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Lipps Inc or Lipps, Inc. (pronounced like "lip sync") was a studio band that achieved one significant hit, "Funkytown" in 1980. The song is considered, by some, the last disco song to hit #1 in the U.S.^{[citation needed]}

The group was formed in Minneapolis by Steven Greenberg, who wrote and produced all of the group's music, and who also played several musical instruments. The lead singer was Cynthia Johnson, and the rest of the group consisted of a changing group of session musicians, including guitarist David Rivkin.

They achieved some popularity during the 1980s. The group released their debut album Mouth to Mouth in early 1980 (although original pressings of the album actually have 1979 listed as the copyright date). Their hit from this album, "Funkytown" spent four weeks at Number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts in the United States and was awarded a platinum record. It reached number two in the United Kingdom and was a hit throughout the world. Their further singles failed to match their initial success (their only other Hot 100 entry was "Rock It", which peaked at #64), however they had more dance hits throughout the 1980s, including "How Long?" (originally a big hit for Ace) in 1981, which reached #4 on the U.S. dance chart. The group released their final full-length album, 4 in 1983.

The song "Funkytown" has had popular recognition again recently due to a mash-up of it with Soulwax's dance track "NY Excuse" appearing on the Soulwax remix album Nite Versions. The track is titled "NY Lipps".

[edit] References in other popular culture

• In one episode of The Simpsons when Homer hears a song by Country artist Lurleen Lumpkin, he comments 'I haven't felt this way since Funkytown'.
• In the TV show Malcolm in the Middle, Hal roller-skates to the song Funkytown in the episode "Rollerskates".
• In one episode of South Park the Towel Towelie plays "Funkytown" using a telephone number pad by keying in 557 544-5085.
• In the British TV series Skins Cassie dances to "Funkytown" with her examiner and teacher when she is sitting her exams.
• In the cartoon series Futurama, the news anchor Morbo sings Funkytown in a karaoke bar in the episode Amazon Women in the Mood.
• In the film "Shrek 2", Funkytown is played when Shrek, Fiona and Donkey arrive in Far Far Away Land.
• In the Mel Brooks film History of the World Part 1 Funkytown can be heard from a humorously anachronistic boom box in ancient Rome.
• In one episode of Friends Monica and Rachel were dancing to Funkytown during a flashback scene when they went to visit Ross in college.

[edit] Covers

• The Australian group called Pseudo Echo had a very successful cover version of the song in the summer of 1987. It reached #6 in the US, #8 in the UK, and topped the charts in Australia for 7 weeks from December 1986, as well as charting high in many other countries around the world.
• A Mexican Rap/Rock group called Molotov made a cover version of the song "Designer Music" on their album Con Todo Respeto.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

• Mouth to Mouth (1979/1980)
• Pucker Up (1980)
• Designer Music (1981)
• 4 (1983)
• Hit the Deck (EP) (1985)

[edit] Compilation Album

• Funkyworld: The Best of Lipps Inc. (1992)

[edit] Songs

• "Rock It"
• "How Long"
• "Funkytown"
• "Designer Music"
• "All Night Dancing"
• "Jazzy"
• "There They Are"
• "Tight Pair"
• "Addicted To The Night"
• "Hold Me Down"
• "Choir Practice"
• "Hit The Deck"
• "Does Anybody Know"
• "Power"
• "Gossip Song"

[edit] See also

• List of number-one hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)
• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart

[edit] External links

• The official Funkytown website