Back in the High Life Again

"Back in the High Life Again"
"Back in the High Life Again"
	Cover art for UK and non-US editions
Single by Steve Winwood
from the album Back in the High Life
B-side	"Night Train (instrumental)"
Released	22 November 1986
Recorded	Autumn 1985
Studio	Unique Recording Studio, New York
Genre	Soul
Length	5:35 (Album Version); 4:20 (Single Version)
Label	Island – IS 303
Songwriters	Steve Winwood; Will Jennings
Producer	Russ Titelman
Steve Winwood singles chronology
Audio
	"Back in the High Life Again" on YouTube

"Back in the High Life Again" is a song with music by the English recording artist Steve Winwood and lyrics by the American songwriter Will Jennings. It was performed by Winwood, and included backing vocals by James Taylor and a prominent mandolin played by Winwood. The song was released in November 1986 as the fifth single from his fourth solo album Back in the High Life. The song was Winwood's second number 1 single on the US Adult Contemporary chart, where it stayed for three weeks. It also reached number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in August 1987.^[3] It was nominated for the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1988.

The music video for the song features scenes from Manassas, Virginia, particularly the train station. ^[4]

Track listing

7-inch: Island / IS 303 United Kingdom

"Back in the High Life Again" - 4:20
"Help Me Angel" - 5:06

7-inch: Island / 7-28472 United States

"Back in the High Life Again" - 4:09
"Night Train" (Instrumental) - 4:10

12-inch: Island / 12 IS 303 United Kingdom

"Back in the High Life Again" - 4:20
"Night Train" (Instrumental) - 4:08
"Help Me Angel" - 5:06

12-inch: Island / PRO-A-2620 United States

"Back in the High Life Again" - 4:20
"Back in the High Life Again" - 5:33

Personnel

Steve Winwood – lead vocals, piano, synthesizer, drum machine programming, mandolin, Moog bass
Jimmy Bralower – additional drum machine programming^[5]
Rob Mounsey – additional synthesizer
John Robinson – drums
James Taylor – harmony vocals

Chart history

Weekly charts

Chart (1987)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[6]	87
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[7]	18
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[8]	24
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[9]	45
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)^[10]	3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[11]	61
UK Singles (OCC)^[12]	53
US Billboard Hot 100^[13]	13
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[14]	1
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[15]	19
US Cash Box Top 100	13

Year-end charts

Chart (1987)	Rank
US Billboard Adult Contemporary^[16]	11
US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)^[17]	124

References

^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981–2008. Hal Leonard. pp. 283, 294. ISBN 9780898201741.
^ Evans, Paul (2004). "Steve Winwood". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 882–883. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001. Record Research. p. 262.
^ SteveWinwoodVEVO (2011-01-27). Steve Winwood - Back In The High Life Again (Official Video). Retrieved 2024-08-04 – via YouTube.
^ Jimmy Bralower: Web Exclusive | Modern Drummer Magazine
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ "Steve Winwood – Back in the High Life Again" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1987-08-01. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1987-08-22. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 13, 1987" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
^ "Steve Winwood – Back in the High Life Again" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
^ "Steve Winwood Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
^ "Steve Winwood Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
^ "Steve Winwood Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
^ "1987 Year-end Charts - Top Adult Contemporary Singles". Billboard. December 31, 1987. Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
^ Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.

External links

"Back In The High Life Again" at Discogs (list of releases)

This 1980s rock song–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[Whitburn2008-1] Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981–2008. Hal Leonard. pp. 283, 294. ISBN 9780898201741.

[RS_2004-2] Evans, Paul (2004). "Steve Winwood". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 882–883. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.

[3] Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001. Record Research. p. 262.

[4] SteveWinwoodVEVO (2011-01-27). Steve Winwood - Back In The High Life Again (Official Video). Retrieved 2024-08-04 – via YouTube.

[5] Jimmy Bralower: Web Exclusive | Modern Drummer Magazine

[auchart-6] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[sc_Flanders_Steve_Winwood-7] "Steve Winwood – Back in the High Life Again" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.

[8] "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1987-08-01. Retrieved 2019-12-09.

[9] "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1987-08-22. Retrieved 2019-12-09.

[10] "Tipparade-lijst van week 13, 1987" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 16, 2023.

[sc_Dutch100_Steve_Winwood-11] "Steve Winwood – Back in the High Life Again" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.

[sc_UK_-12] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 26, 2019.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Steve_Winwood-13] "Steve Winwood Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2019.

[sc_Billboardadultcontemporary_Steve_Winwood-14] "Steve Winwood Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved December 16, 2024.

[sc_Billboardmainstreamrock_Steve_Winwood-15] "Steve Winwood Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved December 16, 2024.

[87bbend03-16] "1987 Year-end Charts - Top Adult Contemporary Singles". Billboard. December 31, 1987. Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2019.

[17] Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.

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v t e Steve Winwood
Albums	Steve Winwood Arc of a Diver Talking Back to the Night Back in the High Life Roll with It Refugees of the Heart Junction Seven About Time Nine Lives
Live albums	Live from Madison Square Garden
Compilations	Winwood Chronicles The Finer Things Revolutions – The Very Best of Steve Winwood
Singles	"While You See a Chance" "Valerie" "Higher Love" "Freedom Overspill" "Back in the High Life Again" "The Finer Things" "Roll with It" "Don't You Know What the Night Can Do?" "Holding On" "Hearts on Fire" "Dirty City"
Related articles	Discography Traffic Blind Faith The Spencer Davis Group Eric Clapton and the Powerhouse Ginger Baker's Air Force Go

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