Higher Love



"Higher Love" is a 1986 song by English singer 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.

Music video
The music video, which uses the shorter single version, 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 though neither won. Chaka Khan appears in the video, as does Nile Rodgers, who plays guitar with the backing band.

Personnel

 * Steve Winwood – vocals, synthesizer, sequencer programming, drum machine programming
 * David Frank – synth horns
 * Eddie Martinez – lead guitar
 * Nile Rodgers – rhythm guitar
 * Philippe Saisse – synth bass
 * John Robinson – drums
 * Carole Steele – tambourine, congas
 * Chaka Khan – backing vocals
 * Jimmy Bralower – additional drum machine programming
 * Andrew Thomas – PPG Wave Term synthesizer programming
 * Robbie Kilgore – additional synthesizer and sequencer programming

7": Island / IS 288 United Kingdom

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

7": Island/ 7-28710 United States

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

12": Island / 12 IS 288 United Kingdom

 * 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 United States

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


 * US Promo 12"