Do It to Me

"Do It to Me"
"Do It to Me"
Single by Lionel Richie
from the album Back to Front
Released	1992
Genre	R&B; quiet storm; soft rock;
Length	6:03
Label	Motown
Songwriter	Lionel Richie
Producers	Stewart Levine; Lionel Richie;
Lionel Richie singles chronology
Music video
	"Lionel Richie - Do It To Me" on YouTube

"Do It to Me" is a song by American singer Lionel Richie. The song was written by Richie, and produced by himself and Stewart Levine. It was the first single from his first compilation album, Back to Front and was released in 1992 by Motown Records. The song spent one week at number one on the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and peaked at number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[2] "Do It to Me" also achieved some success in European countries, becoming a top ten hit in France and Norway. The song samples the drum break "Sneakin' in the Back" by Tom Scott.

Critical reception

Bryan Buss from AllMusic described the song as "classic, smooth Richie".^[1] A reviewer from Cashbox wrote, "This is quite a surprise. Lionel Richie is back and in full thrust with the first single taken off his upcoming Back To Front album." The reviewer added, "Being away from the industry for such a long period of time, you would think that he would be a little "rusty", but listening to this single, one can hear an improvement in his entire sound. Put a catchy beat, some nice chords and melodies to a legend's vocals, and you have a hit."^[3] Bill Wyman from Entertainment Weekly called it "a pallid single".^[4]

Track listings

CD and 7-inch single

"Do It to Me" (single radio edit) – 4:37
"Ballerina Girl" – 3:35

CD maxi

"Do It to Me" (single radio edit)
"Do It to Me" (instrumental)
"Do It to Me" (extended version)
"Ballerina Girl"

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1992)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[5]	45
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[6]	23
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[7]	11
Europe (European Dance Radio)^[8]	4
France (SNEP)^[9]	6
Germany (GfK)^[10]	26
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[11]	15
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[12]	12
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[13]	29
Norway (VG-lista)^[14]	7
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[15]	12
UK Singles (OCC)^[16]	33
US Billboard Hot 100^[17]	21
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[18]	3
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[19]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1992)	Position
Belgium (Ultratop)^[20]	78
Germany (Media Control)^[21]	83
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[22]	21
US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard)^[23]	43

References

^ ^a ^b Buss, Bryan. "Lionel Richie – Back to Front". AllMusic. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 492.
^ "Music Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Cashbox. April 25, 1992. p. 5. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
^ Wyman, Bill (May 15, 1992). "Back to Front". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
^ "Lionel Richie – Do It to Me". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
^ "Lionel Richie – Do It to Me" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
^ "Lionel Richie – Do It to Me" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
^ "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. June 20, 1992. p. 18. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
^ "Lionel Richie – Do It to Me" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
^ "Lionel Richie – Do It to Me" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 22, 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
^ "Lionel Richie – Do It to Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
^ "Lionel Richie – Do It to Me". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
^ "Lionel Richie – Do It to Me". VG-lista. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
^ "Lionel Richie – Do It to Me". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
^ "Lionel Richie Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
^ "Lionel Richie Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
^ "Lionel Richie Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
^ "Jaaroverzichten 1992". Ultratop. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1992" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
^ "The Year in Music: Hot Adult Contemporary Singles & Tracks" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 52. December 26, 1992. p. YE-38. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
^ "The Year in Music: Hot R&B Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 52. December 26, 1992. p. YE-28. Retrieved May 5, 2025.

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[allmusic.com-1] Buss, Bryan. "Lionel Richie – Back to Front". AllMusic. Retrieved November 4, 2020.

[2] Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 492.

[3] "Music Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Cashbox. April 25, 1992. p. 5. Retrieved November 1, 2020.

[4] Wyman, Bill (May 15, 1992). "Back to Front". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 11, 2020.

[sc_Australia_Lionel_Richie-5] "Lionel Richie – Do It to Me". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 9, 2017.

[sc_Austria_Lionel_Richie-6] "Lionel Richie – Do It to Me" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 9, 2017.

[sc_Flanders_Lionel_Richie-7] "Lionel Richie – Do It to Me" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 9, 2017.

[8] "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. June 20, 1992. p. 18. Retrieved October 31, 2021.

[sc_France_Lionel_Richie-9] "Lionel Richie – Do It to Me" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved June 9, 2017.

[sc_Germany_Lionel_Richie-10] "Lionel Richie – Do It to Me" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved June 9, 2017.

[sc_Dutch40_-11] "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 22, 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved August 13, 2021.

[sc_Dutch100_Lionel_Richie-12] "Lionel Richie – Do It to Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 9, 2017.

[sc_New_Zealand_Lionel_Richie-13] "Lionel Richie – Do It to Me". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 9, 2017.

[sc_Norway_Lionel_Richie-14] "Lionel Richie – Do It to Me". VG-lista. Retrieved June 9, 2017.

[sc_Switzerland_Lionel_Richie-15] "Lionel Richie – Do It to Me". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 9, 2017.

[sc_UK_Lionel_Richie-16] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 9, 2017.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Lionel_Richie-17] "Lionel Richie Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2017.

[sc_Billboardadultcontemporary_Lionel_Richie-18] "Lionel Richie Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2017.

[sc_Billboardrandbhiphop_Lionel_Richie-19] "Lionel Richie Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2017.

[20] "Jaaroverzichten 1992". Ultratop. Retrieved August 13, 2021.

[21] "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1992" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved August 13, 2021.

[22] "The Year in Music: Hot Adult Contemporary Singles & Tracks" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 52. December 26, 1992. p. YE-38. Retrieved August 13, 2021.

[23] "The Year in Music: Hot R&B Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 52. December 26, 1992. p. YE-28. Retrieved May 5, 2025.

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v t e Lionel Richie
Studio albums	Lionel Richie (1982) Can't Slow Down (1983) Dancing on the Ceiling (1986) Louder Than Words (1996) Time (1998) Renaissance (2000) Just for You (2004) Coming Home (2006) Sounds of the Season (2006) Just Go (2009) Tuskegee (2012)
Live albums	Encore (2002)
Compilation albums	Back to Front (1992) Truly: The Love Songs (1997) The Definitive Collection (2003) Gold (2006)
Singles	"Endless Love" (with Diana Ross) (1981) "Truly" (1982) "You Are" (1983) "My Love" (1983) "All Night Long (All Night)" (1983) "Running with the Night" (1983) "Hello" (1984) "Stuck on You" (1984) "Penny Lover" (1984) "Say You, Say Me" (1985) "Dancing on the Ceiling" (1986) "Love Will Conquer All" (1986) "Ballerina Girl" (1986) "Deep River Woman" (1987) "Se La" (1987) "Do It to Me" (1992) "My Destiny" (1992) "Don't Wanna Lose You" (1996) "Angel" (2000) "Don't Stop the Music" (2001) "Tender Heart" (2001) "I Forgot" (2001) "Cinderella" (2001) "To Love a Woman" (2003) "Just for You" (2004) "Long, Long Way to Go" (2004) "I Call It Love" (2006) "What You Are" (2006) "Why" (2006) "Reason to Believe" (2007) "Good Morning" (2008) "Just Go" (2009)
Songwriting	"Lady" (1980) "Missing You" (1984) "We Are the World" (1985) "I Like It" (2010)
Tours	All the Hits, All Night Long All the Hits Tour
Related articles	Awards and nominations Discography Commodores

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