Music Metrics Vault

Carl Douglas

Data updated on 2025-03-25 20:00:10 UTC
The one-hit wonder behind the disco novelty smash "Kung Fu Fighting," Carl Douglas was also the first Jamaican-born artist to score a number one single in the United States. Douglas was raised in both California and Jamaica, and eventually moved to England to study sound engineering. In 1964, he formed a group called the Big Stampede, which released a couple of U.K. singles; two years later, he formed the Explosions while living in Spain. Upon returning to England, Douglas teamed up with a band called Gonzales, which quickly led to his becoming a session vocalist for Pye Records. In 1972, Douglas worked with Indian-born producer Biddu on the soundtrack to the Richard Roundtree film Embassy; so, two years later, when Biddu was searching for a vocalist to record the Larry Weiss composition "I Want to Give You My Everything," he contacted Douglas. Needing a quick B-side, Biddu set a melody to some lyrics Douglas had written about the kung fu craze sweeping pop culture courtesy of Bruce Lee's Enter the Dragon and David Carradine's TV series Kung Fu. "Kung Fu Fighting" was recorded in just ten minutes and elevated to the A-side of the single at Pye's insistence. The song topped the charts first in the U.K., then the U.S. and several other countries, selling over nine million copies worldwide. Pye quickly cobbled together an LP featuring a few novelty tracks and some straight-up soul/disco tunes, releasing it as Kung Fu Fighting and Other Great Love Songs. The follow-up single, "Dance the Kung Fu," flopped in America, pegging Douglas as strictly a novelty act, but it made the Top 20 in Britain, and "Run Back" reached the U.K. Top 30 in 1977. Douglas went on to release two more albums, Love, Peace and Happiness in 1979 and Keep Pleasing Me in 1983; the title track of the former was a U.K. Top 30 hit. Douglas eventually moved to Hamburg, Germany, where he owns a profitable production company that supplies music for films and advertisements. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi

Total plays

289.9 million
Updated on 2025-03-25

Monthly listeners

2,201,077

Followers

55,433

Top Cities

  1. Australia
    34,804 listeners
  2. Australia
    29,670 listeners
  3. Australia
    26,324 listeners
  4. Brazil
    22,785 listeners
  5. United Kingdom
    20,886 listeners

Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
Kung Fu Fighting
Kung Fu Fighting
275,789,100 3:18 1974-01-01
Kung Fu Fighting
Kung Fu Fighting
5,549,295 3:52 1998-03-18
Kung Fu Fighting - Dave Ruffy & Mark Wallis Remix
Kung Fu Fighting - Dave Ruffy & Mark Wallis Remix
1,212,359 3:15 2005-01-01
What's Good for the Goose
What's Good for the Goose
1,148,021 3:52 1977-01-01
(Still) Kung Fu Fighting
(Still) Kung Fu Fighting
972,842 2:49 2024-10-24
When You Got Love
When You Got Love
551,591 3:31 1974-01-01
Dance the Kung Fu
Dance the Kung Fu
463,416 3:08 1974-01-01
I Want to Give You My Everything
I Want to Give You My Everything
355,400 2:38 1974-01-01
Serving a Sentence of Life
Serving a Sentence of Life
329,128 2:25 2016-10-14
Kung Fu Fighting 2011 (Carl Douglas vs. Simon Ledger)
Kung Fu Fighting 2011 (Carl Douglas vs. Simon Ledger)
300,398 3:30 2011-08-14
Run Back
Run Back
195,832 3:24 1978-01-01
Kung Fu Fighting - Dreadzone Remix
Kung Fu Fighting - Dreadzone Remix
186,821 4:45 2005-01-01
Kung Fu Fighting - Paralyzer Disco Version
Kung Fu Fighting - Paralyzer Disco Version
178,256 3:34 2014-08-15
I'll Keep Lovin' You
I'll Keep Lovin' You
175,752 3:01 1977-01-01
Witchfinder General
Witchfinder General
169,225 2:54 1974-01-01
Too Hot to Handle
Too Hot to Handle
168,203 3:18 1977-01-01
Changing Times
Changing Times
161,084 3:01 1974-01-01
Green Tangerines and Wild Evergreens
Green Tangerines and Wild Evergreens
122,499 4:00 1977-01-01
Never Had This Dream Before
Never Had This Dream Before
111,901 3:10 1974-01-01
I Don't Care What People Say
I Don't Care What People Say
111,088 3:37 1974-01-01
Blue Eyed Soul (Instrumental)
Blue Eyed Soul (Instrumental)
108,967 4:48 1974-01-01
M.O.R.F. (Instrumental)
M.O.R.F. (Instrumental)
99,709 3:29 1977-01-01
Kung Fu Fighting - Uptone Remix
Kung Fu Fighting - Uptone Remix
89,384 4:36 2005-01-01
Kung Fu Fighting - Extended Mix
Kung Fu Fighting - Extended Mix
88,614 5:10 1998-03-18
Stand Up for Love
Stand Up for Love
71,115 4:53 1977-01-01
Mistakes of Mine
Mistakes of Mine
69,341 3:59 1977-01-01
Love, Peace & Happiness
Love, Peace & Happiness
69,271 3:08 1977-01-01
Kung Fu Fighting - Salz Remix
Kung Fu Fighting - Salz Remix
69,106 7:01 2005-01-01
Kung Fu Fighting - Noiseshaper Remix
Kung Fu Fighting - Noiseshaper Remix
69,080 4:34 2005-01-01
Girl You're so Fine
Girl You're so Fine
68,538 2:52 1977-01-01
Shanghai'd
Shanghai'd
59,171 2:55 1977-01-01
Honest Woman
Honest Woman
58,962 3:27 2001-01-01
I'll Be Your Light
I'll Be Your Light
57,789 4:41 1977-01-01
Kung Fu Fighting - In the Name of Seeed Remix
Kung Fu Fighting - In the Name of Seeed Remix
50,165 3:31 2014-01-01
Kung Fu Fighting - Adrian Sherwood's On-U-Sound Remix
Kung Fu Fighting - Adrian Sherwood's On-U-Sound Remix
42,547 4:42 2005-01-01
Kung Fu Fighting (Grasshopper Remix) (12" Version)
Kung Fu Fighting (Grasshopper Remix) (12" Version)
33,322 5:42 2022-05-06
Kebab Fighting
Kebab Fighting
31,015 1:24 2019-11-23
Kung Fu Fighting - Remix in the Name of Seeed
Kung Fu Fighting - Remix in the Name of Seeed
26,864 5:26 2005-01-01
Patches
Patches
25,389 2:56 2003-01-01
Kung Fu Fighting - Robo Bass Hifi Remix
Kung Fu Fighting - Robo Bass Hifi Remix
25,366 4:51 2014-08-15
Kung Fu Fighting - Rob Smith Dub Cuts
Kung Fu Fighting - Rob Smith Dub Cuts
24,937 4:04 2012-03-09
Kung Fu Fighting - Karl Möstl Remix
Kung Fu Fighting - Karl Möstl Remix
23,525 4:19 2005-01-01
Kung Fu Fighting - Don Letts Dub Cartel Remix
Kung Fu Fighting - Don Letts Dub Cartel Remix
20,263 7:06 2005-01-01
Kung Fu Fighting - Noiseshaper Remix Edit
Kung Fu Fighting - Noiseshaper Remix Edit
17,392 3:21 2014-01-01
Return of the Fighter
Return of the Fighter
17,166 3:56 2008-04-25
Kung Fu Fighting (1989 Remix) (12" Version)
Kung Fu Fighting (1989 Remix) (12" Version)
16,399 5:51 2022-01-01
Blue Eyed Soul, Pt. 1
Blue Eyed Soul, Pt. 1
16,358 3:21 1974-01-01
Kung Fu Fighting - Kid Loco Remix
Kung Fu Fighting - Kid Loco Remix
15,127 4:06 2005-01-01
Kung Fu Fighting - Rob Smith Remix
Kung Fu Fighting - Rob Smith Remix
14,353 3:33 2005-01-01
Kung Fu Fighting (Grasshopper Remix) (7" Version)
Kung Fu Fighting (Grasshopper Remix) (7" Version)
13,442 3:16 2022-06-03
Kung Fu Fighting - Hongkong Harbour Dub
Kung Fu Fighting - Hongkong Harbour Dub
13,430 4:51 2005-01-01
Gamblin' Man
Gamblin' Man
13,266 3:02 1974-01-01
Kung Fu Fighting - Uptone Remix Edit
Kung Fu Fighting - Uptone Remix Edit
12,787 3:33 2014-01-01
Kung Fu Fighting - Dubblestandart Remix
Kung Fu Fighting - Dubblestandart Remix
12,373 4:48 2005-01-01
Kung Fu Fighting (Instrumental)
Kung Fu Fighting (Instrumental)
12,275 3:10 2022-05-06
Game Of Death
Game Of Death
11,512 5:11 2008-04-25
Nu Kid In Da House
Nu Kid In Da House
11,357 4:18 2008-04-25
Kung Fu Fighting - Audio Active Remix
Kung Fu Fighting - Audio Active Remix
11,305 5:18 2005-01-01
Time After Time
Time After Time
10,602 5:21 2008-04-25
Year Of The Child
Year Of The Child
10,090 4:49 2008-04-25
Charmer
Charmer
9,134 4:28 2008-04-25
Kung Fu Fighting - Noiseshaper Remix
Kung Fu Fighting - Noiseshaper Remix
7,999 9:56 2005-05-30
Go Have Some Fun
Go Have Some Fun
7,931 4:27 2008-04-25
Kung Fu Fighting - Noiseshaper Remix (Extended Version)
Kung Fu Fighting - Noiseshaper Remix (Extended Version)
7,118 6:45 2014-08-15
Kung Fu Fighting - Glitch Hop Remix by Klaus Lehr & Markus Kammann
Kung Fu Fighting - Glitch Hop Remix by Klaus Lehr & Markus Kammann
7,048 3:49 2014-08-15
Kung Fu Fighting - The Strike Boys Remix
Kung Fu Fighting - The Strike Boys Remix
6,746 6:05 2005-01-01
Kung Fu Fighting - Pole Remix
Kung Fu Fighting - Pole Remix
6,601 3:13 2005-01-01
Kung Fu Fighting - G-Rizo Remix
Kung Fu Fighting - G-Rizo Remix
6,191 5:41 2005-01-01
Kung Fu Fighting - On-U Sound's Mutant Hifi Cut
Kung Fu Fighting - On-U Sound's Mutant Hifi Cut
5,735 4:56 2014-08-15
Kung Fu Fighting - Pre Fade Listening Remix
Kung Fu Fighting - Pre Fade Listening Remix
5,280 4:16 2014-08-15
Pot Of Gold
Pot Of Gold
5,170 4:46 2008-04-25
Stir A Little Sweetness
Stir A Little Sweetness
4,568 5:59 2008-04-25
Stop Me Crying
Stop Me Crying
4,357 3:28 1978-01-01
Kung Fu Fighting - The Strike Boys Shaolin Dub Remix
Kung Fu Fighting - The Strike Boys Shaolin Dub Remix
4,318 5:59 2014-08-15
Some Place To Go
Some Place To Go
4,020 4:20 2008-04-25
Back Street City Lights
Back Street City Lights
3,981 3:03 1978-01-01
Too Hot to Handle
Too Hot to Handle
3,956 3:30 2008-04-25
Keep On Pleasing Me
Keep On Pleasing Me
3,706 2:53 1978-01-01
Mistakes of Mine
Mistakes of Mine
3,679 4:32 2008-04-25
Peace of Mind
Peace of Mind
3,621 2:54 1978-01-01
Kung Fu Fighting - G-Rizo Vocal Version (Breathe Edit)
Kung Fu Fighting - G-Rizo Vocal Version (Breathe Edit)
3,361 1:52 2014-08-15
Mirror Man
Mirror Man
3,174 3:60 2008-04-25
Fooling Around
Fooling Around
3,039 3:03 1978-01-01
Kung Fu Fighting (1989 Remix) (7" Version)
Kung Fu Fighting (1989 Remix) (7" Version)
2,977 3:24 2022-01-01
Runaway Bus
Runaway Bus
2,441 2:42 1978-01-01
Stop
Stop
1,966 3:18 1978-01-01
Blackwall Tunnel
Blackwall Tunnel
1,895 4:15 2008-04-25
Lady Sadie
Lady Sadie
1,870 3:43 1978-01-01
Love Ain't Something
Love Ain't Something
1,863 3:05 1978-01-01
Preacher Man
Preacher Man
1,682 3:14 1978-01-01
Shame
Shame
1,216 3:45 1978-01-01
Kung Fu Fighting (Grasshopper Remix) (Instrumental)
Kung Fu Fighting (Grasshopper Remix) (Instrumental)
1,129 4:29 2022-05-06
Kung Fu Fighting
Kung Fu Fighting
< 1000 3:12 2016-10-14

