Rub You the Right Way

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"Rub You the Right Way"
Single by Johnny Gill
from the album Johnny Gill
ReleasedMarch 28, 1990 (1990-03-28)
StudioFlyte Tyme (Edina, Minnesota)
GenreNew jack swing[1]
Length
  • 5:31 (album version)
  • 4:07 (single version)
LabelMotown
SongwriterJames Harris III & Terry Lewis
Producers
Johnny Gill singles chronology
"Where Do We Go from Here"
(1989) 		"Rub You the Right Way"
(1990) 		"My, My, My"
(1990)

"Rub You the Right Way" is a song by American singer Johnny Gill, issued in March 1990 as the first single from his self-titled third album (1990). The single was written and produced by James Harris III & Terry Lewis. A remixed version of the song exists with a rap verse from CL Smooth.

Composition

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According to Billboard magazine, the song is about sex, more specifically a "man who offers to use his hands wisely during a night of lovin'."[2]

Chart performance

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"Rub You the Right Way" spent one week at number one on the US Billboard Hot Black Singles chart and reached numbers three and four on the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100.[3][4] The single also peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart.[5]

Charts

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Weekly charts

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Chart (1990) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[6] 59
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[7] 27
Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[8] 4
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[9] 26
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10] 27
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11] 41
UK Singles (OCC)[12] 77
US Billboard Hot 100[4] 3
US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard)[13] 6
US Dance Club Play (Billboard)[5] 16
US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)[3] 1
US Cash Box Top 100[14] 4

Year-end charts

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Chart (1990) Position
US Billboard Hot 100[15] 23
US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard)[16] 40
US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard)[17] 17
US Cash Box Top 100[18] 49

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[19] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States March 28, 1990 — Motown [19]
United Kingdom June 4, 1990
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
 [20]
Australia June 25, 1990
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • cassette
 [21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Josephs, Brian (July 20, 2012). "The 25 Best New Jack Swing Songs". Complex. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  2. ^ M. Tye Comer; Mariel Concepcion; Monica Herrera; Jessica Letkemann; Evie Nagy; David J. Prince (February 11, 2010). "The 50 Sexiest Songs of All Time". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. May 19, 1990. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. August 4, 1990. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Dance Club Songs". Billboard. July 7, 1990. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  6. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 113.
  7. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1321." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  8. ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 7978." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  9. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 26, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  10. ^ "Johnny Gill – Rub You the Right Way" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  11. ^ "Johnny Gill – Rub You the Right Way". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  12. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  13. ^ "Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. June 16, 1990. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  14. ^ Cash Box Chart Entries 1990-1996
  15. ^ "1990 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 102, no. 51. December 22, 1990. p. YE-14.
  16. ^ "The Year in Music 1990: Top Dance Sales 12-inch Singles". Billboard. Vol. 102, no. 51. December 22, 1990. p. YE-31.
  17. ^ "The Year in Music 1990: Top R&B Singles". Billboard. Vol. 102, no. 51. December 22, 1990. p. YE-22.
  18. ^ "Awards: Top 50 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. LIV, no. 22. December 29, 1990. p. 9. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  19. ^ a b "American single certifications – Johnny Gill – Rub You the Right Way". Recording Industry Association of America.
  20. ^ "New Singles". Music Week. June 2, 1990. p. 41.
  21. ^ "New Release Summary: Singles". The ARIA Report. No. 24. June 24, 1990. p. 19.