On The Beat

The Brooklyn, Bronx & Queens Band recorded On The Beat for its 1981 debut album, with instrumental sessions at Fonoprint Studios in Italy and vocals at Mediasound Studios in New York. Jacques Fred Petrus produced the record, with Mauro Malavasi on keyboards and arrangements, and personnel including Ike Floyd, Peewee Ford, Terry Silverlight, Paolo Gianolio, and Kevin Nance. On The Beat was the debut single and breakthrough record for the B.B. & Q. Band in 1981. It reached number 3 on Billboard's dance chart, number 8 on Billboard's R&B chart, and number 41 on the UK singles chart. On The Beat remained the group's signature club record and a central example of the Petrus-Malavasi New York and Italian studio-dance sound. Its bassline, keyboard riff, and vocal hook later became a source for house, hip-hop, and dance productions.