That's the Way I Like It by KC and the Sunshine Band
That's the way I like it, and in late 1975 a lot of America agreed.
Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch wrote the song in Florida for KC and the Sunshine Band.
It went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 twice in the span of a month.
Below are the story, the studio edit, the chart run, the year-end ranks and the covers that followed.
KC and the Sunshine Band in concert in Chile in September 1980, during the group's first show there.
Image credit: Artekolor, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
That's the Way I Like It: Casey, Finch and a Toned-Down Single
Two Writers at TK Records
Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch wrote and produced the song, according to Wikipedia.
TK Records released it on June 10, 1975.
It was the second single from the band's self-titled second album.
Casey is the KC of the name.
You can read more about the band in our list of KC and the Sunshine Band songs.
The Record at a Glance
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Writers | Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch |
| Performer | KC and the Sunshine Band |
| Producers | Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch |
| Label | TK Records |
| Released | June 10, 1975 |
| Length | 3:06 radio edit, 5:07 album version |
| B-side | What Makes You Happy |
| Genre | Disco and funk |
Source: Wikipedia article on the song, checked October 19, 2026.
Why the Single Was Toned Down
Wikipedia says the song was toned down from the original recording for the single and for radio airplay.
It also notes that the sexual overtones may have helped the song at discos.
That tension between a radio-safe edit and a club-ready groove is part of why it still sounds fresh.
Record World praised its "spirited, uplifting sound."
Hear That's the Way I Like It
Press play and listen for the horn stabs, the choppy guitar and the call-and-response hook.
You can also hear That's the Way (I Like It) on our Listen Now jukebox.
On the Charts: Number One Twice in One Month
Up, Down and Back to the Top
This site's weekly Hot 100 data lists the song at number one for the chart weeks of November 22 and December 20, 1975.
Wikipedia describes it as the band's second Hot 100 number one.
It topped the chart for one week and was replaced by Silver Convention's "Fly, Robin, Fly."
After that song spent three weeks at the top, KC and the Sunshine Band returned for one more week.
The song also spent one week at number one on the soul singles chart.
You can find it among the 70s number one hits.
Peaks Around the World
Wikipedia lists these peaks for the original 1975 and 1976 run:
| Chart | Peak |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | No. 1 |
| US Hot R&B Singles | No. 1 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | No. 1 |
| Canada (RPM Top Singles) | No. 1 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) | No. 1 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | No. 1 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) | No. 2 |
| Sweden | No. 3 |
| UK Singles Chart | No. 4 |
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | No. 5 |
| Norway (VG-lista) | No. 5 |
| South Africa (Springbok Radio) | No. 6 |
| New Zealand | No. 12 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | No. 17 |
| US Hot Dance Club Play | No. 18 |
| West Germany | No. 20 |
Source: Wikipedia article on the song, checked October 19, 2026.
Year-End Ranks and Sales
A 1975 Hit on a 1976 List
This site's Billboard year-end Hot 100 for 1976 ranks the song at number 45.
That list covers Hot 100 charts from November 8, 1975 through October 30, 1976.
That window is why a 1975 chart-topper sits on it.
Wikipedia agrees on the number 45 rank for Billboard in 1976.
For the rest of that list, see our top songs of 1976.
Other Year-End Marks and Certifications
Wikipedia gives these year-end ranks:
- Canada (RPM) 1975: number 14.
- Netherlands (Single Top 100) 1975: number 9.
- UK Singles 1975: number 49.
- US Cash Box Top 100 1975: number 49.
- Australia (Kent Music Report) 1976: number 51.
Wikipedia also lists these certifications:
| Region | Certification |
|---|---|
| United States (RIAA) | Platinum |
| Canada (Music Canada) | Platinum |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver |
| Australia (ARIA) | Gold |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | Gold |
Source: Wikipedia article on the song, checked October 19, 2026.
Harry Wayne Casey of KC and the Sunshine Band performing at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in California in 2006.
Image credit: BradP, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Covers and Later Life of the Song
Three Covers
Wikipedia lists three notable covers, each with its own approach:
- Dead or Alive, 1984: a single from the album Sophisticated Boom Boom that reached number 22 on the UK Singles Chart and became the group's first UK top 40 single.
- Spin Doctors and Biz Markie, 1996: a version with Chris Barron singing the verses and Biz Markie rapping, released on the Space Jam soundtrack.
- Clock, 1997: a Eurodance take that reached number 11 on the UK Singles Chart in 1998.
| Version | Year | UK Peak |
|---|---|---|
| KC and the Sunshine Band (original) | 1975 | No. 4 |
| Dead or Alive | 1984 | No. 22 |
| Clock | 1998 | No. 11 |
| KC and the Sunshine Band (re-release) | 1991 | No. 59 |
Source: Wikipedia article on the song, checked October 19, 2026.
Ads and Re-Releases
The original was reissued in 1991, and Wikipedia says that run reached number 59 in the UK.
It also turned up in 2010 Android advertising for "Smart + T."
If a dance-floor sing-along is your mood, the Mood Song Matcher can find more songs like it.
For another random pick from the decade, try the Random 70s Song Generator.
The song is one more reason KC and the Sunshine Band sit near the center of Music of the 70s.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote That's the Way I Like It?
Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch wrote That's the Way (I Like It), according to Wikipedia.
The pair also produced the record for KC and the Sunshine Band on TK Records.
It came out on June 10, 1975, as a single from the band's self-titled second album.
When did That's the Way I Like It reach number one?
That's the Way (I Like It) reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 twice in late 1975, according to Wikipedia.
This site's weekly Hot 100 data lists the chart weeks of November 22 and December 20, 1975.
Silver Convention's Fly, Robin, Fly held the top spot for three weeks in between.
How many weeks was That's the Way I Like It at number one?
That's the Way (I Like It) spent two weeks at number one, one week at a time.
Wikipedia says it topped the chart for one week, fell to Fly, Robin, Fly, then returned.
It also spent one week at number one on the soul singles chart.
Who covered That's the Way I Like It?
Dead or Alive, Spin Doctors with Biz Markie, and Clock covered That's the Way (I Like It).
Dead or Alive reached number 22 on the UK Singles Chart in 1984.
Clock took a Eurodance version to number 11 in the UK in 1998.
Is That's the Way I Like It a disco song?
Yes, Wikipedia lists That's the Way (I Like It) as disco and funk, according to its genre field.
It runs 3:06 as the radio edit and 5:07 on the album.
It came out on TK Records in 1975, and Casey and Finch produced it.
The single was toned down from the original recording for radio play.
Sources
- That's the Way (I Like It), Wikipedia, for the writers, release, edit, chart positions, year-end ranks, certifications, covers and later uses.
- KC and the Sunshine Band (album), Wikipedia, for the album the song appears on.
- KC and the Sunshine Band, Wikipedia, for background on the artist.
- This site's weekly Hot 100 data, for the two chart weeks at number one, and its Billboard year-end Hot 100 data, for the 1976 rank of 45.
