"Jack and Jill" is a 1977 hit song by R&B vocal group Raydio. It was the first single from their debut album '' Raydio'', and became an international top 10 hit. It reached number eight on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and number six on the '' Cashbox'' Top 100. It reached number five in Canada, number four in Australia, and the top twenty in UK. It was the first of five U.S. top 10 singles by

Ray Parker Jr. Ray Erskine Parker Jr. (born May 1, 1954) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. As a solo performer, he wrote and performed the theme song to the 1984 film '' Ghostbusters''. Previously, Parker achieved a US top-10 h ...

and/or Raydio. The song describes how "Jack" is lonely and so, in spite of his good intentions, wanders down the hill to find love elsewhere after being neglected by "Jill", who is seldom home. '' Record World'' called it "a mid-tempo r&b song that expands on the nursery rhyme in interesting fashion." In 1981, "

A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do) "A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do)" is a 1981 song recorded by American R&B vocalist and songwriter Ray Parker Jr., along with his group, Raydio. It led their 1981 album, ''A Woman Needs Love'', the last Parker recorded with Raydio. Backgr ...

" became a hit as an answer song to "Jack and Jill". Parker wrote an antithesis from "Jill's" perspective, according to the lyrics, "By the time poor Jack returned up the hill, somebody else had been loving Jill." In 1982, Parker recorded an extended version of the song. It was released on a re-issue of his second solo album. In this version, Parker performed all of the vocals instead of just some of them.

Personnel

Raydio

– guitars, chorus lead vocals *

Jerry Knight Jerry Ernest Knight (April 17, 1952 — December 29, 1996) was an American R&B vocalist and bassist who reached prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s, during which he was part of several groups and had a brief solo career. Career A Los ...

– bass, first lead vocals *Arnell Carmichael – second lead vocals

Additional personnel

* Ollie E. Brown – drums *

Sylvester Rivers Sylvester Rivers (born October 28, 1953) is an American composer, arranger, pianist and producer, based in Los Angeles, California. A prolific session musician, he has recorded with numerous major artists including Aretha Franklin, Nancy Wilson ...

– piano *Sylvia Duckworth – background vocals *Valerie Jones – background vocals *Francine Pearlman – background vocals *Rochelle Runnels – background vocals *Janice Williams – background vocals from the band Stargard

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

External links

Lyrics of this song
* {{authority control 1977 songs 1977 debut singles Ray Parker Jr. songs Songs written by Ray Parker Jr. Arista Records singles Songs about infidelity