Boney M. discography

Boney M. discography
Boney M. in 1981
Studio albums	8

The discography of German disco group Boney M. includes 8 studio albums, 50 singles, and numerous compilation albums.

Albums

Studio albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions										Certifications
		GER [1]	AUS [2]	AUT [3]	CAN [4]	NLD [5]	NOR [6]	NZ [7]	SWE [8]	UK [9]	US [10]
Take the Heat off Me	Released: June 1976 Label: Hansa Formats: Cassette, vinyl	2	26	6	—	5	2	34	1	40	—	GER: Gold[11] UK: Silver[12]
Love for Sale	Released: May 1977 Label: Hansa Formats: Cassette, vinyl	1	27	1	—	2	2	22	1	13	—	GER: Platinum[11] UK: Gold[12]
Nightflight to Venus	Released: June 1978 Label: Hansa Formats: Cassette, vinyl	1	7	1	7	1	1	3	1	1	134	GER: 2× Platinum[11] CAN: 5× Platinum[13] NLD: Gold[14] UK: Platinum[12]
Oceans of Fantasy	Released: September 1979 Label: Hansa Formats: Cassette, vinyl	1	21	1	44	3	1	5	5	1	—	GER: Platinum[11] NLD: Platinum[14] UK: Platinum[12]
Boonoonoonoos	Released: September 1981 Label: Hansa Formats: Cassette, vinyl	15	—	14	—	35	21	—	31	—	—
Christmas Album	Released: December 1981 Label: Hansa Formats: Cassette, vinyl	14	53	—	80	42	10	—	—	—	—	AUS: Gold[15] CAN: 2× Platinum[13]
Ten Thousand Lightyears	Released: May 1984 Label: Hansa Formats: CD, cassette, vinyl	23	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Eye Dance	Released: October 1985 Label: Hansa Formats: Cassette, vinyl	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or not available.

Charting and/or certified compilation albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions										Certifications
		GER [1]	AUS [2]	AUT [3]	CAN [16]	NLD [5]	NZ [7]	NOR [6]	SWE [8]	SWI [17]	UK [9]
The Magic of Boney M. – 20 Golden Hits	Released: April 1980 Label: Hansa Formats: Cassette, vinyl	2	3	5	16	2	2	14	30	—	1	GER: Gold[11] AUT: Platinum[18] CAN: Platinum[13] FIN: Gold[19] NLD: Platinum[14] SWI: Platinum[20] UK: Gold[12]
The Best of 10 Years – 32 Superhits	Released: January 1986 Label: Hansa Formats: CD, cassette, vinyl	3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	35
Greatest Hits of All Times – Remix '88	Released: October 1988 Label: Hansa Formats: CD, cassette, vinyl	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	48	—	—	FRA: Platinum[21]
The Greatest Hits of Boney M / The Village People	Released: October 1990 (with The Village People) (Available in Australia only) Label: Concept Formats: CD, cassette, vinyl	—	68	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Daddy Cool – Star Collection	Released: 1991 Label: Ariola Formats: CD, cassette, vinyl	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	GER: Platinum[11]
Happy Christmas	Released: November 1991 Label: Ariola Formats: CD, cassette, vinyl	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	GER: Gold[11]
Gold – 20 Super Hits	Released: November 1992 Label: MCI Formats: CD, cassette, vinyl	5	40	6	—	2	2	6	14	5	—	GER: Gold[11] AUS: Gold[22] AUT: Platinum[18] FRA: Gold[21] NLD: Gold[14] NOR: Platinum[23]
The Greatest Hits	Released: March 1993 (Available in UK only) Label: Telstar Formats: CD, cassette, vinyl	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	14
More Gold – 20 Super Hits Vol. II	Released: October 1993 Label: MCI Formats: CD, cassette, vinyl	—	—	38	—	87	43	—	—	—	—
The Best of Boney M.	Released: 1997 Label: Camden Formats: CD, cassette	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	AUS: Platinum[15] FIN: Gold[19] UK: Gold[12]
Norske Hits	Released: November 1998 (Available in Norway only) Label: Ariola Formats: CD, cassette	—	—	—	—	—	—	17	—	—	—
20th Century Hits	Released: November 1999 Label: MCI Formats: CD, cassette	30	—	—	—	—	50	—	8	37	—
25 Jaar Na Daddy Cool	Released: September 2000 (Available in the Netherlands only) Label: Ariola Formats: CD, cassette	—	—	—	—	27	—	—	—	—	—
The Greatest Hits	Released: 2001 (Available in UK, Australia & New Zealand only) Label: BMG Formats: CD, cassette	—	78	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	66	UK: Gold[12]
The Magic of Boney M.	Released: October 2006 Label: Sony BMG Formats: CD, cassette	7	28	10	—	94	2	2	—	39	45	AUS: Gold[22] CAN: Platinum[13] FIN: Gold[19]
Feliz Navidad – A Wonderful Christmas	Released: November 2010 Label: Farian (Sony Music) Formats: CD, cassette	93	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Best Of	Released: 2011 Format: CD Label: Sony Music Germany	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
The Essential Boney M.	Released: 27 August 2012 Label: Sony Music Format: 2× CD	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	UK: Gold[12]
Diamonds	Released: 2015 Label: MCI Format: CD	20	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Worldmusic for Christmas	Released: November 2017 Label: MCI Formats: CD	53	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Gold	Released: November 2019 (Available in UK only) Label: Crimson (Demon Music Group) Formats: CD	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	41
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

