Featuring the strong, deep lead vocal of Ruth Pointer, the post-disco funk tune "Automatic" reached #2 in the UK during April 1984, and was kept off the top spot by Duran Duran's "The Reflex".
Here's a geeky fact for you! The single version was 47 seconds shorter than the album version at 3 minutes 59 seconds.
The song was released at the peak of the Pointer sisters career, and was lifted from the trio's best-selling album Break Out, which broke into the Top Ten album charts in both the UK and U.S. The album achieved 3x Platinum in America and 4x Platinum in Canada.
While the ladies provided the vocals, a team of musicians was used to create the song, with Stephen Mitchell, Howie Rice, John Van Tongeren and Brock Walsh on synths, Paul Fox on an E-mu Emulator, Dennis Herring and Mark Goldenberg on guitars and Eddie Watkins Junior playing bass guitar. Walsh and Goldenberg also wrote the song.
The song retains some of the disco, soul and funk from their 70s roots and combines it cleverly with 80s tech, showing the the trio were keen to embrace the new wave, post disco sound, and not be left behind in the previous decade.
The single was a major hit in many countries, topping the Irish Singles Chart and reaching No.5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S.
Also on the same album was the single "Jump (For My Love)" which was covered by Girls Aloud in 2003 (and slated by many critics), reaching number two in the UK.
The Pointer Sisters first Top 20 hit was way back in 1973 with "Yes We Can Can", and they continued having hits right up until 1985. They are still performing - they have a different line-up with Ruth Pointer being the only original member - and toured Australia during November 2011.
The 80s line-up consisted of June, Ruth and Anita pointer, after Bonnie left to pursue a solo career in 1978. Sadly, June Pointer died of lung cancer on April 11th 2006. The latest line-up consists of Ruth Pointer, Issa Pointer, and Sadako Johnson, who is the granddaughter of June Pointer.
This video features the girls performing on the Dutch music show TopPop. Check out the 80s fashion, including that magnificent puffed sleeve dress!
Simplyeighties.com