Son of a Gun (JX song) explained

Son of a Gun
Cover:Son_of_a_Gun_JX.jpeg
Type:single
Artist:JX
Length:3:15
Label:
Producer:
  • JX
  • Red Jerry
Next Title:You Belong to Me
Next Year:1995

"Son of a Gun" is the debut single of British dance music DJ Jake Williams, released under the name JX. It was released in March 1994, reaching number six in the United Kingdom and Australia and number 35 in the Netherlands. The song contains samples from the 1976 song "Touch and Go" by Ecstasy, Passion & Pain featuring Barbara Roy. Two different music videos were made to promote the single. The Top Ten chart success of "Son Of A Gun" in Australia was very much, almost solely, due to a community radio station in Melbourne, 98.9 North West FM. The station instantly identified the hit quality of the song and immediately added the song to the station's playlist on high rotation, and also incorporated grabs (small parts) of the song in station IDs, "cue to call" promotions and other program elements. This almost saturation exposure of the song not only brought the song to the attention of the station's listeners, but also forced the hand of other Melbourne radio stations to add the song to their own playlists, some taking a full three months after North West FM's debut.

Critical reception

In his weekly UK chart commentary in Dotmusic, James Masterton described the song as a "bubbling synthesised dance hit".[1] A reviewer from Music Week gave it four out of five, adding, "A corking house tune that has failed to keep its head down, hence the reissue. Lyrics with attitude and some stomping remixes from JX and Red Jerry among others."[2] Iestyn George from NME praised it as a "classic camp-a-rama".[3] The RM Dance Update complimented it as a "banging Euro stomper".[4] An RM editor, Andy Beevers, called it "an unstoppable belter with dead catchy hi-energy synth riffs and the unforgettable A man that's on the run is a dirty son of a gun female vocal hook. There are apparently Alex Party remixes on the way, although this existing mix should be all you need to create dancefloor mayhem."[5] He also declared it as "a potential hit".[6] In his dance column DJ Directory, James Hamilton described it as a "diva prodded raver".[7]

Chart performance

In the UK, the single originally peaked at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart on 2 April 1994. In August 1995, it was re-released after "You Belong to Me"'s chart success and peaked at number six the same month. On the UK Dance Singles Chart and Music Weeks Dance Singles chart, it reached number two and number one, respectively. In Scotland, it went to number four, while in Ireland, it entered the top 20 (15). "Son of a Gun" was also a top-10 hit in Australia, peaking at number six.

Track listings

A1: "Son of a Gun" (Red Jerry/JX Mix)

A2: "Son of a Gun" (C.Y.B. Run Mix)

B1: "Son of a Gun" (Alex Party Mix)

B2: "Son of a Gun" (A Deeper Cut)

  1. "Son of a Gun" (Hooj Edit) – 3:38
  2. "Son of a Gun" (Red Jerry/JX Mix) – 7:35
  3. "Son of a Gun" (Alex Party Mix) – 4:51
  4. "Son of a Gun" (C.Y.B. Run Mix) – 4:39
  5. "Son of a Gun" (A Deeper Cut) – 7:29
  6. "Son of a Gun" (Original Mix) – 5:50
  1. "Son of a Gun" (Original Hooj Edit) – 3:15
  2. "Son of a Gun" (JX & Red Jerry Flog The Horse Remix) – 7:12
  3. "Son of a Gun" (Blu Peter Vs Trigger Bitchin Remix) – 6:35
  4. "Son of a Gun" (Candy Girls "Where's The Crack" Remix) – 9:07
  5. "Son of a Gun" (Original Hooj 12" Mix) – 6:58

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1994–1995)Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[8] 35
Europe (European Dance Radio)[9] 11
UK Dance (Music Week)[10] 1
UK Club Chart (Music Week)[11] 14

Year-end charts

Chart (1994)Position
Australia (ARIA)[12] 49
UK Club Chart (Music Week)[13] 80

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United Kingdom21 March 1994[14]
United Kingdom (re-release)7 August 1995[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Masterton. James. Week Ending August 19th 1995. Chart Watch UK. 13 August 1995. 22 September 2021. James Masterton.
  2. Reviews: Singles . . 15 July 1995 . 29 . 11 May 2021 .
  3. Iestyn. George. Groove Check. NME. 25 February 1995. 19. 14 December 2023. Iestyn George.
  4. Cool Cuts . Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) . 19 February 1994 . 3 . 14 April 2021.
  5. Andy . Beevers . Hot Vinyl . Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) . 19 February 1994 . 6 . 14 April 2021.
  6. Andy . Beevers . Market Preview: Dance . . 26 March 1994 . 15 . 15 April 2021.
  7. James . Hamilton . Dj directory . Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) . 19 March 1994 . 7 . 15 April 2021 . James Hamilton (DJ and journalist).
  8. Eurochart Hot 100. Music & Media. 11. 15. 26. 9 April 1994. 15 March 2018.
  9. European Dance Radio Top 25. Music & Media. 16 September 1995. 19. 25 April 2023.
  10. Dance Singles . . 2 April 1994 . 22 . 24 April 2021.
  11. The RM Club Chart. Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 26 February 1994. 10. 15 May 2023.
  12. Web site: ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1994. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1995. 1 September 2014.
  13. The RM Club Chart of the Year. Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 24 December 1994. 10. 20 May 2023.
  14. Single Releases. Music Week. 21. 19 March 1994.
  15. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 31. 5 August 1995.