Released 1981 Genre Soul
post-disco Writer(s) Eaves III
Williams | Format 12" single
7" single Length 6:57 | |
Label Prelude (US, PRL D 621) | ||
"You're the One For Me" is a song written by James Williams (later known as James "D Train" Williams) and Hubert Eaves III of D. Train, a New York based post-disco duo, released in 1981 by Prelude Records. "You're the One for Me" first charted on December 19, 1981, at number 53 on the Billboard dance singles chart. It was a number one dance hit for three weeks early in 1982. The single also made it to number thirteen on the soul singles chart. Later in 1982, "You're the One for Me" along with the track, "Keep On", would peak at #2 on dance charts. "Keep On" peaked at number fifteen on the soul chart.
Contents
Background
Williams and Eaves III both met in a college in Brooklyn while Eaves III was still a jazz session musician and aspiring producer who musically cooperated with Mtume. Using Williams' moniker earned by Williams' "prowess on the football field" to release their first song "You're the One for Me" Eaves III had an idea for, they chose it as their recording alias. Signing a contract with Prelude Records the song was released in 1981 as a 12-inch and 7-inch vinyl single in the United States, Canada, Germany, Portugal, United Kingdom, Mexico ('82), Spain ('82), Netherlands ('82), France ('82), Italy ('82), Austria ('90). Roles were divided, Williams acted as a lead singer thanks to his prominent vocals while Eaves III provided instrumental backing and was behind production. Their distinctive style of mature soul voice meeting the powerful multi-layered synth lines and bass synthesizers that was typical of the New York minimalist electronic R&B sound of the early 1980s was also the progenitor of electro music, one year early before seminal electro track "Planet Rock" was released.
Williams argues the song first came to be popular in the clubs before becoming a Top 20 urban hit after they took it to Frankie "Hollywood" Crocker at WBLS-FM: "Soon, it seemed like everywhere we went, the clubs had to play the song twice a night." The song also turned out to be commercially successful in the United Kingdom to which Williams adds, "I remember we were doing Top of the Pops with Sting and The Police over in London. They had a bar across the street and we went in there and they were playing it too! Then, a third club was playing it! That's how popular the record was and that's the God's honest truth." They also developed a loyal following of LGBT fans during his Prelude years since gay clubs were among the first where D. Train had success, which he take no issues of, "I learned that all people have the same needs, whether they are straight or gay. We all need love."
Composition
"You're the One for Me" is a post-disco song with influences of soul, which runs for six minutes and 59 seconds for the 12-inch vocal version. Notably, it was influential in the electro music genre. It has a tempo of 120 beats per minute.
Critical reception
Daryl Easlea from BBC wrote, "their mixture of electronics and emotion led to some compelling moments, most notably their calling card and most enduring anthem, You're the One for Me. With its sequenced handclaps, thundering synth bass and its fluttery, repetitive electronic melody, the song is enlivened by Williams' throaty delivery." He also notes on the gospel touch of Williams' singing, "[w]hen he sings the repeated refrain of 'With the love I have inside of me, we could turn this world around,' over the breakdown, it is like the world's most charismatic preacher encapsulating the remarkable purity and longing of the first flush of true love."
Rock music critic Robert Christgau rated the album the song is from B+ and wrote, "Their burgeoning street rep reflects the burly appeal of James Williams, who sings lead like the president of the Teddy Pendergrass Fan Club, Boys and Girls High chapter. More power to him. But their chart success reflects the complete control of keyboard pro Hubert Eaves III. Hooks don't grow on streets."
1981-82 releases
1985 release
Personnel
Other versions
In 1985, Paul Hardcastle cut a remixed version which reached No.15 on the UK Singles Chart. This version didn't stray too far from the original 1982 hit. The song provided the background sample for Eleanor's song "Adventure," which reached number one Billboard's Dance Club Play chart in 1988. Musician Prince performed a cover version of the song on Lopez Tonight featuring his backup singers, with Shelby J. on lead vocals & Sheila E. on percussion in early 2011 to launch his 21 Nights in Los Angeles. The song was also featured in the video game Grand Theft Auto V (2013) and in the film The Football Factory (2004) and Glitter (2001). 2015 Paul Kalkbrenner published his single Cloud Rider which is based on the song You're the One for Me.