Body Talk

Album: Body Talk (1981)
Charted: 4
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was originally an instrumental by guitarist/bassist Ashley Ingram. When Leee John heard it one evening he sat in his kitchen and added the words. Imagination then took a demo tape containing this track to producers Jolley & Swain. When the single was released, it was initially ignored by radio in Britain, however it began to be played in clubs and months later, the single finally made the charts. It enjoyed the longest chart run of any pop record that year (18 weeks), and sold more than 250.000 copies in the UK alone.
  • Imagination was formed by Leee John (born John Lesley McGregor), who was educated in New York, where he also became a backing vocalist for The Delfonics and Chairmen Of The Board. He found himself working together with Ashley Ingram on tours and they decided to form their own group. At an audition they attended for a short-lived band called Midnight Express they met drummer Errol Kennedy. The 3 teamed up, choosing the name Imagination as a tribute to John Lennon and his classic song Imagine. They have been described as Britain's first black supergroup, achieving 8 Top-40 hits in the UK in the early '80s and charting in over 25 other countries.
  • The Body Talk album achieved Double Gold status and remained on the albums chart for 51 weeks.

Comments: 1

  • Alf from Liverpool, United KingdomGreat song for a slow dance. Just sway to the bass line and let the rest follow
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Oliver Leiber

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.