Sky High (song)

This article is about the song. For other uses, see Sky High.
"Sky High"
Single by Jigsaw
B-side "Brand New Love Affair"
Released August 1975 (U.S.)
September 26, 1975 (UK)
Genre Disco, pop
Length 2:53
Label Splash (UK), Chelsea (US)
Writer(s) Clive Scott, Des Dyer
Producer(s) Chas Peate

"Sky High" is the name of a 1975 single by British pop music group Jigsaw. The song, the main title theme to the film entitled The Man from Hong Kong, was a world-wide hit in the latter part of 1975, reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Adult Contemporary chart in the United States. A group composition, it was arranged by Richard Hewson.[1] It was also a Top 10 single in the UK Singles Chart. The 1975 Australian single was released under the name "British Jigsaw" because there was an established and popular local band called "Jigsaw".

Two years later the song gained more striking commercial success in Japan, peaking at number two on the Oricon singles chart and selling approximately 570,000 copies.[2] ZYX Records released an extended 12" version in 1987. A remixed version of the original Jigsaw cut by PWL remixer Pete Hammond was a minor dance hit in the US in the spring of 1989. In a nod to the original 7" single release, "Brand New Love Affair" was also remixed and put on the B-side.

Cover and remix versions

A cover version in French was recorded in 1975 by Éric Estève, who also contributed the lyrics.[3] The title was Plus haut que le soleil.

British singer Newton recorded "Sky High" in the mid 1990s. His cover version produced by Mike Stock and Matt Aitken became a hit, reaching the top-ten on the Australian charts. Although attributed to Newton, the lead vocal was actually performed for the recording by original Jigsaw vocalist Des Dyer who also clandestinely appears in the video.

Italian record label The SAIFAM Group produced a cover version in 2000 under the artist name of DJ Miko. This was available from SAIFAM on vinyl and compilation CD, and also on compilation CD from UK record label Klone Records. DJ Miko further remixed this version for the 2002 Dancemania compilation Speed 8. A remix of this DJ Miko version was later produced by DJ Kaya, which appeared on Dancemania's Covers 01 and TRE*SURE 10th Anniversary Special Edition in 2006.

Japanese rockband Beat Crusaders also covered the song on their 2005 album Musicrusaders.

UK record label Almighty Records produced a remix of the original Jigsaw track in 2006. This featured on their Almighty Definitive 4 compilation album in 2006.

US rap group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony sampled "Sky High" on their song "Flow Motion" from their Strength & Loyalty CD in 2007.

The song is also featured in the Dance Dance Revolution games.

Chart positions

Jigsaw version

Weekly charts (1975–77) Peak
position
Australia[4] 3
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[5] 5
Canada RPM Top Singles[6] 10
Japanese Oricon International Singles Chart[7] 1
Japanese Oricon Singles Chart[2] 2
New Zealand[8] 2
Swedish Singles Chart[9] 15
UK[10] 9
US Billboard Hot 100[11] 3
US Billboard AC[11] 1
US Cash Box Top 100[12] 5

Year-end charts

Chart (1975) Rank
Australia[4] 42
Canada[13] 105
UK[14] 93
US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)[15] 46
Chart (1976) Rank
Canada[16] 66
New Zealand[17] 41

Newton version

Weekly charts (1995) Peak
position
Australian (ARIA)[18] 8
Belgium Ultratop Singles Chart[19] 40
UK 56

References

  1. ↑ "Jigsaw - Sky High / Sky High - Splash - UK - CPI 1". 45cat.com. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
  2. 1 2 "List of best-selling singles on the Japanese Oricon International Chart (1968-2000)" (in Japanese). Original Confidence. Retrieved 2008-09-24.
  3. ↑ "Encyclopédisque - Disque : Plus haut que le soleil". Encyclopedisque.fr. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
  4. 1 2 Steffen Hung. "Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 2016-06-02. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
  5. ↑ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
  6. ↑ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
  7. ↑ "List of number-one singles on the Japanese Oricon International Chart (1968-2000)" (in Japanese). Original Confidence. Archived from the original on 2015-04-21. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
  8. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. 1976-02-02. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
  9. ↑ Steffen Hung. "Jigsaw - Sky High". Swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
  10. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 283. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  11. 1 2 "AllMusic ((( Jigsaw > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". AllMusic.com. Billboard magazine. Retrieved 2008-09-20.
  12. ↑
  13. ↑ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-10-06. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
  14. ↑ "Top 100 1975 - UK Music Charts". Uk-charts.top-source.info. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
  15. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
  16. ↑ "Top Singles – Volume 26, No. 14 & 15, January 08 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Top Selling Singles of 1976 | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. 1963-12-08. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
  18. ↑ "Australian-charts.com Jigsaw - Sky High". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2008-09-24.
  19. ↑ "Ultratop.be Jigsaw - Sky High". Retrieved 2008-09-24.
Preceded by
"Take Me Home, Country Roads" by Olivia Newton-John
"Hotel California" by the Eagles		 Japanese Oricon International Chart
number one single (Jigsaw version)
March 14 - May 23, 1977
September 5, 1977 		Succeeded by
"It's a Game" by Bay City Rollers
"Hotel California" by the Eagles
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