Higher Ground (UB40 song)

"Higher Ground"
"Higher Ground"
Single by UB40
from the album Promises and Lies
B-side	"Chronic"
Released	9 August 1993
Genre	Reggae
Length	4:22
Label	Virgin
Songwriter(s)	UB40
Producer(s)	UB40
UB40 singles chronology
Music video
	"Higher Ground" on YouTube

"Higher Ground" is a song written and performed by English reggae band UB40. It was released in August 1993 by Virgin Records as the second single from their 10th album, Promises and Lies (1993). The song, which was also produced by the band, reached the top 10 in Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. In the US, it reached numbers 45 and 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100.

Critical reception

Alan Jones from Music Week gave the song four out of five, writing, "Given the daunting task of following the number one success of "I Can't Help Falling in Love with You", "Higher Ground" is a brave try. A bright but old-fashioned reggae song — no ragga influences here — it bounds along and quickly engrains itself on the subconscious. Not a number one but sure to reach the Top 10."^[2]

Track listings

CD maxi and 12-inch single

"Higher Ground" – 4:22
"Chronic" – 3:54
"Higher Ground" (Punjabi Dub – Gerry Parchment mix) – 5:07

CD and 7-inch single

"Higher Ground" – 4:22
"Chronic" – 3:54

Personnel

All tracks produced by UB40
Co-produced and engineered by Gerry Parchment and Delroy McLaan
Front image cover : "Skin". Raw Orange into Black (1991–1993) by Peter Max Kandhola
Calligraphy : Ruth Rowland
Design : Bill Smith Studio
Management : David Harper Management Ltd.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1993)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[3]	40
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[4]	16
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[5]	14
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[6]	65
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[7]	25
Europe (European Hit Radio)^[8]	6
France (SNEP)^[9]	23
Germany (GfK)^[10]	21
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[11]	2
Ireland (IRMA)^[12]	9
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[13]	8
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[14]	9
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[15]	8
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[16]	27
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[17]	19
UK Singles (OCC)^[18]	8
UK Airplay (Music Week)^[19]	3
US Billboard Hot 100^[20]	45
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)^[21]	14
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)^[22]	16
US Cash Box Top 100^[23]	40

Year-end charts

Chart (1993)	Position
Germany (Official German Charts)^[24]	96
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[25]	14
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[26]	55
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[27]	89
UK Singles (OCC)^[28]	68
UK Airplay (Music Week)^[29]	26

References

^ "Single Releases". Music Week. 7 August 1993. p. 21.
^ Jones, Alan (14 August 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 14. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
^ "UB40 – Higher Ground". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
^ "UB40 – Higher Ground" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
^ "UB40 – Higher Ground" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2312." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 38. 18 September 1993. p. 12. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
^ "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 39. 25 September 1993. p. 30. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
^ "UB40 – Higher Ground" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
^ "UB40 – Higher Ground" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (16.–23. sept.)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 16 September 1993. p. 20. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Higher Ground". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 38, 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
^ "UB40 – Higher Ground" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
^ "UB40 – Higher Ground". Top 40 Singles.
^ "UB40 – Higher Ground". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
^ "UB40 – Higher Ground". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
^ "The Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 11 September 1993. p. 28. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
^ "UB40 Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
^ "UB40 Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
^ "UB40 Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
^ "Top 100 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. LVII. 22 January 1994. p. 14. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1993" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
^ "Árslistinn 1993". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 4 January 1994. p. 16. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
^ "Single top 100 over 1993" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 15 April 2010.
^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1993" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
^ "Top 100 Singles 1993". Music Week. 15 January 1994. p. 24.
^ "Airplay Top 50 1993" (PDF). Music Week. 15 January 1994. p. 41. Retrieved 3 May 2024.

[1] "Single Releases". Music Week. 7 August 1993. p. 21.

[2] Jones, Alan (14 August 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 14. Retrieved 30 January 2023.

