Living in a Box (song)

"Living in a Box" is a song by the British band of the same name, released on 23 March 1987 as their first single from their self-titled debut album. It was the group's biggest hit single along with "Room in Your Heart" (1989), reaching No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart. "Living in a Box" became the group's only top-40 hit in the United States, peaking at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was later covered by Bobby Womack; his version reached No. 70 in the UK.[3]

"Living in a Box"
Single by Living in a Box
from the album Living in a Box
B-side"Living in a Box" (The Penthouse mix)
Released23 March 1987
Genre
Length3:02
LabelChrysalis
Songwriter(s)
  • Marcus Vere
  • Steve Piggot
  • Graham Howarth
Producer(s)
Living in a Box singles chronology
"Living in a Box"
(1987)
"Scales of Justice"
(1987)
Music video
"Living in a Box" on YouTube

Background

edit

The song's title came from a comment by a friend of the band's songwriter and keyboard player Marcus Vere. The friend lived in a small council flat in Sheffield prompting him to remark "I feel like I'm living in a cardboard box!", referring to the sense of feeling enclosed. The video featured British DJ Tony Blackburn holding and moving the mouth of a cardboard cutout of himself over his face.

Track listings

edit

Charts

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Inskeep, Thomas; Soto, Alfred. "The Bluffer's Guide – Sophisti-Pop". Stylus. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  2. ^ Stanley, Bob (13 September 2013). "1985: What the Fuck is Going On?". Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Faber & Faber. p. 594. ISBN 978-0-571-28198-5.
  3. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 608. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. ^ Living in a Box (UK 7-inch single vinyl disc). Living in a Box. Chrysalis Records. 1987. LIB 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ Living in a Box (Australian & New Zealand 7-inch single vinyl disc). Living in a Box. Chrysalis Records, Festival Records. 1987. K 229.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ Living in a Box (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). Living in a Box. Chrysalis Records. 1987. LIBX 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Living in a Box (Australian & New Zealand 12-inch single vinyl disc). Living in a Box. Chrysalis Records, Festival Records. 1987. X 13284.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ Living in a Box (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). Living in a Box. Chrysalis Records. 1987. LIBB 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ Living in a Box (UK CD single disc notes). Living in a Box. Chrysalis Records. 1987. CDE 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ Living in a Box (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Living in a Box. Chrysalis Records. 1987. VS4 43104.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ Living in a Box (Canadian 7-inch single vinyl disc). Living in a Box. Chrysalis Records. 1987. 43104.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Living in a Box (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Living in a Box. Chrysalis Records. 1987. 4V9 43119.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 179. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  14. ^ "Living In A Box – Living in a Box" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  15. ^ "Living In A Box – Living in a Box" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  16. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0875." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  17. ^ "European Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 24. 20 June 1987. p. 14.
  18. ^ "Living In A Box – Living in a Box" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  19. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Living In A Box" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  20. ^ "Living In A Box – Living in a Box" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  21. ^ "Living In A Box – Living in a Box". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  22. ^ "Living In A Box – Living in a Box". VG-lista. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  23. ^ "Living In A Box – Living in a Box". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  24. ^ "Living In A Box – Living in a Box". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  25. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  26. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. 22 August 1987. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  27. ^ "Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. 22 August 1987. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  28. ^ "Dance Club Songs". Billboard. 18 July 1987. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  29. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. 8 August 1987. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  30. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Living In A Box – Living In A Box" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  31. ^ "European Charts of the Year 1987 - Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 51/52. 26 December 1987. p. 34. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 11 April 2022 – via World Radio History.
  32. ^ "Topp 20 Single Vår 1987" (in Norwegian). VG-lista. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  33. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1987: Singles" (in German). Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  34. ^ "Gallup Year End Charts 1987: Singles" (PDF). Record Mirror. London. 23 January 1988. p. 36. ISSN 0144-5804. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  35. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1987" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 11 April 2022.