Take Me Higher (song)

"Take Me Higher" is a song by American singer Diana Ross, released on August 5, 1995, by Motown Records as the first single from her 21st album of the same name (1995). Co-written and produced by Narada Michael Walden featuring additional credits from Mike Mani, it became Ross' fifth number-one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in the US.[1] In Europe, it entered the top forty in Scotland and the UK, but was a even bigger hit on the UK Dance Chart, peaking at number four.

For other songs of this title, see Take Me Higher (disambiguation).

"Take Me Higher"
Single by Diana Ross
from the album Take Me Higher
B-side
  • "Let Somebody Know"
  • "Too Many Nights"
ReleasedAugust 5, 1995
GenreDance-pop
Length4:13
LabelMotown
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Narada Michael Walden
Diana Ross singles chronology
"Chain Reaction '93"
(1993)		 "Take Me Higher"
(1995)		 "Gone"
(1995)
Music video
"Take Me Higher" on YouTube

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as a "swirling retro disco ditty that inspires a wonderfully loose and playful performance", and complimented its chorus as "instantly infectious and brimming with warm optimism."[2] Gil L. Robertson from Cash Box stated that "Lady Ross is in fine form with a confident vocal delivery, while her music backdrop is a throwback to the glory days of disco."[3] The Daily Vault's Mark Millan called it "a fine dance number that Ross revels in".[4] Quincy McCoy from the Gavin Report noted that it "kicks up a happy feeling of nostalgia along with keeping a contemporary feel that brings a smile to your feet."[5]

Pan-European magazine Music & Media said that here, "La Ross shifts to a higher gear, the pop dance speed."[6] A reviewer from Music Week rated it three out of five, describing is as "a slight affair".[7] Alan Jones deemed it "a fairly innocuous affair – pleasant, undemanding and vaguely anthemic in its regular mix".[8] In an retrospective review, Pop Rescue felt that the singer's vocals "are strong and confident in the verses, but a little weaker in the chorus", adding that "she's joined by backing singers to help lift her higher."[9] James Hamilton from the RM Dance Update declared it as a "soaring anxious wailer".[10]

Music video

The single's accompanying music video featured scenes of Ross in a cocktail dress on stage, while dancers execute a choreography and the band plays the song, intercut with footage of Ross on the beach.[11]

Track listings
  • CD single, UK (1995)
  1. "Take Me Higher" – 4:21
  2. "Let Somebody Know" – 4:57
  3. "Too Many Nights" – 4:36
  • CD maxi, US (1995)
  1. "Take Me Higher" (12-inch mix) – 7:25
  2. "Take Me Higher" (dub mix) – 9:34
  3. "Take Me Higher" (a capella) – 3:44
  4. "Take Me Higher" (LP version) – 4:13
  5. "Take Me Higher" (radio edit) – 4:02
  6. "Take Me Higher" (instrumental) – 4:11

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Take Me Higher.[12]

  • Patti Austin – background vocals
  • Angela Bofill – background vocals
  • Sally Jo Dakota – writing
  • Nikita Germaine – background vocals, writing
  • Allen Gregorie – mix engineering
  • Sandy Griffith – background vocals
  • Kevin Hedge – mixing
  • Tony Lindsay – background vocals
  • Mike Mani – associate production
  • Timmy Regisford – mixing
  • Diana Ross – lead vocals
  • Narada Michael Walden – production, writing

Charts
Chart (1995) Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[13] 61
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[14] 13
Netherlands (Single Top 100 Tipparade)[15] 7
Scotland (OCC)[16] 35
UK Singles (OCC)[17] 32
UK Dance (OCC)[18] 4
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[19] 14
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[20] 1
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[21] 77

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States August 5, 1995
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 Motown
United Kingdom August 21, 1995
  • CD
  • cassette
 EMI United Kingdom [22]
Japan October 18, 1995 CD EMI [23]

See also

References
  1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 222.
  2. Flick, Larry (September 16, 1995). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 47. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  3. Robertson, Gil L. (September 23, 1995). "Pop Singles: Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 7. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  4. Millan, Mark (August 6, 2010). "Take Me Higher – Diana Ross". The Daily Vault. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  5. McCoy, Quincy (September 1, 1995). "Gavin Picks > Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. No. 2070. p. 54. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  6. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. September 9, 1995. p. 6. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  7. "Reviews: Singles". Music Week. August 12, 1995. p. 15.
  8. Jones, Alan (August 5, 1995). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 29. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  9. "Review: "Take Me Higher" by Diana Ross (CD, 1995)". Pop Rescue. October 23, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  10. Hamilton, James (September 2, 1995). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 11. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  11. DianaRossVEVO Take Me Higher
  12. Take Me Higher (Media notes). Diana Ross. Motown Records. 1995.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 36. September 9, 1995. p. 9. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  14. "Diana Ross – Take Me Higher" (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  15. "Diana Ross – Take Me Higher" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  16. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  17. "Diana Ross: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  18. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  19. "Diana Ross Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  20. "Diana Ross Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  21. "Diana Ross Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  22. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. August 19, 1995. p. 31.
  23. "思い出にかわるまで | ダイアナ・ロス" [Until Memories | Diana Ross] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
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