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Released
  
1980

Genre
  
Funk

Recorded
  
1980

Length
  
4:11

A-side
  
"Yearning for Your Love"

B-side
  
"Nothing Comes to Sleepers" "Baby Baba Boogie" "Humpin'"

"Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)" is a song originally performed by The Gap Band in 1980 and written by member Charlie Wilson and producer Lonnie Simmons. In 1981, it peaked at number eighty-four on the Billboard Hot 100, and it was a number one hit on the R&B charts. Billboard magazine ranked it as the 12th biggest R&B single of 1981.

The song's lyrics refer to abandonment by a lover. The phrase "Burn Rubber on Me" itself refers to said woman driving off while her lover is away. The narrative is continued in "Early in the Morning".

A later single released, featuring "Humpin'" on the B-side, scored a #19 appearance on the dance charts.

Pop singer George Michael sampled the song for his 1997 single "Star People '97".

Releases

All releases are in the U.S. unless indicated:

  • 7" single
  • 12" single
  • 7" with "Nothing Comes to Sleepers" on the B-side
  • 7" with "Baby Baba Boogie" from 1979's The Gap Band on the B-side
  • 7" with "Yearning for Your Love" on the A-side
  • Album, "Gap Band III" (1980), along with a radio edit and 8 other songs

    • All the releases can be checked at Discogs

    References

    Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA