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The Only Way Is Up
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Wikipedia article
"'The Only Way Is Up'" is a song written by George Jackson and Johnny Henderson and originally released in 1980 as a single by soul singer Otis Clay. In 1988, it became a chart-topping single in the United Kingdom for Yazz and the Plastic Population. The song is used as the theme tune to the popular ITV2/ITVBe reality television series 'The Only Way Is Essex'.
Otis Clay version
The song was written by George Jackson and Johnny Henderson. It was first recorded by Otis Clay and released as a single by Echo Records in 1980.[https://www.northernsouldirect.co.uk/shop/7-vinyl/otis-clay-the-only-way-is-up-messing-with-my-mind-demo-45-outta-sight-7-vinyl/ "Otis Clay The Only Way Is Up / Messing With My Mind ", 'Northern Soul Direct']. Retrieved 3 December 2020 Though not a hit, the song became the title track of Clay's album 'The Only Way Is Up',[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=BwwLBaH9488C&pg=PT877&dq=%22Otis+Clay%22+%22only+way+is+up%22+soul&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj1hLKVxLHtAhURYsAKHRwAA0QQ6AEwAnoECAQQAg#v=onepage&q=%22Otis%20Clay%22%20%22only%20way%20is%20up%22%20soul&f=false Jon Kutner, Spencer Leigh (eds.), '1,000 UK Number One Hits', Omnibus Press, 2010, p.] released in Japan in 1982 and then North America in 1985. It is also included on his 2012 album 'Truth Is'.
Yazz version
{{Infobox song
| name = The Only Way Is Up
| cover = The Only Way Is Up (Yazz single).jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Yazz and the Plastic Population
| album = Wanted
| B-side =
| released =
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length =
| label = Big Life
| writer =
| producer = Coldcut
| chronology = Yazz
| prev_title = Doctorin' the House
| prev_year = 1988
| next_title = Stand Up for Your Love Rights
| next_year = 1988
| misc =
}}
The Yazz version was produced by Jonathan More and Matt Black (better known as dance duo Coldcut, who had worked with Yazz on their hit single "Doctorin' the House"). "'The Only Way Is Up'" was Yazz's first solo single, credited to her under the name Yazz and the Plastic Population. Released as the first single from her debut album, 'Wanted' (1988), the song became an instant smash hit, spending five weeks at number one in the United Kingdom, and ultimately becoming the second biggest selling single of the year. Also on the Eurochart Hot 100, it soared to the number one position. In the United States it reached number two on the 'Billboard' dance chart, although only making number 96 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100.
A 2009 remix was released in the United Kingdom on 7 September 2009.
Background and release
After leaving school, Yazz got a job in a nightclub in Soho and got into her first band called The Biz. She then met the managers of English musical duo Wham! who would be her managers. She took singing lessons and made demo songs that was introduced to electronic music duo Coldcut. Together, they wrote "Doctorin' the House" which incorporates samples from various sources, mainly TV and film dialogue. It reached number six on the UK Singles Chart in March 1988 and was very popular in the clubs. Their second single was the pumping house version of "The Only Way Is Up". It was released in July 1988 and become a huge hit in the clubs and on the charts.Chart performance
Yazz' cover of "The Only Way Is Up" was very successful globally. In Europe, it peaked at number-one in Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Swedenand the United Kingdom. In the last of these, it hit the top spot in its third week at the UK Singles Chart, on 31 July 1988. The single spent a total of five weeks on the top of the chart, becoming the second biggest selling single of the year. It made it to the top 10 also in Austria, Finland, France, West Germany, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, where it peaked at number two. It was held off reaching number-one by Koreana's "Hand In Hand". On the Eurochart Hot 100, the song hit number one in September 1988. Outside Europe, "The Only Way Is Up" went to number-one in New Zealand, while it hit number two in Australia. On the 'Billboard' Hot Dance Club Play chart in the United States, it peaked at number two. It earned a gold record in Australia and the UK, with a sale of 50,000 and 400,000 singles. And in France, it earned a silver record, after 200,000 units were sold there.
Critical reception
Pan-European magazine 'Music & Media' wrote, "Produced by Coldcut, this is an electro-soul number with more than a touch of house influences. A good, radio-friendly, dance song."Music video
A music video was produced to promote the single. It was later published on YouTube in August 2018. By September 2020, the video had more than three million views.Formats and track listings
* '7" single / CD single / cassette'
# "The Only Way Is Up" 4:02
# "Bad House Music" 4:28
* '12" maxi'
# "The Only Way Is Up" 6:44
# "Bad House Music" 7:07
* '12" maxi'
# "The Only Way Is Up" (UK extended club mix) 6:45
# "The Only Way Is Up" (the up up up mix) 7:01
# "The Only Way Is Up" (acid dub) 5:50
* '12" US Promo vinyl'
# "The Only Way Is Up" (UK extended club mix) 6:43
# "The Only Way Is Up" (Lp version) 4:01
# "The Only Way Is Up" (the popstand remix) 6:57
# "The Only Way Is Up" (acid dub) 5:50
# "The Only Way Is Up" (the up up up mix) 7:01
* 'CD maxi'
# "The Only Way Is Up" (7" edit) 4:02
# "The Only Way Is Up" (12" version) 6:48
# "The Only Way Is Up" (speng) 6:01
# "Bad House Music" 3:00
* '12" maxi Remixes'
# "The Only Way Is Up" (the Bam Bam remix) 7:24
# "The Only Way Is Up" (the up up up mix) 7:24
# "Bad House Music" 4:28
Charts and sales
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
See also
*Acid house
*House music
*Second Summer of Love
References
Buy The Only Way Is Up now from Amazon
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