Right Back Where We Started From - Maxine Nightingale (1976) 5/1/22

Today's "Great Song of the '70s" is lucky it ever saw the light of day.

British Record producer Pierre Tubbs had a song title in his head, and he asked his friend, singer/songwriter J. Vincent Edwards to help him write a song to go with it.

Using a melody Edwards had written a few years earlier, they finished "Right Back Where We Started From" in about 7 minutes--on their way to Charing Cross Hospital where Tubbs' wife was about to give birth. (True Story!)

They conceived the song to be a duet, so Edwards contacted a friend he had performed with in a London West End production of "Hair:" Maxine Nightingale.

Maxine agreed...but only if she were paid the standard session fee (45 pounds at the time). Edwards had to work VERY hard to convince her to waive the fee and sign a royalty contract. He was positive it would be a hit and make them rich.

Maxine reluctantly signed...but then didn't like the arrangement, thought it was in the wrong key for her voice, and was certain the song was going nowhere--especially after hearing the demo.

Apparently, Edwards' vocals were "pretty horrendous" (to use Maxine's words)--but as luck would have it, he was offered a recording contract with another record company, so his vocals had to be erased from the demo.

Due to budgetary restraints, Maxine was not allowed to re-record the song, so the rough demo without Edwards went straight to release as a single--which should have been the kiss of death. But it wasn't!

In 1976, "Right Back Where We Started From" became a Top 10 hit in 9 countries...reaching #1 in Canada, and #2 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart. It also sold several million copies, netting Maxine a bit more than 45 pounds. :-)

Trivia: The NHL's New York Highlanders play the song after every home win.

Note: In 1989, American-born British singer Sinitta released a version that reached #2 in New Zealand, #4 in the UK, #5 in Ireland, and #7 in Australia and Finland. In the US: #84. Go figure. (Check the link below to hear it.)

"Right Back Where We Started From" by Maxine Nightingale: against all odds, a "Great Song of 1976"

Maxine:

Sinitta: