Escaping (song)
1989 single by Margaret Urlich

"Escaping"
Single by Margaret Urlich
from the album Safety in Numbers
B-side"God Bless the Child"
ReleasedSeptember 1989 (1989-09)
Studio301 (Sydney, Australia)
GenrePop
Length4:36
LabelCBS
Songwriters
ProducerRobyn Smith
Margaret Urlich singles chronology
"Escaping"
(1989) 		"Only My Heart Calling"
(1990)

"Escaping" is a song by New Zealand singer Margaret Urlich. The song was released as her debut solo single in September 1989 by CBS Records International and charted at number one for three weeks in the New Zealand singles chart, later reaching number 17 in Australia. It is the opening track on Urlich's debut album, Safety in Numbers (1989), and also features on her 1994 live album Live.

Awards

At the 1989 New Zealand Music Awards, "Escaping" won Single of the Year. At the same awards, Urlich won Best Female Vocalist, and her debut album Safety in Numbers won Album of the Year and Best Cover Design.[1]

Track listings

  • 7-inch single
  1. "Escaping" – 4:36
  2. "God Bless This Child" – 3:55
  • 12-inch and CD single
  1. "Escaping" – 4:36
  2. "Your Love" – 4:30
  3. "God Bless This Child" – 3:55

Charts

Asia Blue version

"Escaping"
Single by Asia Blue
from the album Escaping
Released1992 (1992)
GenrePop
Length4:46
LabelA&M
Songwriters
ProducerBarry Blue
Asia Blue singles chronology
"Escaping"
(1992) 		"Connect"
(1992)

British female soul trio Asia Blue released a cover of the song as their debut single in 1992 by A&M Records. Their version was produced by Barry Blue, who had originally written the song. The single peaked at number 50 in the UK in June 1992, becoming the group's biggest hit. The trio released two more singles, "Connect" and "Boy in the Moon" (another song originally done by Margaret Urlich) in 1992 and 1993 respectively, which failed to chart inside the UK top 75. A 10-track album titled Escaping was recorded and set to be released in early 1993, but due to the singles' lack of success it was shelved by the label.

Critical reception

Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote in their review that "this female vocal trio excels with a soulful ballad including a virtually classic chorus reminiscent of Donna Summer's 'State of Independence'."[8] Miranda Sawyer from Select noted its "gloriously syrupy chorus that would do Quincy Jones proud. 'Escaping' slicks and smooches in creditable En Vogue style."[9]

Track listings

  • 7-inch single
  1. "Escaping" (Cool Blue Mix) – 4:46
  2. "I Want the Right (To Be Wrong)" – 4:07
  • 12-inch single
  1. "Escaping" (A Kiss Across The Sea Mix) – 6:07
  2. "Escaping" (Sleeping Giant Mix) – 5:32
  3. "I Want the Right (To Be Wrong)" – 4:07
  • CD single
  1. "Escaping" (Cool Blue Mix) – 4:46
  2. "Escaping" (A Kiss Across The Sea Mix) – 6:07
  3. "Escaping" (Sleeping Giant Mix) – 5:32
  4. "I Want the Right (To Be Wrong)" – 4:07

Charts

Chart (1992) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[10] 50
UK Airplay (Music Week)[11] 26
UK Club Chart (Music Week)[12] 77

Dina Carroll version

"Escaping"
Single by Dina Carroll
from the album Only Human
B-side"Mind Body & Soul"
Released16 September 1996 (1996-09-16)
GenreGospel[13]
Length3:41
Label
Songwriters
ProducerNigel Lowis
Dina Carroll singles chronology
"The Perfect Year"
(1993) 		"Escaping"
(1996) 		"Only Human"
(1996)
Music video
"Escaping" on YouTube

British singer Dina Carroll released a cover of the song on 16 September 1996 by Mercury and 1st Avenue. For her version, Carroll and producer Nigel Lowis rewrote a good part of the original lyrics, but maintained the same musical structure of the previous versions. The video clip heavily featured a documentary of Balinese people culture and social life.[14][15]

Her first single after a three-year absence, "Escaping" became Carroll's highest-charting hit in the UK, peaking at No. 3, equalling the position of her ballad "Don't Be a Stranger". The B-side, "Mind Body & Soul", was released as a single in Japan on 25 December 1996.[16]

