The Gap Band was a funk and soul group, the three-piece being known for hit… Read Full Bio ↴The Gap Band was a funk and soul group, the three-piece being known for hits such as "Outstanding" and "You Dropped a Bomb on Me".Their first major hit was a snazzy rnb tune called "Shake". Just prior to the completion of their first major album, bringing them under the wing of Mercury, musician Charlie Wilson ran the song by his brothers Robert and Ronnie, thinking that they might ridicule the lyrics. His brothers loved it though, and the 1979 song ended up being a popular single in numerous clubs, elevating the three of them to national status. As parent album 'The Gap Band' rose up to the #10 slot on the top R&B Albums chart, their critical praise proved that they had earned the spotlight.
Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Wilson brothers began singing and playing in their father's Pentecostal church, and it was also mandatory they practice their music lessons at home as well. They learned various instruments, which primarily included lots of playing the piano. As much as they despised the lessons at the time, it proved to be a value tool for all three. With Ronnie being the oldest, he established his own band when he was just a fourteen-year-old.
Charlie, a few years younger, joined a rival band a couple of years later. One particular night, the two bands were performing just across the street from one another. Ronnie stopped by to check out Charlie grooving on the organ. While there, Ronnie asked Charlie to join his band for $50 over what he was making. Though Charlie's band-mates doubled his offer, he joined his brother's band as fate would have it
At a gig not too long after the two had joined forces, the group's bass player quit; Ronnie and Charlie summoned their younger brother Robert, barely fourteen himself, to the group to play bass. For a short while, the group performed without a name. Musician Carlton Morales, co-writer of Julian Lennon's pop hit "Vallotte" played with the band shortly after leaving the outfit The Mighty Majors. Finally, the Wilson brothers began calling their outfit the "Greenwood, Archer and Pine Streets Band". As such a name proved too long for music posters, the band shortened their name to the "G.A.P. Street Band". Due to a typographical error, the group was actually advertised as "Gap Band" and "The Gap Band". That title stuck.
They performed at various venues around the Tulsa area, including country & western joints, tennis clubs, rock clubs, and wherever else called on their services. However, by the middle of the 70s, Charlie became interested in Los Angeles, California and left Tulsa to explore his possibilities; the country's big cities were in the middle of a soul music boom, and he wanted in.. A short time later, Charlie convinced his brothers to join him. The group floundered about L.A.; hitting and missing on record deals, gigs, and the like, the guys had a lot of talent but needed guidance. Still maintaining their interest in major label work, the group met entertainment businessman Lonnie Simmons through a friend, a musician D.J. Rogers, and their destiny was set. Simmons owned a nightclub called "The Total Experience" on Crenshaw Blvd and a recording studio at the time, and he signed the group to his company, which was called "Total Experience Records". Simmons would later start up a record label, also co-songwriting the Gap Band's tunes at times.
The Top Five single "Shake" followed in 1979, along with "Steppin' Out" (number ten) and "I Don't Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Oops, Up Side Your Head)" (number four) in 1980. The latter was inspired at a concert in Pittsburgh where some kids were chanting the groove and the Gap Band picked up on it. In December of 1980, the trio dropped its first number one single with "Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)" and followed it with the Top Five ballad "Yearning for Your Love" (1981).
The group went on to score three more number one songs ("Early in the Morning" and "Outstanding" in 1982 and "All of My Love" in 1989), three more number two songs ("You Dropped a Bomb on Me" in 1982, "Beep a Freak" in 1984, and "Going in Circles" in 1986) and a horde of Top Ten hits. They also did the soundtracks for Leon Isaac Kennedy's Penitentiary III and Keena Ivory Waynans' I'm Gonna Get You Sucker. The group was given only 24 hours notice to complete the title song.
In 1984 Ronnie became a born-again Christian and started pastoring. He joined Melba Moore and David Peaston in the touring play Mama, I'm Sorry. Charlie went through rough times fighting a cocaine addiction until finally rehabilitating a few years later. Charlie has been one of most sought-after vocalists in the music industry. He has worked with Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Eurythmics, Snoop Dogg, and scores of others. The Gap Band has recorded for various labels, including Mercury and Capitol Records. The group remained together for quite song time, enduring the good with the bad, and kept on touring into the new millennium.
The death of Robert Wilson, at the age of 53, on August 15, 2010 changed everything. Mourned by fans of the group across the world, many musicians cited his role in creating the band's funky soul sound. Numerous singles such as "Outstanding" and "You Dropped a Bomb on Me" remain radio classics to this day.
Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Wilson brothers began singing and playing in their father's Pentecostal church, and it was also mandatory they practice their music lessons at home as well. They learned various instruments, which primarily included lots of playing the piano. As much as they despised the lessons at the time, it proved to be a value tool for all three. With Ronnie being the oldest, he established his own band when he was just a fourteen-year-old.
