Am I the Same Girl

"Am I the Same Girl?" is a popular song written by Eugene Record and Sonny Sanders. First recorded in 1968 by Barbara Acklin, "Am I the Same Girl?" charted most successfully in the US as a 1992 release by Swing Out Sister. However, the song had its greatest impact as a 1968-69 instrumental hit single by Young-Holt Unlimited under the title "Soulful Strut".

Background
Although Barbara Acklin recorded the song first, producer Carl Davis removed her voice from the track, replaced it with a piano solo by Floyd Morris, and released the resultant track in November 1968 as "Soulful Strut" credited to Young-Holt Unlimited; it became a #3 hit in the United States and went to #1 in Canada. It became a gold record. Neither Eldee Young nor Red Holt is believed to have played on the track, which was the work of session musicians identified only as the Brunswick Studio Band. Acklin's version was released in February 1969 and reached #33 on the R&B chart, crossing over and peaking at #79 on the pop listing.

Other versions

Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield, on the recommendation of Douggie Reece the bassist in her touring band the Echoes,  recorded "Am I the Same Girl?" at Philips Studios Marble Arch in August 1969; Bill Landis produced the session which was arranged by Keith Mansfield. The track marked Springfield's last UK chart appearance of the 1960s but was not a major hit, stalling at #43. "Am I the Same Girl?" also gave Springfield a minor hit in Australia (#75).

Swing Out Sister
The vocal version "Am I the Same Girl?" had its most successful incarnation via a 1992 remake by Swing Out Sister, recorded for the album Get in Touch with Yourself. The group's vocalist Corinne Drewery has acknowledged Dusty Springfield as a major influence; however, it was a chance hearing of the original Barbara Acklin version at a Manchester disco specializing in Northern soul that convinced Drewery and her Swing Out Sister partner Andy Connell to remake "Am I the Same Girl?".

Released as the lead single from the album, "Am I the Same Girl?" gave Swing Out Sister their highest UK chart ranking since their inaugural chart singles in 1986-87, the Top Ten hits "Breakout" and "Surrender"; peaking at #21. The track had more impact in continental Europe, hitting #8 in Germany, #15 in the Netherlands, and #13 in Italy (it even gave the group their all-time high French chart showing, albeit at a modest #54). "Am I the Same Girl?" also represented a strong comeback for Swing Out Sister in the US, where it was released in September 1992 and reached #45 on the Billboard Hot 100 — the track's peak on the Cashbox Pop 100 was #32 — while reaching #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

In September 2005, Martha Stewart began to use the Swing Out Sister version in her promo commercials for her show Martha on NBC television in America and then as the opening introduction theme song of the show. Each show starts with the song playing over a montage of images and photos of Martha Stewart growing up.

Although Corinne Drewery has rendered arguably the definitive vocal interpretation of the song, the Swing Out Sister recording contains a lyric that some have interpreted as being "Am I the same girl who knew her soul?"; others hear "Am I the same girl who knew your soul?" or "Am I the same girl who you hurt so?" -- which was the line in the original Acklin recording. (This was allegedly due to Acklin's personal relationship with the song's writer in 1968.) 

Having recorded two distinct live renditions of "Am I the Same Girl?", which appear on respectively Live at the Jazz Café (1993) and Live in Tokyo (2005), Swing Out Sister recorded a new studio version of the song for their 2012 album Private View.

Also
In 1969, Bill Deal and the Rhondels included a version of "Soulful Strut" on their Vintage Rock LP (on Heritage Records, HTS-35,003).

Also in 1969, Brazilian organist Walter Wanderley included a rollicking version on his Moondreams album.

In 1970, Salena Jones recorded "Am I the Same Girl?" for her album Everybody's Talkin' About Salena Jones.

In 1976, Peruvian musician Otto de Rojas, with his Ultra 76 Orchestra, recorded a disco version of Young-Holt's "Soulful Strut": "Al Ritmo del Bump-Bump" ("Dancing to the Bump-Bump rhythm"), which gained a high profile in Peru via its use in a pop music TV show hosted by the Mexican comedian Rodolfo Rey "Cachirulo", aired through the local Panamericana Television station.  Also in 1979, George Benson did a cover of "Soulful Strut" on his Livin' Inside Your Love album.

In 1990, the 2 Live Crew sampled the tune for their song "Coolin'", which was the last track on their infamous release As Nasty As They Wanna Be.

In 1996, "Soulful Strut" was covered by saxophonist Grover Washington Jr., which peaked at #45 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop album chart and #187 on the Billboard 200 album chart.

Young-Holt Unlimited's "Soulful Strut" was featured on the soundtrack of the 1998 film The Parent Trap, subtly referencing how the plot revolves around twin girls secretly swapping places (the title of "Soulful Strut's vocal version being "Am I the Same Girl?"). "Soulful Strut" was also used in the film's advertising.

In 1999, saxophonist Kim Waters recorded "Am I the Same Girl? (Soulful Strut)" for his One Special Moment album; featuring vocalist Meli'sa Morgan, the track was a non-charting single release in February 2000.

Dionne Bromfield covered this song on her debut album Introducing Dionne Bromfield (2009).

The gender adjusted "Am I the Same Guy" was recorded by Tom Gaebel for his 2008 Don't Wanna Dance album.

The French rendering "Je suis bien la même" was recorded in 1969 by Séverine.

In 2005, Joss Stone used the Young-Holt version as a starting point for her song "Don't Cha Wanna Ride", and credited the composers of "Am I the Same Girl?" as co-composers of her song.

Chart positions

References

Category:1968 singles
Category:1969 singles
Category:1992 singles
Category:Dusty Springfield songs
Category:Swing Out Sister songs
Category:Billboard Adult Contemporary number-one singles
Category:Songs written by Eugene Record
Category:Brunswick Records singles
Category:Fontana Records singles
Category:Philips Records singles
Category:1968 songs