Singles

Title	Year	Peak chart positions										Certifications	Album
		GER [1]	AUS [2]	AUT [3]	IRE [24]	NLD [25]	NZ [7]	SWE [8]	SWI [26]	UK [9]	US [27]
"Baby Do You Wanna Bump"	1975	—	—	—	—	12	—	—	—	—	—		Take the Heat off Me
"Daddy Cool"	1976	1	5	1	—	3	15	1	1	6	65	GER: Gold[11] UK: Gold[12]
"Sunny"		1	36	1	4	1	17	11	2	3	—
"Ma Baker"	1977	1	5	1	4	1	2	1	1	2	96	GER: Gold[11] UK: Gold[12]	Love for Sale
"Still I'm Sad"		—	—	—	—	—	—	17	—	—	—
"Belfast"		1	57	2	1	3	—	—	1	8	—
"Rivers of Babylon" / "Brown Girl in the Ring"	1978	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	30	GER: Platinum[11] FRA: Gold[28] NLD: Gold[14] UK: Platinum[12]	Nightflight to Venus
"Rasputin"		1	1	1	3	5	4	—	2	2	—	AUS: Platinum[29] NLD: Gold[14] UK: Platinum[12]
"Mary's Boy Child / Oh My Lord"		1	33	3	1	2	8	1	1	1	85	GER: Gold[11] AUS: Gold[30] NLD: Gold[14] UK: Platinum[12]	Christmas Album
"Dancing in the Streets"	1979	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Non-album track
"Painter Man" (UK/Ireland and Netherlands only)		—	—	—	5	—	—	—	—	10	—	UK: Silver[12]	Nightflight to Venus
"Voodoonight" (Japan only)		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Hooray! Hooray! It's a Holi-Holiday"		4	7	3	5	1	7	11	4	3	—	NLD: Gold[14] UK: Silver[12]	Non-album track
"Gotta Go Home" / "El Lute"		1	44	1	11	2	42	10	2	12	—	GER: Gold[11] NLD: Gold[14] UK: Silver[12]	Oceans of Fantasy
"I'm Born Again" / "Bahama Mama"		7	—	9	12	7	—	17	6	35	—
"I See a Boat on the River" / "My Friend Jack"	1980	5	81	3	—	4	—	—	9	57	—		The Magic of Boney M. – 20 Golden Hits
"Children of Paradise" / "Gadda-Da-Vida"		11	—	12	—	13	—	—	—	66	—		Non-album tracks
"Felicidad (Margherita)"		6	—	6	—	—	—	—	3	—	—
"Malaika" / "Consuela Biaz"	1981	13	—	7	—	14	—	—	4	—	—		Boonoonoonoos
"We Kill the World (Don't Kill the World)"		12	—	—	—	13	—	—	3	39	—
"Little Drummer Boy"		20	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Christmas Album
"6 Years of Boney M. Hits"	1982	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Non-album tracks
"The Carnival Is Over" / "Going Back West"		41	—	—	—	—	—	—	11	—	—
"Zion's Daughter"		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Christmas Album
"Jambo – Hakuna Matata (No Problems)"	1983	48	—	—	—	—	—	—	11	—	—		Non-album track
"Somewhere in the World"	1984	49	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Ten Thousand Lightyears
"Kalimba de Luna"		16	—	11	—	20	—	—	23	—	—		Kalimba de Luna – 16 Happy Songs
"Happy Song" (with Bobby Farrell)		7	—	15	—	—	—	—	21	—	—
"My Chérie Amour"	1985	55	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Eye Dance
"Young, Free and Single"		48	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Daddy Cool '86"	1986	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Non-album track