Charlie, a few years younger, joined a rival band a couple of years later. One particular night, the two bands were performing just across the street from one another. Ronnie stopped by to check out Charlie grooving on the organ. While there, Ronnie asked Charlie to join his band for $50 over what he was making. Though Charlie's band-mates doubled his offer, he joined his brother's band as fate would have it
At a gig not too long after the two had joined forces, the group's bass player quit; Ronnie and Charlie summoned their younger brother Robert, barely fourteen himself, to the group to play bass. For a short while, the group performed without a name. Musician Carlton Morales, co-writer of Julian Lennon's pop hit "Vallotte" played with the band shortly after leaving the outfit The Mighty Majors. Finally, the Wilson brothers began calling their outfit the "Greenwood, Archer and Pine Streets Band". As such a name proved too long for music posters, the band shortened their name to the "G.A.P. Street Band". Due to a typographical error, the group was actually advertised as "Gap Band" and "The Gap Band". That title stuck.
They performed at various venues around the Tulsa area, including country & western joints, tennis clubs, rock clubs, and wherever else called on their services. However, by the middle of the 70s, Charlie became interested in Los Angeles, California and left Tulsa to explore his possibilities; the country's big cities were in the middle of a soul music boom, and he wanted in.. A short time later, Charlie convinced his brothers to join him. The group floundered about L.A.; hitting and missing on record deals, gigs, and the like, the guys had a lot of talent but needed guidance. Still maintaining their interest in major label work, the group met entertainment businessman Lonnie Simmons through a friend, a musician D.J. Rogers, and their destiny was set. Simmons owned a nightclub called "The Total Experience" on Crenshaw Blvd and a recording studio at the time, and he signed the group to his company, which was called "Total Experience Records". Simmons would later start up a record label, also co-songwriting the Gap Band's tunes at times.
The Top Five single "Shake" followed in 1979, along with "Steppin' Out" (number ten) and "I Don't Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Oops, Up Side Your Head)" (number four) in 1980. The latter was inspired at a concert in Pittsburgh where some kids were chanting the groove and the Gap Band picked up on it. In December of 1980, the trio dropped its first number one single with "Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)" and followed it with the Top Five ballad "Yearning for Your Love" (1981).
The group went on to score three more number one songs ("Early in the Morning" and "Outstanding" in 1982 and "All of My Love" in 1989), three more number two songs ("You Dropped a Bomb on Me" in 1982, "Beep a Freak" in 1984, and "Going in Circles" in 1986) and a horde of Top Ten hits. They also did the soundtracks for Leon Isaac Kennedy's Penitentiary III and Keena Ivory Waynans' I'm Gonna Get You Sucker. The group was given only 24 hours notice to complete the title song.
In 1984 Ronnie became a born-again Christian and started pastoring. He joined Melba Moore and David Peaston in the touring play Mama, I'm Sorry. Charlie went through rough times fighting a cocaine addiction until finally rehabilitating a few years later. Charlie has been one of most sought-after vocalists in the music industry. He has worked with Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Eurythmics, Snoop Dogg, and scores of others. The Gap Band has recorded for various labels, including Mercury and Capitol Records. The group remained together for quite song time, enduring the good with the bad, and kept on touring into the new millennium.
The death of Robert Wilson, at the age of 53, on August 15, 2010 changed everything. Mourned by fans of the group across the world, many musicians cited his role in creating the band's funky soul sound. Numerous singles such as "Outstanding" and "You Dropped a Bomb on Me" remain radio classics to this day.
