On this day August 30 1986, Higher Love by Steve Winwood reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The upbeat and soulful track became the first chart topping hit of Winwood’s solo career and brought his album Back in the High Life into the spotlight.
Featuring Chaka Khan on backing vocals and a vibrant production style that mixed synth pop with gospel and R and B influences, Higher Love was a dynamic song that stood out on radio throughout the summer of 1986. Its hopeful message and infectious rhythm connected with audiences across genres.
The track earned Winwood two Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year. It helped reintroduce him to a younger audience and marked a creative and commercial peak in his solo career.
80s insight: Higher Love blended classic soul with modern production in a way that defined much of the decade’s pop music, and it remains one of the most iconic crossover hits of the mid 1980s.
Featuring Chaka Khan on backing vocals and a vibrant production style that mixed synth pop with gospel and R and B influences, Higher Love was a dynamic song that stood out on radio throughout the summer of 1986. Its hopeful message and infectious rhythm connected with audiences across genres.
The track earned Winwood two Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year. It helped reintroduce him to a younger audience and marked a creative and commercial peak in his solo career.
80s insight: Higher Love blended classic soul with modern production in a way that defined much of the decade’s pop music, and it remains one of the most iconic crossover hits of the mid 1980s.