"Bang Bang Lulu"		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Eye Dance
"Rivers of Babylon (Remix '88)"	1988	—	—	—	—	—	46	—	—	—	—		Greatest Hits of All Times – Remix '88
"Megamix"		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	52	—	FRA: Gold[28]	Greatest Hits of All Times – Remix '89 – Volume II
"The Summer Mega Mix"	1989	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	92	—
"Malaika (Lambada Remix)"		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Everybody Wants to Dance Like Josephine Baker" (short available, withdrawn)		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Non-album tracks
"Stories"	1990	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	26	94	—
"Megamix"	1992	26	70	11	3	12	49	—	—	7	—		Gold - 20 Super Hits
"Brown Girl in the Ring (Remix)"	1993	—	—	—	25	—	20	—	—	38	—
"Ma Baker (Remix '93)"		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		More Gold - 20 Super Hits Vol. II
"Papa Chico" (featuring Liz Mitchell)	1994	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Ma Baker (Somebody Scream)" (vs. Horny United/Sash!)	1999	28	—	19	11	34	9	10	21	22	—		20th Century Hits
"Daddy Cool '99" (featuring Mobi T.)		47	—	—	16	—	—	19	49	—	—
"Hooray! Hooray! (Caribbean Night Fever) 2000"		79	—	—	—	—	47	—	80	—	—
"Sunny (Remix) 2000"	2000	—	—	—	—	—	—	59	80	—	—
"Daddy Cool 2001"	2001	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	47	—		Greatest Hits
"Sunny (Mousse T. Remix)"	2006	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		The Magic of Boney M.
"Mary's Boy Child / Oh My Lord" (featuring Daddy Cool Kids)	2007	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Christmas with Boney M.
"Felicidad America (Obama-Obama)" (featuring Sherita O. & Yulee B.)	2009	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Non-album track
"Rasputin" (Majestic x Boney M)	2021	38	26	18	21	7	—	26	27	11	—	ARIA: Platinum[31] GER: Gold[11] UK: Platinum[12] US: Gold[32]	Non-album track
"—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory.

Videography

• Boney M – VHS, Mirror Vision (1981)
• Gold – VHS/VCD (in Hong Kong) (1993)
• Gold DVD (2001, Europe)
• Greatest Hits (2001, UK)
• Special Edition (2002, South Korea)
• Special Edition EP (2003, UK)
• The Magic of Boney M. (2006)
• Fantastic Boney M. – On Stage and on the Road (2007)
• Legendary TV Performances (2010)
• Diamonds (2015)

Songs that were re-worked into Boney M. titles

Frank Farian's right hand Hans-Jörg Mayer (aka Georg Reyam) sought out songs from all over the world, often public domain (non-copyrighted) folk tunes but as well works from other musicians/composers (usually not credited) and rewrote them for Boney M.