New releases

(Still) Kung Fu Fighting
(Still) Kung Fu Fighting
2024-10-24
[Soave Records]
Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting
Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting
2024-08-16
[Sanctuary Records]
Disco Douglas
Disco Douglas
2023-10-27
[Sanctuary Records]
Kung Fu Fighting: The Best Of Carl Douglas
Kung Fu Fighting: The Best Of Carl Douglas
2022-06-03
[Sanctuary Records]
Kung Fu Fighting: 80th Birthday Celebration EP
Kung Fu Fighting: 80th Birthday Celebration EP
2022-05-06
[Sanctuary Records]
Kung Fu Fighting: 1989 Mixes
Kung Fu Fighting: 1989 Mixes
2022-01-01
[Sanctuary Records]
Kung Fu Fighting
Kung Fu Fighting
2014-08-15
[Echo Beach]
Kung Fu Fighting (Reggae Remix)
Kung Fu Fighting (Reggae Remix)
2014-01-01
[Echo Beach]
Kung Fu Fighting 2011 (Carl Douglas vs. Simon Ledger)
Kung Fu Fighting 2011 (Carl Douglas vs. Simon Ledger)
2011-08-14
[Songdoctor Songs]
Return Of The Fighter
Return Of The Fighter
2008-04-25
[Musik Mosaik]
Kung Fu Fighting
Kung Fu Fighting
2005-01-01
[Echo Beach]
The Soul of the Kung Fu Fighter
The Soul of the Kung Fu Fighter
2001-01-01
[Sanctuary Records]
Keep Pleasing Me
Keep Pleasing Me
1978-01-01
[Sanctuary Records]
Love Peace and Happiness
Love Peace and Happiness
1977-01-01
[Sanctuary Records]
Kung Fu Fighter
Kung Fu Fighter
1974-01-01
[Sanctuary Records]