On this day in 1982: Singer, TV actress and dancer Toni Basil went to #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘Mickey.’ The song was written by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn as ‘Kitty’, and was first recorded by the U.K. group Racey in 1979. Toni Basil changed the name from Kitty to Mickey to make the song about a man.
Toni Basil’s version of the song was initially issued as a single in the U.K. in May of 1981, but did not chart at that time. It was reissued in January 1982, and “Mickey” quickly became a substantial U.K. hit, reaching #2. It entered the Australian Top 50 in April of 1982 and took nine weeks to reach #1, where it remained for two weeks.
Finally issued as a single in North America in August 1982, “Mickey” became a #1 hit in the U.S. and Canada in late 1982, a year and a half after its original release.
The original Racey song did not include the famous “Oh Mickey, you’re so fine, you’re so fine, you blow my mind” chant, which Basil added. For years, it had been rumored that the name was changed to Mickey because Basil developed a crush on the Monkees’ drummer and lead vocalist Micky Dolenz after meeting him on the set of their movie, ‘Head’ for which she was the choreographer; however, this claim was denied by Basil, who has said she did not know Dolenz that well.
The song spent one week at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December of 1982. It would be Toni’s one and only Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. She would have two other charting songs on the Hot 100, neither charting higher than #77. It was named #5 on VH1’s 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of All Time, #16 on 20 to 1’s Top 20 One Hit Wonders Countdown and #57 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of the ’80s. It has also appeared on multiple greatest or best lists and countdowns.
Here’s a look at the complete Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart on this day back in 1982:
1 3 MICKEY –•– Toni Basil (Chrysalis)-15 (1 week at #1) (1)
2 2 GLORIA –•– Laura Branigan (Atlantic)-23 (2)
3 4 MANEATER –•– Daryl Hall and John Oates (RCA)-9 (3)
4 1 TRULY –•– Lionel Richie (Motown)-10 (1)
5 8 THE GIRL IS MINE –•– Michael Jackson/Paul McCartney (Epic)-6 (5)
6 7 STEPPIN’ OUT –•– Joe Jackson (A&M)-17 (6)
7 9 DIRTY LAUNDRY –•– Don Henley (Asylum)-7 (7)
8 12 SEXUAL HEALING –•– Marvin Gaye (Columbia)-7 (8)
9 11 ROCK THIS TOWN –•– The Stray Cats (EMI-America)-13 (9)
10 10 MUSCLES –•– Diana Ross (RCA)-11 (10)
11 13 IT’S RAINING AGAIN –•– Supertramp (A&M)-7 (11)
12 6 UP WHERE WE BELONG Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes (Island)-17 (1)
13 14 SHADOWS OF THE NIGHT –•– Pat Benatar (Chrysalis)-9 (13)
14 19 DOWN UNDER –•– Men At Work (Columbia)-6 (14)
15 17 HEARTBREAKER –•– Dionne Warwick (Arista)-10 (15)
16 16 HEART ATTACK –•– Olivia Newton-John (MCA)-15 (3)
17 5 HEARTLIGHT –•– Neil Diamond (Columbia)-14 (5)
18 27 AFRICA –•– Toto (Columbia)-7 (18)
19 25 ROCK THE CASBAH –•– The Clash (Epic)-11 (19)
20 21 THE LOOK OF LOVE (Part 1) –•– ABC (Mercury)-14 (20)
