Elisa Fiorillo (October 22, 1990) – "On The Way Up (7" Power Mix)" b/w "On The Way Up (LP Version)" Format: 7" Single: UK

GlamSlamEscape

Oct 22, 1990

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Updated: 1 day ago

"On The Way Up" was the first single taken from Elisa Fiorillo's second album, I Am. Following its initial American release during September 1990, the single was issued in the United Kingdom on October 22, 1990 through Chrysalis Records.

Both "On The Way Up" and "I Am" were written by Prince. The single campaign developed considerably beyond the versions appearing on the parent album, with a substantial collection of edits, remixes and dub treatments prepared for the different configurations.

The UK release was available across several formats, including standard and poster 7-inch editions, 12-inch vinyl, cassette and CD. International releases added further configurations in the United States, Canada, Sweden, Australia and Japan.

Commercially, "On The Way Up" achieved its strongest supplied chart performances in the United States and Australia, reaching number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 19 on Australia's ARIA chart.

RECORDING

Both "On The Way Up" and "I Am" were written by Prince.

The single campaign included a substantial range of alternative mixes, including the 7" Power Mix, Single Edit, Jam Mix, II Mix, 12" Remix and LP Version.

"I Am" was reworked for the single as "Am I Dub II", with both standard and extended versions appearing across the various formats.

STYLE & THEMES

The numerous versions prepared for "On The Way Up" placed particular emphasis on remixing and reworking the original album recording for different single formats.

The 7" Power Mix provided a concise version for the principal single, while the expanded 12-inch configurations explored the song through the Jam Mix, II Mix and 12" Remix.

The accompanying "Am I Dub II" transformed another composition from I Am into a companion remix specifically associated with the single campaign.

TRACK-BY-TRACK NOTES

• On The Way Up (7" Power Mix) — The 3:54 version used extensively across the commercial single campaign and featured on the UK 7-inch.

• On The Way Up (LP Version) — The 4:20 album version, used as the reverse of the UK 7-inch configuration and included on several other formats.

• On The Way Up (Jam Mix) — A 4:54 alternative version included on 12-inch and CD editions.

• On The Way Up (II Mix) — A 6:14 extended version appearing across the 12-inch and CD configurations.

• On The Way Up (12" Remix) — A 6:20 extended remix used on selected 12-inch and CD editions.

• On The Way Up (Single Edit) — An additional edit issued on selected CD configurations, with supplied versions running 4:03 and 3:58.

• Am I Dub II — A remix treatment of "I Am", included in different configurations and lengths across the single campaign.

• Am I Dub II (Long Version) — The extended 5:37 version included on selected editions.

RELEASE HISTORY

"On The Way Up" was initially released in the United States during September 1990, shortly before the arrival of I Am. The British edition followed through Chrysalis Records on October 22, 1990.

For the UK market, the 7-inch was issued as CHS 3609-1, with a poster edition carrying catalogue number CHS 3609-2. The configuration paired the 3:54 7" Power Mix with the 4:20 LP Version.

UK buyers were also offered cassette, 12-inch and 5-inch CD configurations. These expanded the release beyond the basic single pairing by incorporating the Jam Mix, II Mix, 12" Remix and versions of "Am I Dub II".

The wider international campaign included releases in the United States, Canada, Sweden, Australia and Japan, with track configurations and catalogue numbers varying between territories.

CHARTS & CERTIFICATIONS

AMERICA

USA: Billboard Hot 100 — Entry: September 29, 1990 — Peak: 27 — Weeks: 19

USA: Billboard Hot Dance Music - Club Play — Entry: October 20, 1990 — Peak: 31 — Weeks: 5

EUROPE

UK: Gallup Singles Chart — Entry: November 11, 1990 — Peak: 83 — Weeks: 1

PACIFIC

Australia: ARIA Top 50 Singles — Entry: February 25, 1991 — Peak: 19 — Weeks: 9

PERSONNEL

Elisa Fiorillo — performer

Prince — songwriter

PRODUCTION

Label: Chrysalis Records

NOTES

"On The Way Up" was the first single released from Elisa Fiorillo's second album, I Am.
Both "On The Way Up" and "I Am" were written by Prince.
The UK single followed the initial US release and was issued on October 22, 1990.
The single campaign included several non-album edits, extended mixes and dub treatments, including the 7" Power Mix, Jam Mix, II Mix, 12" Remix and "Am I Dub II".
A poster version of the UK 7-inch was issued alongside the standard edition

RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE

Artist	Title	Label	Country	Catalogue	Date	Format
Elisa Fiorillo	On The Way Up	Chrysalis	UK	CHS 3609-1	October 22, 1990	7" Single
Elisa Fiorillo	On The Way Up	Chrysalis	UK	CHS 3609-2	October 22, 1990	7" Single, Poster Edition
Elisa Fiorillo	On The Way Up	Chrysalis	UK	CHSMC 3609	October 22, 1990	Cassette Single
Elisa Fiorillo	On The Way Up	Chrysalis	UK	CHS 123609	October 22, 1990	12" Single
Elisa Fiorillo	On The Way Up	Chrysalis	UK	CHS 123609	October 22, 1990	5" CD Single
	INTERNATIONAL VARIANTS
Elisa Fiorillo	On The Way Up	Chrysalis	USA	3236097	September 1990	7" Single
Elisa Fiorillo	On The Way Up	Chrysalis	USA	4JM 23497	1990	Cassette Single
Elisa Fiorillo	On The Way Up	Chrysalis	USA	V 23498	1990	12" Single
Elisa Fiorillo	On The Way Up	Chrysalis	USA	DPRO 23599	1990	5" CD Promo
Elisa Fiorillo	On The Way Up	Chrysalis	USA	DPRO 23497	1990	5" CD Promo, Poster
Elisa Fiorillo	On The Way Up	Chrysalis	Canada	V 23498	1990	12" Single
Elisa Fiorillo	On The Way Up	Chrysalis	Sweden	3236097	1990	7" Single
Elisa Fiorillo	On The Way Up	Chrysalis	Sweden	3 23609 6	1990	12" Single
Elisa Fiorillo	On The Way Up	Chrysalis	Sweden	3236092	1990	5" CD
Elisa Fiorillo	On The Way Up	Chrysalis	Australia	2515-7	1990	7" Single
Elisa Fiorillo	On The Way Up	Chrysalis	Australia	4JM 23497	1990	Cassette Single
Elisa Fiorillo	On The Way Up	Chrysalis	Japan	TOCP-6471	1990	5" CD

TRACKLIST TABLE (ALL FORMATS)

Format	Catalogue	Tracklisting
UK 7" Single	CHS 3609-1 / CHS 3609-2	A. On The Way Up (7" Power Mix) (3:54) B. On The Way Up (LP Version) (4:20)
UK Cassette Single	CHSMC 3609	A1. On The Way Up (Power Mix) (3:54) A2. On The Way Up (LP Version) (4:20) B1. On The Way Up (Power Mix) (3:54) B2. On The Way Up (LP Version) (4:20)
UK 12" Single	CHS 123609	A1. On The Way Up (II Mix) (6:14) A2. On The Way Up (7" Power Mix) (3:54) B1. On The Way Up (Jam Mix) (4:54) B2. Am I Dub II (4:45)
UK 5" CD	CHS 123609	1. On The Way Up (7" Power Mix) (3:54) 2. On The Way Up (II Mix) (6:14) 3. On The Way Up (Jam Mix) (4:54) 4. Am I Dub II (5:45)
USA / Sweden 7"	3236097	A. On The Way Up (7" Power Mix) (3:54) B. Am I Dub II (Long Version) (5:37)
Australia 7"	2515-7	A. On The Way Up (7" Power Mix) (3:54) B. On The Way Up (LP Version) (4:20)
USA Cassette	4JM 23497	A. On The Way Up (7" Power Mix) (3:54) B. On The Way Up (LP Version) (4:20)
USA / Canada 12"	V 23498	A1. On The Way Up (Jam Mix) (4:54) A2. On The Way Up (II Mix) (6:14) A3. On The Way Up (7" Power Mix) (3:54) B1. On The Way Up (12" Remix) (6:20) B2. Am I Dub II (Long Version) (5:37)
Sweden 12"	3 23609 6	A1. On The Way Up (12" Remix) (6:20) A2. Am I Dub II (Long Version) (5:37) B1. On The Way Up (7" Power Mix) (3:54) B2. On The Way Up (II Mix) (6:14)
Sweden 5" CD	3236092	1. On The Way Up (7" Power Mix) (3:54) 2. On The Way Up (Jam Mix) (4:54) 3. Am I Dub II (5:45) 4. On The Way Up (12" Remix) (6:20)
Japan 5" CD	TOCP-6471	1. On The Way Up (Single Edit) (4:03) 2. On The Way Up (7" Power Mix) (3:54) 3. On The Way Up (Jam Mix) (4:54)
USA Promo CD	DPRO 23599	1. On The Way Up (Single Edit) (3:58) 2. On The Way Up (7" Power Mix) (3:54) 3. On The Way Up (Jam Mix) (4:54)
USA Promo CD, Poster	DPRO 23497	1. On The Way Up (LP Version) (4:20) 2. On The Way Up (7" Power Mix) (3:54) 3. On The Way Up (Jam Mix) (4:54)

SOURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts, Prince Vault, Sleeveographia2.

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