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Soul II Soul – Back to Life (UK 3″ CD Maxi Single)

“Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)” is a 1989 song by British R&B pioneers Soul II Soul. It appeared on their debut album Club Classics Vol. I and was released as its second single. “Back to Life” was one of two songs on the album featuring British R&B singer Caron Wheeler and gained success in both the UK and in the U.S.

It was written by Jazzie B, Caron Wheeler, Nellee Hooper, Simon Law, and produced by Jazzie B and Nellee Hooper.

The album version of the song was an a cappella which was remixed and re-recorded before being released as a single. Two new versions were produced — the first taking the original recording with instrumentation added, and the second was a re-working of the song with new lyrics and chorus (also adding “However Do You Want Me” to the title).

Chart Info

It was this second version that became most popular. “Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)” peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of Soul II Soul’s most successful singles in the U.S. (and the only one to enter in the top 10). In the UK it performed even better, reaching number one in the UK Singles Chart for four weeks in June 1989.

Influence

Soul II Soul’s music has served as inspiration for many sound-a-likes, and has been sampled several times.

A version of George Michael‘s “Freedom 90” (Back to Reality Mix) features an interpolation of the original “Back to Life” version. Click here to listen to an excerpt of both.

Click here to listen for an excerpt of the “Back to Life” Club mix segued with the “Heart in Motion” remix of  “Baby Baby” by Amy Grant, which samples most of the background instrumentation of “Back to Life”. To my knowledge, the sample is not credited.

Single Information

This CD single was made for sale in the UK but the disc is made in Austria. As with several Virgin CD single releases at the time, there was also a 5″ CD version of this single, with same track configuration but different catalog number: TENCDT 265.

Label:

Ten Records Ltd. (10 Records)

Catalog Number:

TENCD 265

Track Listing and Details:

1. Back to Life (However Do You Want Me) (3:45)

2. Back to Life (Club Mix) (7:35)

3. Back to Life (Jam on the Groove) (5:05) this remix was included in the soundtrack of the 1989 film “Black Rain“, starring Michael Douglas.

Rip Information:

Source: CD

Format: mp3

Bitrate: 320 kbps

Soul II Soul – Back to Life (UK 3″ CD Maxi Single)

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