The second single released from the soundtrack album of the 1983 film Flashdance was Michael Sembello's "Maniac," which spent two weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 that began in the magazine's September 10, 1983, issue.

[1] Sembello chose to continue to work with the co-producer of that song, Phil Ramone, on what would be his debut album, Bossa Nova Hotel.

[5] In Cash Box magazine's review of "Automatic Man," they wrote, "As with 'Maniac,' Sembello combines steady counterrhythms, a sure-footed melodic approach, and pleasingly offbeat fills and lyrics.

"[7] Some of Sembello's appearances to promote "Automatic Man" included programs where performers would lip sync to the hit recording of their song, such as American Bandstand, which included a brief interview of him by Dick Clark, on September 10.

[8] Unlike the video for "Maniac," which was a series of clips from Flashdance that were edited together by the film's director, Adrian Lyne,[9] Sembello appeared in the music video for "Automatic Man," which had a plot that illustrated the lyrics of the song.