Lipps Inc. – Funkytown

Lipps, Inc (pronounced like “lip sync”) was a studio band that achieved one significant hit, “Funkytown” in 1979.

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

They achieved some popularity during the disco era of the late 1970s but only achieved one pop hit. “Funkytown” spent four weeks at number one on both the 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” in 1981, which reached #4 on the U.S. dance chart. The group ceased recording in the mid 1980s.

A rock version of “Funkytown” was covered by the Australia group Pseudo Echo in 1987 on their album Love An Adventure and reached the top of the charts there.