I Found Heaven

Written and produced by American singer Billy Griffin and English producer Ian Levine, it was released on 3 August 1992 as the fifth single from the band's debut album, Take That & Party (1992).{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=19|date=1 August 1992}} It became the group's second top-20 single, charting at number fifteen on the UK Singles Chart.[http://www.everyhit.co.uk/ "UK Top 40 Hit Database"]. everyHit.co.uk. Retrieved 18 November 2007 "I Found Heaven" is the first song by Take That to feature both Gary Barlow and Robbie Williams on lead vocals, and also the only non-cover written by someone else than the band.

In Gary Barlow's autobiography My Take, he states that the band hates the song: "The song Ian made us sing was truly fucking awful. I still hate it to this day. In fact, we all hate it and absolutely refuse to perform it on stage. It is, by a huge margin, the worst song of Take That's and my career. At the time I said nothing because I felt I didn't have a leg to stand on."

Although often considered Robbie Williams' debut song on lead vocals, certain sections of the track were supplemented with vocals by Billy Griffin due to Williams' inability to reach the high notes. Williams reportedly walked out of the session after an argument with Ian Levine regarding the matter.{{cite web|title="I think I'd be the Chuffinator... you have been chuffed!"|url=http://www.robbiewilliams.com/news-blogs/i-think-id-be-the-chuffinator-you-have-been-chuffed?page=16|publisher=Robbiewilliams.com|access-date=5 December 2013|date=12 July 2011}}

Also Ian Levine claimed that Jason Orange did not sing on the song because he felt that Orange did not have the needed vocal abilities at the time.

During the recording of this song, the group experienced a falling-out with Levine, and requested that they not record or write with him in the future. The single's B-side, "I'm Out," was written about this situation.

Music & Media commented, "These newcomers in the rich British tradition of teeny hoppers—from the Bay City Rollers to Wham! and Bros—try the now popular close harmony pop style. Judging by their current hit status, it is already widely recognized in the UK."{{cite magazine | title= 【New Releases: Singles】| magazine= Music & Media | date= 29 August 1992 | pages= 6,17 | access-date= 22 October 2020 | url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-08-29.pdf | format=pdf | quote=【Eurochart Hot 100 ® Singles;【38】 - I Found Heaven - Take That - RCA}}

The music video for the single was filmed on Sandown Beach on the Isle of Wight, and the yellow car featured is owned by a local resident, and is fairly well known amongst the islanders. The band perform the song on the beach whilst clips of the band relaxing on the beach are intercut with the video. In Gary Barlow's autobiography: 'My Take', he expressed that the band were disappointed with the location on which the video was filmed. They apparently hoped for the video to be shot in an exotic continent.

"I Found Heaven" won Best Video at the 1992 Smash Hits Awards.{{cite journal |journal=Smash Hits |date=8 December 1992 |title=Smash Hits Poll Winners - 1992 |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/sets/72157712684019661/ |publisher=Mouse, Michael |pages=4–23 |volume=14 |issue=366 |issn=0260-3004 |access-date=29 May 2020}}

{{Track listing

| headline = UK and European CD single {{nobold|(74321 10813 2)}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = I Found Heaven

| note1 = 7-inch radio mix

| writer1 = Ian Levine, Billy Griffin

| extra1 = Levine, Griffin

| length1 = 4:02

| title2 = I'm Out

| writer2 = Gary Barlow

| extra2 = Duncan Bridgeman

| length2 = 4:15

| title3 = Promises

| note3 = 7-inch radio mix

| writer3 = Graham Stack, Barlow

| extra3 = Pete Hammond

| length3 = 3:34

| title4 = I Found Heaven

| note4 = classic 12-inch mix

| writer4 = Levine, Griffin

| extra4 = Levine, Griffin

| length4 = 6:54

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = UK cassette single {{nobold|(74321 10813 4)}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = I Found Heaven

| note1 = 7-inch radio mix

| writer1 = Ian Levine, Billy Griffin

| extra1 = Levine, Griffin

| length1 = 4:02

| title2 = I'm Out

| writer2 = Gary Barlow

| extra2 = Duncan Bridgeman

| length2 = 4:13

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese 3-inch CD single {{nobold|(BVDP-80)}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = I Found Heaven

| note1 = 7-inch radio mix

| writer1 = Ian Levine, Billy Griffin

| extra1 = Levine, Griffin

| length1 = 4:02

| title2 = Promises

| note2 = 7-inch radio mix

| writer2 = Graham Stack, Gary Barlow

| extra2 = Pete Hammond

| length2 = 3:34

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = UK limited-edition picture disc 7-inch vinyl {{nobold|(74321 10813 7)}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = I Found Heaven

| note1 = 7-inch radio mix

| writer1 = Ian Levine, Billy Griffin

| extra1 = Levine, Griffin

| length1 = 4:02

| title2 = I'm Out

| writer2 = Gary Barlow

| extra2 = Duncan Bridgeman

| length2 = 4:13

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = UK limited-edition with poster sleeve 7-inch vinyl {{nobold|(#74321 10814 7)}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = I Found Heaven

| note1 = 7-inch radio mix

| writer1 = Ian Levine, Billy Griffin

| extra1 = Levine, Griffin

| length1 = 4:02

| title2 = I Found Heaven

| note2 = Mr. F's garage mix

| writer2 = Levine, Griffin

| extra2 = Levine, Griffin

| length2 = 6:08

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = UK 12-inch vinyl {{nobold|(74321 11240 1)}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = I Found Heaven

| note1 = Mr. F's garage mix

| writer1 = Ian Levine, Billy Griffin

| extra1 = Levine, Griffin

| length1 = 6:08

| title2 = I Found Heaven

| note2 = original 12-inch mix

| writer2 = Levine, Griffin

| extra2 = Levine, Griffin

| length2 = 6:35

| title3 = I Found Heaven

| note3 = 7-inch radio mix

| writer3 = Ian Levine, Billy Griffin

| extra3 = Levine, Griffin

| length3 = 4:02

}}

• Gary Barlow – co-lead vocals, backing vocals
• Robbie Williams – co-lead vocals, backing vocals
• Howard Donald – backing vocals
• Mark Owen – backing vocals
• Billy Griffin – additional co-lead vocals, backing vocals

{{Reflist}}

{{Take That}}

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Category:Take That songs

Category:1992 singles

Category:1992 songs

Category:Bertelsmann Music Group singles

Category:Music videos shot in the United Kingdom

Category:RCA Records singles

Category:Song recordings produced by Ian Levine

Category:Songs written by Billy Griffin

Category:Songs written by Ian Levine