Talkin' Back
The Gap Band Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Talkin' Back' by these artists:
Benny the Butcher (Once you said, you'd love me) (As you said you'd care) (La…
Benny The Butcher & Harry Fraud (Once you said, you'd love me) (As you said you'd care) (La…
Benny the Butcher & Harry Fraud Feat. Fat Joe (Once you said, you'd love me) (As you said you'd care) (La…
Benny The Butcher Harry Fraud (Once you said, you'd love me) (As you said you'd care) (La…
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Gap Band:
Addicted To Your Love The time has come for us to stop messin' around 'Cause…
Baby Say Come on and boogie with me Boogie with me. Come on and…
Big Fun If you want my love come and get it girl…
Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me) Woo, I gave you my money, I gave you my…
Confess Your Love The time has come for us to stop messin' around 'Cause…
Early In the Mornin Oh, I never, you know I loved you till you…
Early in the Morning (12" Version) Oh, Annette, you know I loved you till you left…
Get Loose Get Funky Everybody get loose, it′s funky Everybody get loose, it's fu…
Going In Circles I'm an ever rolling wheel Without a destination real And I…
Gotta Get Up say oops upside your head say oops upside your head say…
Humpin' Get your boogie back down, y'all Oh! Where's all the humpi…
I say oops upside your head say oops upside your head say…
I Can't Get Over You I cant get over you no matter what I do.…
I Don say oops upside your head say oops upside your head say…
I Don't Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Oops) ! (Say Oops Upside Your Head, Say Oops Upside Your Head) (Say…
I Dont Believe You Want To Get Up And Dance say oops upside your head say oops upside your head say…
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka Whether or not You know you on the Eve of distruction It don…
I'm In Love Why, I wonder, is my heart full of holes And the…
Lonely Like Me LONELY LIKE ME BY GAP BAND YOU DON'T KNOW ME AND…
Love At Your Fingertips The time has come for us to stop messin' around 'Cause…
No Hiding Place No Hiding Place Hi hottie! What you are doing? I want talki…
Nothin Comes To Sleepers With the sunshine comes the dawning of a day Still another…
Nothin' Comes To Sleepers With the sunshine comes the dawning of a day Still another…
Oops Up Side Your Head say oops upside your head say oops upside your head say…
Oops Upside Your Head say oops upside your head say oops upside your head say…
Oops Upside Your Head (I Don't Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance) THE GAP BAND I DON'T BELIEVE YOU WANT TO GET UP…
Oops Upside Your Head (Maxi Single) say oops upside your head say oops upside your head say…
Outstanding Girl, you're looking sweeter now You got it every day, girl …
Outstanding (Original 12" Mix) Girl, you're lookin' sweeter now You got it every day, girl …
Party Train All aboard Every all aboard Anybody want to take this ride …
Say Oops upside your head say oops upside your head say oops upside your head say…
Season Girl, you're looking sweeter now You got it every day, girl…
Season's No Reason To Change Girl, you're looking sweeter now You got it every day, girl …
Seasons No Reason To Change-- So I was rolling down the Mountain Side The Sun come…
Shake I know I want you, I'm tired of cryin I can't…
Someday Let us say the words we feel, When our hearts and…
Steppin Whoo Ooh, ooh, go 'head, ooh, ooh, go 'head Ooh, ooh, go…
Steppin' (Out) Steppin' out on the floor Boogie woogie woogie some more If …
Steppin' Out Whoo Ooh, ooh, go 'head, ooh, ooh, go 'head Ooh, ooh, go…
Sweet Caroline Sweet Caroline Loved you with all of my heart Sweet…
Sweeter Than Candy So sweet Girl you′re sweet Sweeter than candy Sweeter than …
Testimony Look over yonder, Apollo at a distance You can hear his…
The Boys Are Back In Town Just got off a long hard road back at home…
Yearnin For Your Love The time has come for us to stop messin' around 'Cause…
You You were the girl that changed my world You were the…
You Can Count On Me Face of stone, and lips so cold A mask for…
You Dropped A Bomb On Me You were the girl that changed my world You were the…
You Dropped The Bomb You were the girl that changed my world You were the…
You Dropped the Bomb on Me You were the girl that changed my world You were the…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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perpetual61
I still have the CD of this and I always play it in the car whenever I have the chance. Talking Back is my Favorite track off the whole album. It has that FUNKDELIC Feel to it kind of like Flashlight. Great Jam My Musical Brothers still awesome some 30 years later.
Effemeseyevee
YOP!
tnmusicman1
I LOVE this song!!! Man, takes me back to going to school in my brothers 82 Trans Am with this song blasting!! Love my ears ringing in 1st period!!
Ronnie Mata
Love that Body style Firebird as well as the 80s 280ZX and Z31 300ZX
Walt Hc dino
Olha onde eu vim parar em 2020 no isolamento de junho, nostalgia no melhor estilo , um brinde a black music anos 80
Elizeu Jatoba
Espetacular "funk" do Ponto de Encontro na Vila Curuça - São Miguel Pta, jamais esqueçerei!!!!
Larry Brown
God!!! I miss those 70's and 80"s. The FUNK will never die. The Gap Band brought you that true PFUNK feel. Damn I miss that era. YABA DABA DOO BABY. POP OUT!!!
Micah Jared
@Jay Tee Naaa... Loved me some hip hop in the late 80s early 90s...When it changed to ignorant ass rap a true fan was lost. These days Im down w/ country rap. A Cal, Demun, Brodnax. every track is pure 🔥 As if they dropped from the sky to bring back real hip hop. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sq64Oa6T-1A
Jay Tee
@Micah Jared well, hope your not listening to that ignorant ass rap these days then
Micah Jared
Ahhh yaa Im right there with ya Larry - I was in my teens during the 80s. As a white boy I was supposed to listen to AC/DC etc. Gap Band, Earth Wind & Fire, Parliment - I couldnt help it then, and I still cant help it Now - HO Cheers from the Catskill Mts NY