Right Back Where We Started From

"Right Back Where We Started From" is a single recorded by British singer Maxine Nightingale in the summer of 1975 which reached #8 on the UK chart dated 29 November 1975^[1] and in the spring of 1976 spent four weeks at #2 on Billboard's Hot 100. ^[2] "Right Back Where We Started From" also achieved hit status in Australia, Brazil, Canada (#5), France (#10), Germany (#38), Mexico and the Netherlands (#3): released in 1978 in Sweden the track there reached #9. "Right Back Where We Started From' also appeared on Billboard's Adult Contemporary and Black Singles charts at respectively #5 and #46.^[2]

Nightingale had performed with the song's co-writer J.Vincent Edwards in the West End production of Hair: he approached Nightingale in regards to her recording the song after its other co-writer Pierre Tubbs had noted Nightingale's vocal on a session he produced (the session was for Al Matthews' "Fool"). Nightingale agreed to cut the song only if it were released under a pseudonym and only reluctantly agreed to take royalty payment rather than a one-time session fee (in fact the release would be in her real name). The session for "Right Back Where We Started From" included two former members of the Electric Light Orchestra: Mike de Albuquerque (bass guitar) and violinist Wilfred Gibson who did the strings arrangement.^[3] Following the single's US success Nightingale completed a Right Back Where We Started From album with Tubbs producing: Billboard ranked the album at #65. ^[4]

Sinitta version

"Right Back Where We Started From"
Single by Sinitta
from the album Wicked
B-side	"I Just Can't Help It"
Released	May 1989 [5]
Format	7" Single 12" Single CD Single
Recorded	1988
Genre	Synthpop, Disco
Length	3:16
Label	Fanfare Records
Writer(s)	Maxine Nightingale
Producer	Pete Hammond
Sinitta singles chronology
"I Don't Believe In Miracles" (1988) "Right Back Where We Started From" (1989) "Love On a Mountain Top" (1989)

A 1989 cover of "Right Back Where We Started From" was recorded by American singer Sinitta. The song was released as the album's second single in June 1989. The track reached #4 in UK and #84 on Billboard's Hot 100 - Sinitta's sole appearance there.

Formats and track listings

7" Single

1. "Right Back Where We Started From" - 3:16
2. "I Just Can't Help It" - 3:43

12" Single

1. "Right Back Where We Started From" (Left Back On The Side Mix) - 7:12
2. "I Just Can't Help It" - 3:43
3. "Right Back Where We Started From" - 3:16

Charts

Other Cover versions

• Marcia Hines' 1996 album Discotheque - comprised of covers of classic dance hits - included a remake of "Right Back Where We Started From".
• The 2000 direct-to-video animated Walt Disney Pictures film An Extremely Goofy Movie featured a remake of "Right Back Where We Started From" by Cleopatra. The Cleopatra cover was also later included on the soundtrack for the 2008 Disney film College Road Trip.
• The 2008 self-titled debut album of indie rock band Army Navy includes a cover of the song as a bonus track.

Appearances in other media

The song is a favorite among hockey fans, as the song was played in many scenes of the Paul Newman film, Slap Shot. Other soundtrack appearances include:

• Whatever Happened to Harold Smith?
• the movie adaptation of Starsky and Hutch
• the 2005 remake of Yours, Mine and Ours
• The Family Stone

References