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"Up Escalator"
"Up Escalator"
Single by Love and Money
from the album Strange Kind of Love
Released	16 October 1989
Length	4:11 (album version); 3:51 (single version); 6:05 (extended version);
Label	Fontana
Songwriter(s)	James Grant
Producer(s)	Gary Katz
Love and Money singles chronology

"Up Escalator" is a song by Scottish band Love and Money, which was released in 1989 as the fourth and final single from their second studio album Strange Kind of Love (1988). The song was written by James Grant and produced by Gary Katz. "Up Escalator" reached number 79 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the Top 100 for two weeks.^[2]

Release

For its release as a single, "Up Escalator" was remixed by Chris Lord-Alge. The B-side "Soon" and the two additional tracks on the 12-inch and CD versions, "Thistlekiss" and "History", were all new tracks exclusive to the single. At the time of its release, the band revealed that the three new tracks marked the beginning of their move towards a more blues and country-orientated sound.^[3]

Grant revealed that "Soon" was a difficult song for the band to complete. He told The Kilmarnock Standard, "[It] had been a thorn in our side for some time – we simply could not get it together. We broke out the cheap champagne the night it was completed." "Thistlekiss" originated as a "ragtime tune" that bassist Bobby Paterson had written. While recording Strange Kind of Love in New York, Grant decided to develop the song and "display the hammier side of my nature". He described the song at the time as being "the most relaxed I've been on record without external sedation". Grant was inspired to write "History" after he was unable to see his sister and her husband when they travelled from Canada to Dundee to attend a family gathering. Grant wrote the song in the summer of 1989 "by way of an apology".^[3]

"Up Escalator" received airplay on BBC Radio 1 after being added to the station's B-list.^[4]

Critical reception

On its release as a single, Iestyn George of Record Mirror described "Up Escalator" as "a typical example of Love and Money's funked up brand of R&B". He felt the band's material in general failed to live up to Grant's earlier work with Friends Again and predicted the song would fail to become a hit, stating, "I'll eat my record collection if this is a hit".^[5] Marcus Hodge of the Cambridge Evening News felt the song had "more than enough hooks even if it does not quite have the atmosphere of [the band's] earlier singles". He added that the song's "urgency compensates for any shallowness".^[6]

Track listing

7-inch single (UK and Europe)^[7]

"Up Escalator" – 3:51
"Soon" – 4:34

Cassette single (UK and Europe)^[8]

"Up Escalator" (Extended Mix) – 6:05
"Soon" – 4:34

12-inch single (UK)^[9]

"Up Escalator" (Extended Mix) – 6:05
"Soon" – 4:37
"Thistlekiss" – 1:58
"History" – 2:22

CD single (Four Songs from Love and Money) (UK and Europe)^[10]

"Up Escalator" – 3:51
"Soon" – 4:37
"Thistlekiss" – 1:58
"History" – 2:22

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the UK CD single liner notes and the Strange Kind of Love booklet.^[10]^[11]

Love and Money

James Grant – lead vocals, backing vocals, electric guitar, horn arrangement
Paul McGeechan – organ
Bobby Paterson – bass, backing vocals, horn arrangement

Additional musicians on "Up Escalator"

Jeff Porcaro – drums
Ronnie Goodman – percussion
Paul Griffin – clavinet
Dave Tofani – horns
Don Brooks – harmonica
Ronnie Cuber, Dave Bargeron, Lou Sollof – horns
Merle Miller, Kati McGunigle – backing vocals
Rick Derringer – slide guitar
Dave Chesky – horn arrangement charting

Production

Gary Katz – producer on "Up Escalator"
Chris Lord-Alge – remix of "Up Escalator"
Love and Money – producers of "Soon", "Thistlekiss" and "History"

Other

Stylorouge – design
Trev Rogers – photography

Charts

Chart (1989)	Peak position
UK Singles (OCC)^[12]	79

References

^ "Replay". The Paisley Daily Express. 30 September 1989. p. 4.
^ "LOVE & MONEY; full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
^ ^a ^b Russell, Ian (3 November 1989). "New direction for Love and Money". The Kilmarnock Standard. p. 7.
^ "Station Reports" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 43. 28 October 1989. p. 46. Retrieved 19 April 2022 – via World Radio History.
^ George, Iestyn (28 October 1989). "Singles". Record Mirror. p. 14. ISSN 0144-5804.
^ Hodge, Marcus (30 October 1989). "Singles". Cambridge Evening News. p. 15.
^ Up Escalator (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Love and Money. Fontana Records. 1989. MONEY 8, 876 058-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Up Escalator (UK cassette liner notes sleeve). Love and Money. Fontana Records. 1989. MONMC 8, 876 058-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Up Escalator (UK 12-inch single sleeve notes). Love and Money. Fontana Records. 1989. MONMC 8, 876 058-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ ^a ^b Jocelyn Square (UK and German CD single liner notes). Love and Money. Fontana Records. 1989. MONCD 8, 876 059-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Strange Kind of Love (UK/European album CD booklet). Love and Money. Fontana Records. 1988. 836 498-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ "Love & Money: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 April 2022.