Blue Thumb: Yes We Can Can

The next selection in our fourth week special on Blue Thumb Records comes from The Pointer Sisters’ 1973 self-titled debut album. While the sisters had released several singles prior to “Yes We Can Can,” it was the first single by the sisters to chart within the Top 40. “Yes We Can Can” peaked on the Hot 100 at #11 and would remain their highest charting single on the Hot 100 until 1978’s release of “Fire.” The song also peaked at #12 on the R&B charts.

“Yes We Can Can” was written by New Orleans musical legend Allen Toussaint and had been originally released by Lee Dorsey in 1970. The Pointer’s version eclipsed Dosrey’s original which failed to make it to the Hot 100 and only charted at #46. Like Dorsey’s release, the single edit was nearly half the length of the album version.

The album, “The Pointer Sisters,” also did well. It peaked at #12 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart and at #3 on the R&B Albums chart. In February 1974, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales in excess of 500,000 copies

Anita Pointer handled the lead vocals on “Yes We Can Can” – the group’s first of many Blue Thumb singles. Sisters Ruth, Anita, and Bonnie handled the back-up vocals.