Borrowed themes

• The first Boney M. recording "Baby Do You Wanna Bump" (1975) is based on Prince Buster's "Al Capone" (1967).
• "Motherless Child" (1977) is a rewrite of "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child".
• "Ma Baker" is a rewrite of a Tunisian traditional song, Sidi Mansur.
• "Brown Girl in the Ring" (1978) is a traditional Caribbean nursery rhyme and uses an arrangement from Malcolm's Locks "Brown Girl" (1975).
• "Nightflight to Venus" (1978) with its characteristic drums, the rock guitar theme, and the march interludes, was rewritten from Cozy Powell's No.3 hit "Dance with the Devil" (1974).
• "Rasputin" (1978) features a melody line present in both a Serbian ("Ај, русе косе цуро имаш") and Turkish traditional ("Üsküdar'a Gider İken / Kâtibim").
• "He Was a Steppenwolf" (1978) borrows arrangement-wise from The Temptations' lengthy epic "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone (1972)" and The Drifters' "Under the Boardwalk" (1964).
• "Dancing in the Streets" borrowed the arrangement from the Bee Gees' "You Should Be Dancing" and the hookline "Keep on dancing in the streets" is melodically similar to The Beatles' "Say the word and you'll be free" "(The Word)"
• "Hooray! Hooray! It's a Holi-Holiday" (1979) is a rewrite of "Polly Wolly Doodle".[33]
• "Gotta Go Home" (1979) was a rewrite of German band Nighttrain's "Hallo Bimmelbahn" (1973),[34] while the middle-part 'Doo-doo-doop, doo doo doo doo doop' (sung by Farian in his head voice) was borrowed from The Beatles in Hello, Goodbye (1967) as 'hey-la, hey helloa'. The Beatles also whistle it at the closing of Two of Us (1969) which is also covered on that LP.
• "No More Chain Gang" (1979) borrows the bridge 'Then one night he laid in waiting' from folklore "St. James Infirmary Blues" and an arrangement inspired by Johnny Wakelin's "In Zaire" (1976).
• "I'm Born Again" (1979) is based on the Irish traditional "Buachaill Ón Éirne".
• "Children of Paradise" (1980) is based on Younès Mégri's "Leïli Twil" (1973).
• Both "Boonoonoonoos" and "Ride to Agadir" (1981) contain a theme taken from Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)", "The Happiest Days of Our Lives" and "Run Like Hell" (1979).
• "Train to Skaville / That's Boonoonoonoos" (1981) is partly inspired by the No. 1 hit Pop Muzik (1979) by M (the walking bass, the rap parts, and 'Boo-Boo-Boo-Boonoonoonoos' – 'Pop Pop Pop Muzik').
• "Homeland Africa (Ship Ahoy)" (1981) borrows the chorus and lyrics from The O'Jays' "Ship Ahoy" (1973).
• "I'll Be Home for Christmas" (1981) borrows not only the title from the well-known Christmas song but also a theme from Don Williams' "Some Broken Hearts Never Mend" (1977) and also has a strong resemblance to Jona Lewie's "Stop the Cavalry" (1980).
• "Exodus (Noah's Ark 2001)" (1984) features a guitar theme borrowed from The Temptations' "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (1972) while the chorus borrows from Bob Marley's "Exodus" (1977), and the interlude borrows a bit from Yes's "Owner of a Lonely Heart" (1983).
• "Wild Planet" (1984) is based on Hungarian rock band Omega's "Ajanlott Utvonal" (1982)[35]
• "Future World" (1984) is based on Hungarian rock band Omega's "Tízezer lépés" (10,000 Steps) (1969).
• "10 000 Lightyears" (1984) is based on "Theme From "The Persuaders"", the TV series theme song by John Barry (1971).
• "Somewhere in the World" (1984) borrows 'mood wise' from Paul McCartney's "Tug of War" (1982), and in specific the chorus line "In another world".
• "Bel Ami" (1984) features an arrangement and brass intro very similar to Mezzoforte's "Garden Party" (1983).
• "The Alibama" (1984) is reworked from a South African standard "Daar kom die Alibama".[36]
• "Living Like a Moviestar" (1984) features a flute theme from Jeff Wayne's "The Eve of the War" (1978).
• "Eye Dance" (1985) is based on Herbie Hancock's "Doin' It" from his album Secrets (1976), written by Melvin Ragin and Ray Parker Jr.
• "Todos Buenos" (1985) borrows elements from Titanic's "Sultana" (1971) and "Mas Que Nada" by Jorge Ben (1963), the latter made famous by Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 (1966).
• "Sample City" (1985) features the same chord pattern as "I Can't Stand the Rain" (1973), the Ann Peebles classic and a 1978 hit single for Farian's soul band Eruption.
• "Bang Bang Lulu" (1985) is a traditional folk song.

