The R&B sibling trio known as the Pointer Sisters had sent three songs into the very upper reaches of the pop chart from 1978 to 1981, but their 1982 album So Excited had failed to generate a hit that big – at least initially – and the Pointers appeared to be cooling off a bit.
But that perception was reversed with the release of their 1984 album Break Out, which more than doubled the group’s tally of top 10 hits.
Lead single “Automatic” would reach #5 on the Hot 100 and a remixed version of their previous album’s title track “I’m So Excited” found its audience the second time around, climbing to #9.
But for my money, their best hit of 1984 was the one sandwiched in between those smashes.
With a title that was elongated a bit to avoid confusion with another big hit released earlier in the year (more on that one later), it was the highest charting song from the LP, reaching #3, and it’s an energetic, feel-good banger cajoling a crush to take things to the next level.
The Pointer Sisters leap in at #58 with “Jump (For My Love).”