23 August, 1978.

Well if you’re going to blame it on anything, it may as well be the boogie. Okay, admit it, you’re doing the dance in your head aren’t you? Of course you are.

Written by English singer-songwriter Mick Jackson, along with his brother David Jackson and Elmar Krohn, this was originally recorded by Jackson himself in 1977 even though the song had been written with the intention of selling it to Stevie Wonder.

The Jacksons’ manager heard the track being showcased at the 1978 Midem music festival and secretly recorded it, rushing back to the US so The Jacksons could record a version before Mick could release his. Both versions were released within days of each other resulting in what the media called the Battle of the Boogie.

Mick’s version spent eight weeks on the UK chart and peaked at number fifteen, whilst reaching number sixty-five on the US chart. The Jacksons meanwhile had huge success with their version. It gave them a global top ten hit with the song, reaching number three in the US and spending fifteen weeks on the UK chart where it peaked at number eight.