Words Get in the Way

Last updated
"Words Get in the Way"
Gloria Estefan Words Get in the Way Single.jpg
Single by Miami Sound Machine
from the album Primitive Love
B-side "Movies"
ReleasedJune 1986
Recorded1985
Genre Pop
Length3:30
Label Epic
Songwriter(s) Gloria Estefan
Producer(s) Emilio Estefan Jr.
Miami Sound Machine singles chronology
"Bad Boy"
(1985/1986)
"Words Get in the Way"
(1986)
"Falling in Love (Uh-Oh)"
(1986)

"Words Get in the Way" is a song written by Gloria Estefan and released as the third single from her band, Miami Sound Machine, on their second English language album, and ninth overall, Primitive Love . The song is a ballad and became the highest-charting song off the album.

Contents

Song history

As a ballad, "Words Get in the Way" marked a change in sound from the band's earlier singles and foreshadowed Estefan's later success.

The song was their first to crack the Top 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #5, and became their first number-one hit on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart in 1986. [1] They didn't achieve the same success internationally, but still managed to reach the Top 20 in other countries. The single was certified Gold by the ARIA for its sales of 35,000 copies. [2]

The band re-recorded the song in Spanish under the title "No Me Vuelvo a Enamorar" ("I Won't Fall in Love Again"), although not a direct translation. The Spanish version entered the "Hot Latin Songs" in the Top 20, becoming the band's first entrance on the chart. This version was available on international pressings of the album and on its inclusion on Estefan's Spanish compilation Exitos de Gloria Estefan.

A live version with a different arrangement was included as a B-side to the single, "Always Tomorrow," and as a bonus track on international editions of Into the Light. It was taken from Estefan's Homecoming Concert in Miami from her 1988 Let it Loose Tour , released on VHS.

The song was featured in 1986 episodes of the daytime soap operas All My Children and Another World .

Formats and track listings

U.S. and Canada 7" vinyl single (34 06120) [June 1986]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Words Get in the Way"Gloria M. Estefan3:23
2."Movies"
  • Lawrence Dermer
  • Joe Galdo
  • Rafael Vigil
2:57
U.S. promo 7" vinyl single (34 06120) [June 1986]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Words Get in the Way"Gloria M. Estefan3:23
2."Words Get in the Way"Gloria M. Estefan3:23
U.S. 7" vinyl single (Discos CBS International) [DBS 10120]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Words Get in the Way"Gloria M. Estefan3:23
2."No Me Vuelvo a Enamorar" (Words Get in the Way – Spanish version)Gloria M. Estefan3:23
Europe 7" vinyl single (EPC 650079 7) [October 1986]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Words Get in the Way"Gloria M. Estefan3:23
2."Movies"
  • Lawrence Dermer
  • Joe Galdo
  • Rafael Vigil
2:57
Europe 12" vinyl single (EPC 650079 6) [October 1986]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Words Get in the Way"Gloria M. Estefan3:23
2."Movies"
  • Lawrence Dermer
  • Joe Galdo
  • Rafael Vigil
2:57
3."Body to Body"
  • Suzi Carr
  • Lawrence Dermer
  • Joe Galdo
3:56
Australia 7" vinyl single (ES 1169)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Words Get in the Way"Gloria M. Estefan3:23
2."Movies"
  • Lawrence Dermer
  • Joe Galdo
  • Rafael Vigil
2:57
New Zealand 7" vinyl single (ES 1158)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Words Get in the Way"Gloria M. Estefan3:23
2."Movies"
  • Lawrence Dermer
  • Joe Galdo
  • Rafael Vigil
2:57
South Africa 7" vinyl single (EN 5958)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Words Get in the Way"Gloria M. Estefan3:23
2."Movies"
  • Lawrence Dermer
  • Joe Galdo
  • Rafael Vigil
2:57
Zimbabwe 7" vinyl single (EN 5958)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Words Get in the Way"Gloria M. Estefan3:23
2."Movies"
  • Lawrence Dermer
  • Joe Galdo
  • Rafael Vigil
2:57
Philippines 7" vinyl single (ES-20089)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Words Get in the Way"Gloria M. Estefan3:23
2."Orange Express"
  • S. Watanabe
  • Wesley B. Wright
3:42
Japan 7" vinyl single (07•5P-421) [July 21, 1986]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Words Get in the Way"Gloria M. Estefan3:23
2."Movies"
  • Lawrence Dermer
  • Joe Galdo
  • Rafael Vigil
2:57
U.S. cassette single (Hall of Fame Series) [15T 69122] {1989}
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Words Get in the Way"Gloria M. Estefan3:23
2."Betcha Say That" (single remix)
  • Lawrence Dermer
  • Joe Galdo
  • Rafael Vigil
3:40
U.S. 7" vinyl single (Hall of Fame Series) [15 69122] {1989}
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Words Get in the Way"Gloria M. Estefan3:23
2."Betcha Say That" (single remix)
  • Lawrence Dermer
  • Joe Galdo
  • Rafael Vigil
3:40
U.S. 7" vinyl single (Epic Collectables) [15 69122] {1991}
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Words Get in the Way"Gloria M. Estefan3:23
2."Betcha Say That" (single remix)
  • Lawrence Dermer
  • Joe Galdo
  • Rafael Vigil
3:40
Ecuador 7" vinyl single (133-0115)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."No Me Vuelvo a Enamorar" (Words Get in the Way – Spanish version)Gloria M. Estefan3:23
2."Conga"Enrique E. Garcia4:11

Official versions

Original versions

  1. Album version — (3:23)
  2. Spanish version ("No Me Vuelvo a Enamorar") — (3:23)
  3. Live version (from the Homecoming Concert in Miami 1988) — (5:02)

Release history

RegionDate
U.S.June 1986
EuropeOctober 1986
JapanJuly 21, 1986

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1986)Peak
position [2]
Australia (Kent Music Report) [3] 22
Belgium (Flanders)30
Belgium (Wallonia)22
Netherlands26
New Zealand Top 40 Singles Chart [4] 4
US Billboard Hot 100 5
US Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks ( Billboard )1
US Hot Latin Tracks ( Billboard )17
US Radio & Records CHR/Pop Airplay Chart [5] 9
US Radio & Records Adult Contemporary Top 301

Year-end charts

Chart (1986)Peak
position [2]
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard) [6] 47
US Radio & Records CHR/Pop Airplay Chart [7] 66
Brazil14
New Zealand [4] 40

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References

  1. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 87.
  2. 1 2 3 "Words Get In The Way (Single - 1986)". 27 October 2009. Archived from the original on 27 October 2009.
  3. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). Sydney: Australian Chart Book. p. 199. ISBN   0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between 1983 and 26 June 1988.
  4. 1 2 "The Official New Zealand Music Chart". THE OFFICIAL NZ MUSIC CHART. Archived from the original on 2017-06-14. Retrieved 2019-06-04.
  5. "Gloria Estefan Chart history on the R&R airplay chart". February 26, 2017.
  6. Nielsen Business Media, Inc (December 27, 1986). "1986 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 52. p. Y-21.{{cite magazine}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  7. "Radio & Records Contemporary Hit Radio 1986 Year-End Chart". www.popradiotop20.com. Retrieved 2017-02-27.