Higher Love
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This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2012) |
| "Higher Love" | ||||||||
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| Single by Steve Winwood | ||||||||
| from the album Back in the High Life | ||||||||
| Released | June 20, 1986 | |||||||
| Recorded | Unique Recording Studio New York, 1985 |
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| Genre | R&B, Soul | |||||||
| Length | 5:45 (Album Version) 4:14 (Single Version) |
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| Label | Island - IS 288 | |||||||
| Writer(s) | Steve Winwood Will Jennings |
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| Producer | Russ Titelman | |||||||
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"Higher Love" is a 1986 number-one hit song by Steve Winwood. It was the first single released from his fourth solo LP, Back in the High Life. It was written by Winwood and Will Jennings, and produced by Russ Titelman and Winwood. The female vocals on the song were performed by Chaka Khan, who also appeared in the promotional music video.
"Higher Love" was Winwood's first Billboard Hot 100 number-one hit, topping the chart for one week. It was preceded by Madonna's "Papa Don't Preach" and followed by "Venus" by Bananarama. The song also spent four weeks atop the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. It peaked at number 13 in the United Kingdom, his highest charting solo hit there. It also earned two Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
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Music video [edit]
The music video was shot in June 1986 by directors Peter Kagan and Paula Greif. The same duo shot an almost identical video for Duran Duran's "Notorious" in November of that year; coincidentally, both videos were nominated for several awards at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards. Neither won.
Appearances in other media [edit]
- The song was used in the closing credits of the hit 1988 film Big Business.
- It was also featured in an episode of the television drama Cold Case, "Time to Crime".
- In a 1988 episode of The Young And The Restless, Danny and Lauren sang the song to prep for a concert.
- Later the song was covered by Whitney Houston for her I'm Your Baby Tonight album, but it was eventually dropped from the tracklist and only appears on the Japanese edition as a bonus track. The song was performed as the closing piece during her Feels So Right Tour.
- Nick Jonas covered this song for his solo album, Nicholas Jonas.
- The song was used in an episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia titled "Sweet Dee Has a Heart Attack" which aired 30 October 2008.
- Luke Benward covered this music for his EP Let Your Love Out
- This song was used in the 1987 film Stakeout.
- Indie duo Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. began covering this song live in 2011.[1]
- This song was used in the original 1987 debut of 21 Jump Street.
- This song was sung by Tyler James in The Voice UK (series 1).
Track listing [edit]
7": Island / IS 288 United Kingdom [edit]
- "Higher Love" - 4:14
- "And I Go" 4:12
12": Island / 12 IS 288 United Kingdom [edit]
- "Higher Love" (Remix) - 7:45
- "Higher Love" (Instrumental) - 6:05
- "And I Go" 4:12
- Tracks 1 and 2 remixed by Tom Lord-Alge
12": Island / PRO-A-2507 United States [edit]
- "Higher Love" (Edit) - 4:08
- "Higher Love" (LP Version) - 5:45
- US Promo 12"
James Vincent McMorrow version [edit]
| "Higher Love" | |
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| Song by James Vincent McMorrow from the album Silver Lining | |
| Released | May 2011 |
| Length | 3:35 |
| Label | Believe Digital |
James Vincent McMorrow recorded a cover of the song for his charity album 'Silver Lining' which was recorded and produced by the students of Sound Training Centre in Dublin for the charity Headstrong. [2] The cover is notable for being a complete reworking of the original and it was used as the soundtrack for television advertisements in the UK by LoveFilm in 2011. Tyler James also covered the song, first the BBC's The Voice in 2012, and also on his album A Place I Go later in the same year.
Chart performance [edit]
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Scotland (Official Charts Company)[3] | 22 |
| UK Indie (Official Charts Company)[4] | 1 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[5] | 21 |
References [edit]
- ^ McManus, James. "Watch: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. Unleash Two Classic Rock Covers » Cover Me". Covermesongs.com. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ http://soundcloud.com/sound-training-centre
- ^ "Archive Chart". Scottish Singles Top 40. Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Archive Chart" UK Indie Chart. Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Archive Chart" UK Singles Chart. Official Charts Company.
External links [edit]
- Steve Winwood website album details
- Songfacts - Back In The High Life Again entry
- Full lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
| Preceded by "Papa Don't Preach" by Madonna |
Billboard Hot 100 number-one single August 30, 1986 |
Succeeded by "Venus" by Bananarama |
| Preceded by "Mad About You" by Belinda Carlisle |
Canadian RPM number-one single September 13, 1986 |
Succeeded by "Friends and Lovers" by Gloria Loring and Carl Anderson |
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