"Walking into Sunshine" is a 1981 single by British band Central Line. It became a hit for the group that year, charting in both the UK and the US.
Background "Walking into Sunshine" appears to be the earliest example of Roy Carter's songwriting to make the national charts.MusicVF.com - Songs written by Roy Carter, Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography Carter was a member of Clem Curtis & The Foundations,Getty Images - English Pop Group Foundations arrived in Sydney to start a month long tour of Australia 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.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.Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third Series Volume 30, Part 5, Number 2, Section 2, MusicCurrent and Renewal Register, July–December 1976 ISSN 0041-7866 - Page 2326 EU732037 Amanda.Roots Vinyl Guide - Clem Curtis & The Foundations.Soul.Mint.7".Make A Wish.45rpm.1976.Vinyl. He also composed "The Foundations Theme".Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third Series Volume 30, Part 5, Number 2, Section 2, MusicCurrent and Renewal Register, July–December 1976 ISSN 0041-7866 - Page 2326 EU732040 Foundations theme He was later a member of Heatwave and was with them until 1979.Cash Box, November 11, 1978 - Page C-9 BOX AWARDS, Heatwave, Soul Record Of The YearJazz Rock Soul - Heatwave 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".Summer Soulstice - CAMELLE HINDS Carter co-wrote the song with band members; keyboardist Lipson Francis and percussionist Linton C. Beckles.Billboard, October 17, 1981 - Page 56 General News, New On The Charts
"Walking into Sunshine " bw "That's No Way to Treat My Love" was released in the UK in 7-inch format on Mercury MER 78.Roots Vinyl Guide - CENTRAL LINE WALKING INTO SUNSHINE 7" SINGLE 1981 N/MINT 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.Roots Vinyl Guide - Central Line – Walking Into Sunshine 1981 Original *Larry Levan* 12" Single
The song brought them success. They followed it up with "Don’t Tell Me" which also made the charts.Summer Soulstice - CAMELLE HINDS
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.Billboard, October 17, 1981 - Page 64 Disco Business, Disco Mix By BARRY LEDERER
Airplay According to the September 12 issue of Billboard, the single was one of the playlist top add-ons at WXLO in New York.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 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.Cash Box, October 3, 1981 - BLACK RADIO HIGHLIGHTS, WBMX - CHICAGO - LEE MICHAELS, PD The October 24 issue of Billboard reported the single as a prime mover on the playlist of WKTU-FM in New York City.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 The October 31 issue of Billboard reported that it was a breakout in the Northeast region,Billboard, October 31, 1981 - Page 32 Billboard Singles Radio Action Based on station playlists through Tuesday (10/20/81), Northeast Region, -BREAKOUTS- and a top add-on to the playlist of WXKS -FM (KISS- 108) in Boston.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
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.Music & Video Week, August 15, 1981 - Page 9 music week TOP 75 SINGLES, 72 NEW WALKIN' INTO SUNSHINE
Spending a total of nine weeks in the main UK chart, it peaked at no. 42 on September 9.Official Charts - WALKING INTO SUNSHINE by CENTRAL LINE, CHART RUN
On the week of September 26, the 12-inch version of "Walking into Sunshine" (Mercury MDS 4013) made its debut at no. 66 in the Billboard Disco Top 80 chart.Billboard, September 26, 1981 - Page 40 Billboard Disco Top 80, This Week 66, NEW ENTRY The following week, it had moved up to no. 49.Billboard, October 3, 1981 - Page 40 Billboard Disco Top 80, This Week 49, Last Week 66, Weeks on Chart 2 The following week it had similar progress, moving up to no. 38.Billboard, October 10, 1981 - Page 48 Billboard Disco Top 80, This Week 38, Last Week 49, Weeks on Chart 3 The following week (October 17), the single increased pace, moving up twenty places to no. 18.Billboard, October 18, 1981 - Page 64 Billboard Disco Top 80, This Week 18, Last Week 38, Weeks on Chart 4 Having been in the chart for nine weeks, the single reached its peak position of no. 5 on the week of November 21,Billboard, November 21, 1981 - Page 84 Billboard Disco Top 80, This Week 5, Last Week 6, Weeks on Chart 9 and held that spot for another week.Billboard, November 21, 1981 - Page 60 Billboard Disco Top 80, This Week 5, Last Week 5, Weeks on Chart 10Billboard, December 5, 1981 - Page 65 Billboard Disco Top 80, This Week 6, Last Week 5, Weeks on Chart 11
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-inch records compiled from sales reports of the northeast area of the retailers who specialized in the 12-inch format.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)
It also charted in the Netherlands Top 40, where it peaked at no. 25 on week 3.Top 40 - TOP 40-LIJST VAN WEEK 8, 1982, week 8 (20 februari 1982), 25 WALKING INTO SUNSHINE central line, 29, 25, 25 3 WEKENTop 40 - TOP 40-LIJST VAN WEEK 9, 1982, week 9 (27 februari 1982), 26 WALKING INTO SUNSHINE central line, 26, 25, 26 4 WEKEN
Popular culture The song appears in video game Grand Theft Auto V on the Space 103.2 radio station.
References
External links Discogs – Central Line – Walking Into Sunshine