Critical reception

Jon O'Brien from AllMusic described "Escaping" as a "joint, worldbeat-inspired" song.[17] Irish Evening Herald stated that Carroll "certainly knows how to make a comeback in style".[18] Ross Jones from The Guardian complimented its chorus as "massive" and noted how the "life-affirming refrain sweeps up to the heavens".[19] Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "...Dina Caroll is already receiving airplay with this cover version of the Asia Blue song. Don't expect R&B: this is a well-produced velvety gospel ballad."[13] A reviewer from Music Week rated it three out of five, declaring it "an atmospheric, lushly-arranged ballad, complete with an African feel and touches of Estefan."[20] Another Music Week editor, Alan Jones, noted that this "strong mid-tempo cut with a soaring chorus" is already a radio favourite, "which should give her a triumphant return to the upper echelons of the chart."[21]

Track listings

  • UK and Japanese CD single[22][23]
  1. "Escaping"
  2. "Escaping" (DARC by Nature remix)
  3. "Mind Body & Soul" (Chicago MVP's Allstar mix)
  4. "Mind Body & Soul" (Jere McAllister Final's remix)
  • UK 12-inch single[24]
A1. "Mind Body & Soul" (Chicago MVP's Allstar mix)
A2. "Mind Body & Soul" (Bounce Productions Storm dub)
B1. "Mind Body & Soul" (Sci-Fi Learners Vox mix)
B2. "Escaping" (radio edit)
  • UK cassette single and European CD single[25][26]
  1. "Escaping" (radio edit)
  2. "Escaping" (DARC by Nature remix)
  • Japanese mini-CD single ("Mind, Body & Soul")[27]
  1. "Mind Body & Soul" (album version)
  2. "Mind Body & Soul" (Chicago MVP's Allstar mix)

Charts

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 16 September 1996
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
[35]
Japan 25 October 1996 CD Mercury [36]

References

  1. ^ "1989 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  2. ^ "Margaret Urlich – Escaping". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  3. ^ "Margaret Urlich – Escaping". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  4. ^ "ARIA Digital Tracks – Week Commencing 29th August 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1695. Australian Recording Industry Association. 29 August 2022. p. 9.
  5. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 29 August 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Top Selling Singles of 1989". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  7. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart 1990 (61–100) (from The ARIA Report No. 50)". ARIA. Retrieved 10 October 2016 – via Imgur.
  8. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 18 July 1992. p. 4. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  9. ^ Sawyer, Miranda (1 July 1992). "Reviews: New Singles". Select. p. 89. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  10. ^ "Official Charts > Asia Blue". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  11. ^ "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 27 June 1992. p. 16. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  12. ^ "The Record Mirror Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 13 June 1992. p. 6. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  13. ^ a b "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 19 October 1996. p. 12. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  14. ^ "Dina Carroll – Escaping". Videa.hu. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  15. ^ Blocked in The UK (10 September 2015). "Dina Carroll – Escaping". YouTube. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  16. ^ "マインド・ボディ&ソウル | ディナ・キャロル" [Mind Body & Soul | Dina Carroll] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  17. ^ O'Brien, Jon. "Dina Carroll – The Very Best of Dina Carroll". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  18. ^ "Wired!". Evening Herald. 23 September 1996. page 23.
  19. ^ Jones, Ross (7 September 1996). "Reviews: Singles". p. 35. The Guardian.
  20. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 7 September 1996. p. 8. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  21. ^ Jones, Alan (14 September 1995). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 26. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  22. ^ Escaping (UK CD single liner notes). Mercury Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1996. DCCD 1, 578 469–2.
  23. ^ Escaping (Japanese CD single liner notes). Mercury Records. 1996. PHCR-8379.
  24. ^ Escaping (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Mercury Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1996. DCX 1, 578 469–1.
  25. ^ Escaping (UK cassette single sleeve). Mercury Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1996. DCMC 1, 578 468–4.
  26. ^ Escaping (European CD single liner notes). Mercury Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1996. 578 468-2.
  27. ^ Mind, Body & Soul (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). Mercury Records. 1996. PHDR-153.
  28. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 40. 5 October 1996. p. 16. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  29. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (17.10.1996 – 23.10.1996)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 18 October 1996. p. 16. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  30. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Escaping". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  31. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 9/10/1996 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  32. ^ "Official Singles Chart on 28/9/1996 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  33. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart on 28/9/1996 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  34. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1996". Music Week. 18 January 1997. p. 25.
  35. ^ "Dina Carroll: Escaping" (PDF). Music Week. 7 September 1996. p. 2. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  36. ^ "エスケイピング | ディナ・キャロル" [Escaping | Dina Carroll] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  • 1989 original version by Margaret Urlich (YouTube)
  • 1992 cover by Asia Blue (YouTube)
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