See also

• List of best-selling music artists

References

1. "Offizielle Deutsche Charts: Boney M". GfK Entertainment (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
2. Australian chart peaks:
   • Top 100 (Kent Music Report) peaks to 19 June 1988: Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). Sydney: Australian Chart Book. p. 41. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.
   • Top 50 (ARIA Chart) peaks from 26 June 1988: "australian-charts.com – Discography Boney M." Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
   • Top 100 (ARIA Chart) peaks from January 1990 until December 2010: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
3. "Boney M. in der Österreicherischen Hitparade". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
4. For Canadian peaks:
   • For Nightflight to Venus: "RPM 50 albums: Top Albums/CDs – Volume 31, No. 6, May 05 1979" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
   • For Oceans of Fantasy: "RPM 50 albums: Top Albums/CDs – Volume 32, No. 20, February 09 1980" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
5. "Artiest: Boney M. (Albums)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
6. "Boney M. in Norwegian Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
7. "Boney M. in New Zealand's Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
8. "Boney M. in Swedish Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
9. "Official Charts Company: Boney M." Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
10. "Billboard 200 (Boney M)". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
11. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Boney M.)" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
12. "British certifications – Boney M". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 16 October 2024. Type Boney M in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
13. "Music Canada: Boneyb M". Music Canada. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
14. "NVPI: Goud/Platina". NVPI. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
15. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2002 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
16. For Canadian peaks:
    • For The Magic of Boney M: "RPM 50 albums: Top Albums/CDs – Volume 34, No. 8, January 31, 1981" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
17. "Artist: Boney M. (Albums)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
18. "IFPI Austria – Gold & Platin" (in German). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry — Austria. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
19. "Boney M's Finnish Certifications". IFPI Finland. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
20. "Hitparade: Boney M". SwissCharts. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry — Switzerland. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
21. "InfoDisc: Les Certifications depuis 1973" [InfoDisc: Certifications from 1973] (in French). InfoDisc. Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
22. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
23. "Trofeer: 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). ifpi.no. Archived from the original on 25 July 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
24. "Search for Irish singles by Boney M." Irishcharts.ie. Archived from the original on 5 January 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
25. "Peak chart positions of Boney M. singles in the Netherlands". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
26. "Peak chart positions of Boney M. singles in Switzerland". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
27. "Boney M Chart History | Billboard". Billboard. Archived from the original on 28 January 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
28. "InfoDisc Les Certifications depuis 1973 (singles)". InfoDisc. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
29. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2022" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
30. "ARIA Accreditations 2020". ARIA. January 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
31. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
32. "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
33. "Boney M. cover of Shirley Temple and Bill "Bojangles" Robinson's 'Polly Wolly Doodle All Day'". WhoSampled.com. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
34. "Images for Nighttrain (2)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
35. "Boney M. – Full Discography (1975–2009) – Форум ShareReactor.ru". Forum.sharereactor.ru. Archived from the original on 14 February 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
36. "Daar kom die Alabama By Sursumkorda". YouTube. Retrieved 19 July 2017.^[dead YouTube link]

External links

• The Magic Of Boney M – Unofficial website with discography, history, biography and more.