Walking into Sunshine

Last updated
"Walking into Sunshine"
Song by Central Line
A-side "Walking into Sunshine"
B-side "That's No Way To Treat My Love"
Released1981
Length3:17
Label Mercury MER 78
Composer(s) (Linton Beckles/Lipson Francis/Roy Carter)
Producer(s) Roy Carter

"Walking into Sunshine" was a 1981 single for UK group Central Line. It became a hit for the group that year, charting in both the UK and the US.

Contents

Background

"Walking into Sunshine" appears to be the earliest example of Roy Carter's songwriting to make the national charts. [1] Carter was a member of Clem Curtis & The Foundations, [2] and while with the band, he composed the song "Amanda" with Valentine Pascal and Georges Delanbanque which was the B side of the single "Make a Wish", released in 1976 on the Riverdale label. [3] [4] [5] He also composed "The Foundations Theme". [6] He was later a member of Heatwave and was with them until 1979. [7] [8] Central Line already had some chart success with "(You Know) You Can Do It". They then collaborated with the former Heatwave guitarist Carter to have him produce "Walking into Sunshine". [9] Carter co-wrote the song with band members; keyboardist Lipson Francis and percussionist Linton C. Beckles. [10]

"Walking into Sunshine " bw "That's No Way to Treat My Love" was released in the UK in 7" format on Mercury MER 78. [11] A 12" limited edition Larry Levan special mix was released in the US on Mercury MDS-4013. "Walking into Sunshine" on side 1 was 8:10 long and "Walking into Sunshine" on side 2 was 5:45 long. [12]

The song brought them success. They followed it up with "Don’t Tell Me" which also made the charts. [13]

Reception

According to Barry Lederer's Disco Mix column in the October 17 issue of Billboard, Bo Crane's Musical Report which was compiled by members of the Florida Record Pool had listed "Walking into Sunshine" / "That's No Way to Treat My Love" by Central Line as one of the up-and-coming records in their area. [14]

Airplay

According to the September 12 issue of Billboard, the single was one of the playlist top add-ons at WXLO in New York. [15] It was reported by Cash Box in the Black Radio Highlights section of the October 3 issue that Central Line was getting airplay at WBMX in Chicago. [16] The October 24 issue of Billboard reported the single as a prime mover on the playlist of WKTU-FM in New York City. [17] The October 31 issue of Billboard reported that it was a breakout in the Northeast region, [18] and a top add-on to the playlist of WXKS -FM (KISS- 108) in Boston. [19]

Charts

"Walking into Sunshine" made its debut at no. 72 in the Music Week Top 75 Singles chart on the week of August 15, 1981. [20]

Spending a total of nine weeks in the main UK chart, it peaked at no. 42 on September 9. [21]

On the week of September 26, the 12" version of "Walking into Sunshine" (Mercury MDS 4013) made its debut at no. 66 in the Billboard Disco Top 80 chart. [22] The following week, it had moved up to no. 49. [23] The following week it had similar progress, moving up to no. 38. [24] The following week (October 17), the single increased pace, moving up twenty places to no. 18. [25] Having been in the chart for nine weeks, the single reached its peak position of no. 5 on the week of November 21, [26] and held that spot for another week. [27] [28]

The single was at no. 1 on the Cash Box Dance Music chart (October 3) which was based on the top selling sales of 12" records compiled from sales reports of the northeast area of the retailers who specialized in the 12" format. [29]

It also charted in the Netherlands Top 40 where it peaked at no. 25 on week 3. [30] [31]

