Let's All Chant

When he was still at A&M Records, Michael Zager met Jerry Love, a former head of A&R at A&M Records. After Love subsequently left the record label, he and Zager formed the Michael Zager Moon's Band in 1976. Love frequented Studio 54 and went to clubs every night. One evening, he went to Greenwich Village to visit several clubs and noted that people were continuously singing "Ooh-ah, Ooh-ah" to every tune that was played in order to increase their own participation and pleasure. The next day, he described the scene to Zager and suggested that Zager write a song incorporating the "Ooh-ah, Ooh-ah" vocals. Zager told Love: "You have to be kidding; that's embarrassing!" Love commented that everybody was doing it and that if Zager wrote a song using these chants, dancers would love it. In parallel, the group's name was changed to the Michael Zager Band and they signed with the label Private Stock Records. For their forthcoming LP, Zager wrote two songs, "Let's All Chant" and "Love Express", together with Alvin Fields. The co-writer shared lead vocals on "Let's All Chant" with session singers Dollette McDonald and Billy Baker. Zager added a classical section to the track. He later remarked: The reason I added the piccolo trumpet and classical section in the middle of "Let's All Chant" was mainly because I was embarrassed! I thought it was so stupid with that "Ooh-ah" sound in it that I wanted to add something to lift the track musically. I have a classical background and went to a music conservatory, so I was really feeling embarrassed "Let's All Chant" and "Love Express" were both recorded at the Secret Sound Studios, in Manhattan. Once the tracks were recorded, Zager told Fields: "I'm gonna kill you if this isn't a hit!" ==Composition==

"Let's All Chant" is a disco song and is very close to the average tempo of a standard disco song (120 bpm). According to AllMusic reviewer Alex Henderson, the combination of the "European-influenced, oddly baroque" feeling with a "catchy disco/funk beat" grabs the attention of the listener and encourages him to discover the rest of the eponymous LP. ==Commercial performance and sales==

"Let's All Chant" was released as a single with "Love Express" as a B-side in December 1977, on Christmas week. Zager thought it was the worst time to release the single because many artists usually released their albums during this period and thought the single would only become a "disco hit". In the US, "Let's All Chant" also charted at number 15 on the Soul Singles chart, and eventually went on to sell five million copies worldwide, selling about 6 to 700,000 copies in the US. It was also certified gold by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) for certified sales of 75,000 copies. ==Critical reception==

Critically, AllMusic's Henderson provided a mixed description of the track. Although he criticized the lyrics for being "usual disco clichés", he also called the song "quirky", "infectious" and "interesting" and viewed "Let's All Chant" as one of the most "unorthodox disco hits of 1978". The track was also ranked 165th on the 700 Top Disco Songs, a list drawn up by several DJs from all over the world. ==Track listings==

• 7" single • "Let's All Chant" – 3:07 • "Love Express" – 2:52 • 12" single • "Let's All Chant" – 7:03 • "Love Express" – 7:01 • Reissue – 12" maxi • "Let's All Chant" – 7:05 • "Traffic Jam" – 7:09 • "Traffic Jam (Dub Mix)" – 4:03 ==Charts and certifications==

Weekly charts Year-end charts Sales and certifications ==Impact and influence==

Following the song's release and worldwide success, "Let's All Chant" introduced Michael Zager in the mainstream and became a turning point in his career : The song is bigger than ever, along with many other recordings I produced/composed etc. For example the Spinners' 'Working My Way Back to You' and 'Cupid' along with 'Right Before My Eyes' by Patti Day. But 'Let's All Chant' really put me on the 'map' as a composer, producer and arranger. Private Stock promoted Michael Zager Band's eponymous LP due to the success of the song. It became a contributing factor the success of the LP. It also remains an influential dance track that has been heavily used on TV and in movies, as well as being covered or remixed by numerous artists or interpolated or sampled in other songs. Appearances Movies • "Let's All Chant" is heard in the 1978 movie Eyes of Laura Mars, while Laura Mars is setting up an elaborate shoot juxtaposing murder and high fashion. • The song is featured on the soundtrack of the 1998 movie The Last Days of Disco. • It is used in the 1999 movie Summer of Sam. • It is used in the 2021 Spanish-language Netflix film Las Leyes de la Frontera. Television • On November 17, 1978, the song was featured in "Ute und Manuela", the twelfth episode of the fifth season of the TV series Derrick. • In September 2006, it was used in a TV advertising for Médiatis. Cover versions and remixes • In 1988, British duo Pat and Mick covered the song. It was released as their debut single with "On the Night" as the B-side and was credited to "Mick and Pat". • Disco Queen also covered the song in 2003. Their version peaked at number 10 on the Greek charts. • In the same year, the song was remixed by French DJs DatA, Nôze and DJ Zebra. Interpolations • In 2011, "Let's All Chant" was interpolated in "Galera" by Congolese-French singer Jessy Matador, which features King Kuduro and Bra Zil, and peaked at number 68 in France. ==See also==