Higher Love

"Higher Love"
Single by Steve Winwood
from the album Back in the High Life
Released	June 1986 (1986-06)
Recorded	Unique Recording Studio New York, 1985
Genre	Soul, R&B, Pop
Length	5:51
Label	Island - IS 288
Writer(s)	Steve Winwood Will Jennings
Producer	Russ Titelman

"Higher Love" is a 1986 number-one hit song by Steve Winwood. It was the first single released from his third 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.

"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.

Music video

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

• 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.
• 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

Track listing

7": Island / IS 288

1. "Higher Love" - 4:14
2. "And I Go" 4:12

12": Island / 12 IS 288

1. "Higher Love" (Remix) - 7:45
2. "Higher Love" (Instrumental) - 6:05
3. "And I Go" 4:12

• Tracks 1 and 2 remixed by Tom Lord-Alge

12": Island / PRO-A-2507

1. "Higher Love" (Edit) - 4:08
2. "Higher Love" (LP Version) - 5:45

• US Promo 12"

References

• Steve Winwood website album details
• Songfacts - Back In The High Life Again entry