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References

  1. MusicVF.com - Songs written by Roy Carter, Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography
  2. Getty Images - English Pop Group Foundations arrived in Sydney to start a month long tour of Australia
  3. Pop Archives - The Inbetweens - Make A Wish Amanda (1971)
    Caution Googler! Clem Curtis & The Foundations issued a single in 1976 with the A-side/B-side titles Make A Wish/Amanda.
  4. Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third Series
    Volume 30, Part 5, Number 2, Section 2, Music
    Current and Renewal Register, July–December 1976 ISSN 0041-7866 - Page 2326 EU732037 Amanda.
  5. Roots Vinyl Guide - Clem Curtis & The Foundations.Soul.Mint.7".Make A Wish.45rpm.1976.Vinyl.
  6. Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third Series
    Volume 30, Part 5, Number 2, Section 2, Music
    Current and Renewal Register, July–December 1976 ISSN 0041-7866 - Page 2326 EU732040 Foundations theme
  7. Cash Box, November 11, 1978 - Page C-9 BOX AWARDS, Heatwave, Soul Record Of The Year
  8. Jazz Rock Soul - Heatwave
  9. Summer Soulstice - CAMELLE HINDS
  10. Billboard, October 17, 1981 - Page 56 General News, New On The Charts
  11. Roots Vinyl Guide - CENTRAL LINE WALKING INTO SUNSHINE 7" SINGLE 1981 N/MINT
  12. Roots Vinyl Guide - Central Line – Walking Into Sunshine 1981 Original *Larry Levan* 12" Single
  13. Summer Soulstice - CAMELLE HINDS
  14. Billboard, October 17, 1981 - Page 64 Disco Business, Disco Mix By BARRY LEDERER
  15. Billboard, Sept 12, 1981 - Page 24 Billboard Singles Radio Action
    Based on station playlists through Tuesday (9/1/81), WXLO-New York (1. Knapp-MD) •• CENTRAL LINE -Walking Into Sunshine
  16. Cash Box, October 3, 1981 - BLACK RADIO HIGHLIGHTS, WBMX - CHICAGO - LEE MICHAELS, PD
  17. Billboard, October 24, 1981 - Page 26 Billboard Singles Radio Action
    Based on station playlists through Tuesday (10/13/81), WKTU-FM -New York City (Michael Ellis -MD) ★ CENTRAL LINE -Walking In Sunshine 16-13
  18. Billboard, October 31, 1981 - Page 32 Billboard Singles Radio Action
    Based on station playlists through Tuesday (10/20/81) , Northeast Region, -BREAKOUTS-
  19. Billboard, October 31, 1981 - Page 32 Billboard Singles Radio Action
    Based on station playlists through Tuesday (10/20/81) , WXKS-FM (KISS- 108)- Boston (Minnie Peruei-MD) •• CENTRAL UNE- Walking Into Sunshine
  20. Music & Video Week, August 15, 1981 - Page 9 music week TOP 75 SINGLES, 72 NEW WALKIN' INTO SUNSHINE
  21. Official Charts - WALKING INTO SUNSHINE by CENTRAL LINE, CHART RUN
  22. Billboard, September 26, 1981 - Page 40 Billboard Disco Top 80, This Week 66, NEW ENTRY
  23. Billboard, October 3, 1981 - Page 40 Billboard Disco Top 80, This Week 49, Last Week 66, Weeks on Chart 2
  24. Billboard, October 10, 1981 - Page 48 Billboard Disco Top 80, This Week 38, Last Week 49, Weeks on Chart 3
  25. Billboard, October 18, 1981 - Page 64 Billboard Disco Top 80, This Week 18, Last Week 38, Weeks on Chart 4
  26. Billboard, November 21, 1981 - Page 84 Billboard Disco Top 80, This Week 5, Last Week 6, Weeks on Chart 9
  27. Billboard, November 21, 1981 - Page 60 Billboard Disco Top 80, This Week 5, Last Week 5, Weeks on Chart 10
  28. Billboard, December 5, 1981 - Page 65 Billboard Disco Top 80, This Week 6, Last Week 5, Weeks on Chart 11
  29. Cash Box, October 3, 1981 - PAge 12 DANCE MUSIC CHART - Top selling dance music records compiled from sales reports of northeast area retailers specializing in 12" singles
    Top Fifteen 1., Walking In The Sunshine (remlx)
  30. Top 40 - TOP 40-LIJST VAN WEEK 8, 1982, week 8 (20 februari 1982), 25 WALKING INTO SUNSHINE central line, 29, 25, 25 3 WEKEN
  31. Top 40 - TOP 40-LIJST VAN WEEK 9, 1982, week 9 (27 februari 1982), 26 WALKING INTO SUNSHINE central line, 26, 25, 26 4 WEKEN