[sc_Australia_UB40-3] "UB40 – Higher Ground". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2 June 2020.

[sc_Austria_UB40-4] "UB40 – Higher Ground" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2 June 2020.

[sc_Flanders_UB40-5] "UB40 – Higher Ground" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2 June 2020.

[sc_Canadatopsingles_-6] "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2312." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2 June 2020.

[7] "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 38. 18 September 1993. p. 12. Retrieved 2 June 2020.

[8] "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 39. 25 September 1993. p. 30. Retrieved 10 April 2024.

[sc_France_UB40-9] "UB40 – Higher Ground" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2 June 2020.

[sc_Germany_UB40-10] "UB40 – Higher Ground" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 2 June 2020.

[11] "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (16.–23. sept.)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 16 September 1993. p. 20. Retrieved 2 June 2020.

[sc_Ireland2_-12] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Higher Ground". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 June 2020.

[sc_Dutch40_-13] "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 38, 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2 June 2020.

[sc_Dutch100_UB40-14] "UB40 – Higher Ground" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2 June 2020.

[sc_New_Zealand_UB40-15] "UB40 – Higher Ground". Top 40 Singles.

[sc_Sweden_UB40-16] "UB40 – Higher Ground". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2 June 2020.

[sc_Switzerland_UB40-17] "UB40 – Higher Ground". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 June 2020.

[sc_UK_-18] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 June 2020.

[19] "The Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 11 September 1993. p. 28. Retrieved 1 May 2024.

[sc_Billboardhot100_UB40-20] "UB40 Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 June 2020.

[sc_Billboardalternativesongs_UB40-21] "UB40 Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 June 2020.

[sc_Billboardpopsongs_UB40-22] "UB40 Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 June 2020.

[23] "Top 100 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. LVII. 22 January 1994. p. 14. Retrieved 22 April 2024.

[24] "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1993" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 2 June 2020.

[25] "Árslistinn 1993". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 4 January 1994. p. 16. Retrieved 2 June 2020.

[26] "Single top 100 over 1993" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 15 April 2010.

[27] "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1993" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 2 June 2020.

[28] "Top 100 Singles 1993". Music Week. 15 January 1994. p. 24.

[29] "Airplay Top 50 1993" (PDF). Music Week. 15 January 1994. p. 41. Retrieved 3 May 2024.

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v t e UB40
Jimmy Brown Robin Campbell Earl Falconer Norman Hassan Matt Doyle Ali Campbell Yomi Babayemi Jimmy Lynn Brian Travers Mickey Virtue Astro Duncan Campbell
Studio albums	Signing Off Present Arms UB44 Labour of Love Geffery Morgan Baggariddim Rat in the Kitchen UB40 Labour of Love II Promises and Lies Guns in the Ghetto Labour of Love III Cover Up Homegrown Who You Fighting For? TwentyFourSeven Labour of Love IV Getting Over the Storm A Real Labour of Love For the Many Bigga Baggariddim
Live albums	UB40 Live
Remix albums	Present Arms in Dub
Compilation albums	The Singles Album More UB40 Music The UB40 File The Best of UB40 – Volume One The Best of UB40 – Volume Two The Very Best of UB40 1980–2000 Greatest Hits Love Songs
Extended plays	Little Baggariddim
Singles	"King" / "Food for Thought" "My Way of Thinking" / "I Think It's Going to Rain Today" "The Earth Dies Screaming" "Don't Let It Pass You By" / "Don't Slow Down" "One in Ten" "Red Red Wine" "Please Don't Make Me Cry" "Many Rivers to Cross" "Cherry Oh Baby" "If It Happens Again" "I Got You Babe" "Don't Break My Heart" "Sing Our Own Song" "Rat in Mi Kitchen" "Reckless" "Breakfast in Bed" "Homely Girl" "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)" "Kingston Town" "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" "The Way You Do the Things You Do" "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You" "Higher Ground" "The Train Is Coming" "Swing Low"
See also	UB40 discography DEP International Big Love