“Hot Number” by Foxy

Hialeah, Florida-based groove crew Foxy followed up their dance smash “Get Off” with the furious club banger “Hot Number,” released in 1979. The band brings its potent mix of funk, Latin, and disco to this infectious party jam. It features a supertight horn arrangement, a scorching beat, sweet guitar licks, and a fearsome bass line. Ish Ledesma delivers a rousing lead vocal performance and serves up some nasty funk on talkbox guitar. The song also boasts a marvelous chorus, bolstered by the soulful vocals of the singing trio Rhodes, Chalmers, and Rhodes. 

Written by Ledesma, “Hot Number” is about sexual attraction, confidence, and the search for a willing romantic partner for a passionate encounter. It’s a single from Foxy’s third studio album, Hot Numbers, released in 1979 on Dash Records, a subsidiary of the Miami-based TK Productions. It peaked at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on Billboard’s R&B singles chart. And it rose to #26 on Billboard’s dance charts. Also, the song is featured on the soundtrack of the 1980 film Spettters.

Here’s the full personnel for “Hot Number”: Ish Ledesma (lead and backing vocals, guitar, synthesizer), Arnold Paseiro (bass), Joe Galdo (drums, percussion, backing vocals), Charlie Murciano (keyboards, backing vocals), and Richie Puente (percussion); vocal trio Rhodes, Chalmers, and Rhodes (Donna Rhodes, Charlie Chalmers, and Sandra Rhodes) provided backing vocals; the horns were provided by the Brecker Brothers–Randy Brecker (trumpet) and Michael Brecker (saxophone).

“Hot Number” was Foxy’s last big hit before the band broke up in 1980. 

Foxy performing "Hot Number" on the TV music variety series The Midnight Special in 1979

"Hot Number" is available at Amazon

Related blog entry:

"Get Off" by Foxy