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Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out

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"Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out"
Single by Freak Power
from the album Drive-Thru Booty
B-side"Getting Over the Hump"
Released4 October 1993 (1993-10-04)[1]
GenreAcid jazz
Length4:20
Label
Songwriter(s)Norman Cook
Producer(s)
  • Norman Cook
  • Ashley Slater
Freak Power singles chronology
"Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out"
(1993) 		"Rush"
(1994)

"Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out" is a song by Norman Cook's acid jazz group Freak Power, released in October 1993 by Island Records and 4th & Broadway as the debut single from their first album, Drive-Thru Booty (1994). The song features a smooth jazz sound and the baritone vocals of lead singer Ashley Slater. The single originally charted at number 29 in the United Kingdom. However, two years later, the song was used in the popular Levi's advertisement "Taxi",[2] and it was re-released on 6 March 1995.[3] This time, the single was a success, reaching number three on the UK Singles Chart and becoming the group's only top-20 hit. The song was also a moderate hit in western Europe and New Zealand.

Critical reception

[edit]

Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian described the song as "a cynical post-modern shopping anthem with a dash of singalong soul."[4] In October 1993, in his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton stated that the song had "the potential to be a major hit".[5] Upon the 1995 release, a reviewer from Music Week commented, "Levi's ads have a habit of spawning Top 10 hits and Freak Power's groovy number is set to become the latest."[6] NME's review said, "Stuffed with vocals that croakily doff their cap to Sly Stone, wah-wah guitar and a chorus that seems to be fully aware of its '70s-crazed ludicrousness, it's an insidious rare groove drip-feed that'll soon be connected to the veins of thousands."[7]

Andy Beevers wrote in the Record Mirror Dance Update, "With his excellent Mighty Dub Cats and Pizzaman projects, Norman Cook has been sending out low-key signals that something is stirring down in Brighton. Now comes the real deal. The best starting point is the Radio Mix which emphasises the wonderfully mellow and husky male vocal. The weird trippy lyrics, which are nowhere as corny as the title would suggest, are set against a great bassline and plenty of funky touches. The whole thing has a very Seventies feel but it is done with a great deal more understanding and intelligence than all the current disco pastiches."[8] Another Record Mirror editor, James Hamilton, described it as "Norman Cook's Gil Scott Heron-ishly crooking jaunty excellent Donny Hathaway 'The Ghetto' based".[9] Garry Mulholland from Select wrote, "Their 'Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out' provides the low-slung funk backing for that ad's shameless exploitation of shock-horror transexuality."[10]

Track listings

[edit]
  • CD maxi 1, 12-inch maxi 1
  1. "Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out" (radio mix) – 4:21
  2. "Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out" (Pizzaman mix) – 6:51
  3. "Getting Over the Hump" – 4:12
  4. "Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out" (Play-Boys fully loaded vocal) – 7:27
  • CD maxi 2
  1. "Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out" (radio mix) – 4:20
  2. "Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out" (T-empo's club mix) – 7:35
  3. "Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out" (Playboys reloaded dub) – 6:22
  4. "Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out" (T-empo's piano dub) – 8:25
  5. "Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out" (Pizzaman mix) – 6:50
  • 12-inch maxi 2
  1. "Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out" (album version)
  2. "Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out" (T-Empo's club mix)
  3. "Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out" (Play-Boys reloaded dub)
  4. "Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out" (T-Empo's piano dub)
  • 7-inch single, CD single, cassette
  1. "Tune On, Tune In, Cop Out" (radio mix) – 4:19
  2. "Getting Over the Hump" – 4:12

Personnel

[edit]
  • Writer – Norman Cook
  • Backing vocals – Lucy the Fly
  • Bass – Jesse Graham
  • Bongos – Bongo Pete
  • Drums – James Carmichael Jr
  • Guitar – Norman Cook
  • Organ – Eddie Stevens
  • Photography – Tynan the Skyman
  • Trombone, vocals – Ashley Slater
  • Producer – Norman Cook

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[38] Silver 200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Music Week. 2 October 1993. p. 25. Retrieved 26 June 2021. Misprinted as 27 September.
  2. ^ King, Alex P. (2004). Hit-parade — 20 ans de tubes (in French). Paris: Pascal. p. 347. ISBN 2-35019-009-9.
  3. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 4 March 1995. p. 31. Retrieved 26 June 2021..
  4. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (28 June 1998). "Music: This Week's Pop CD Releases". The Guardian.
  5. ^ Masterton, James (17 October 1993). "Week Ending October 23rd 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  6. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 25 February 1995. p. 16. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Singles". NME. 4 March 1995. p. 57. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  8. ^ Beevers, Andy (25 September 1993). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). p. 6. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  9. ^ Hamilton, James (16 October 1993). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). p. 7. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  10. ^ Mulholland, Garry (May 1995). "New Albums". Select. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  11. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 46. 13 November 1993. p. 19. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  12. ^ "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 49. 4 December 1993. p. 18. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  13. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  14. ^ "The Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 30 October 1993. p. 32. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  15. ^ "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 30 October 1993. p. 28. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  16. ^ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 16 October 1993. p. 4. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Freak Power – Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  18. ^ "Freak Power – Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  19. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 13. 1 April 1995. p. 20. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  20. ^ "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 14. 8 April 1995. p. 26. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  21. ^ "Freak Power – Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  22. ^ "Freak Power – Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  23. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (6.5. '95 – 12.5. '95)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 6 May 1995. p. 42. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  24. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  25. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 17, 1995" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  26. ^ "Freak Power – Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  27. ^ "Freak Power – Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  28. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  29. ^ "Freak Power – Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  30. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  31. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  32. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  33. ^ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). 4 March 1995. p. 6. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  34. ^ "The RM on a Pop Tip Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). 18 March 1995. p. 10. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  35. ^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1995" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  36. ^ "Árslistinn 1995". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1996. p. 16. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  37. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1995". Music Week. 13 January 1996. p. 9.
  38. ^ "British single certifications – Freakpower – Turn On Tune In Cop Out". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
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