Breakout (Swing Out Sister song)

"Breakout"
Single by Swing Out Sister
from the album It's Better to Travel
B-side	"Dirty Money"
Released	1986
Format	CD single 7"
Genre	Sophisti-pop[1]
Length	3:48
Label	Mercury Records
Writer(s)	Andy Connell Corinne Drewery Martin Jackson
Producer(s)	Paul Staveley O'Duffy
Certification	Silver (BPI)[2]
Swing Out Sister singles chronology
"Blue Mood" (1985) "Breakout" (1986) "Surrender" (1987)

"Breakout" is a single from British act Swing Out Sister's debut album It's Better to Travel.

The single reached the number four position in the UK in the autumn of 1986, and rose to number six on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US and number one on the Adult Contemporary in the US in 1987. The song also resulted in a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.

The single was written and performed while the group was still a trio. It was one of their biggest hits, and the song most closely associated with the act. In the US, "Breakout" remains a staple of adult contemporary and smooth jazz radio station playlists.

Music video

The music video for "Breakout" features lead singer Corinne Drewery as a fashion designer, who with the assistance of the other two band members designs and makes her own dress, and later makes a successful runway debut modelling it. During the first chorus, when Andy Connell and Martin Jackson appear, Drewery looks at them strangely. It was directed by Nick Willing.

Remixes

German 7" Single

1. "Breakout" (Album Version/7" Version) – 3:46 Brass by Phantom Horns (Gary Barnacle, John Thirkell, Peter Thoms and Luke Tunney)

   Also available from the CD album "It's Better to Travel".

2. "Dirty Money" – 3:36

UK 12" Single

1. "Breakout" (N.A.D. Mix)

   As featured on the 1992 Japanese 'Special Edition' CD Album "Swing Out Singles"

2. "Breakout" (A New Rockin' Version)

   Taken from the 1987 CD release of "It's Better to Travel" (mislabeled as the NAD Mix), featured in the 2012 2-CD release of "It's Better to Travel", featured on both the Japanese CD Albums "Another Non-Stop Sister" and "Swing 3"

3. "Breakout" (Horny Version)

   As featured on the Japanese CD Album "Another Non-Stop Sister"

US 12" Promo Single

1. "Breakout" (Extended Re-Mix)
2. "Breakout" (Hornamental)
3. "Breakout" (Carnival Mix)

   As featured on the VERY 'Limited Edition' Japanese CD "Remixes and Others" from the "Splendid Collection"

4. "Breakout" (7" Re-Mix)

Other uses

The song appears on Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City, playing on the fictional radio station Vice City FM.

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1986–87) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[3] 12 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[4] 17 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[5] 2 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[6] 18 Germany (Official German Charts)[7] 27 Ireland (IRMA)[8] 6 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[9] 30 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10] 34 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11] 4 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[12] 4 US Billboard Adult Contemporary[13] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[13] 6 US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[13] 12 US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales[13] 10 US Cash Box[14] 5

Year-end charts Chart (1987) Rank Australia (Kent Music Report)[15] 59 US Billboard Hot 100[16] 66

See also

• List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1987 (U.S.)

References

1. Soto, Alfred. "The Bluffer's Guide – Sophisti-Pop > Swing Out Sister – "Breakout" (1987)". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
2. "Certified Awards". BPI. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
3. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
4. "Ultratop.be – Swing Out Sister – Breakout" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
5. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8478." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
6. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0884." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
7. "Offiziellecharts.de – Swing Out Sister – Breakout". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
8. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Break Out". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
9. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Swing Out Sister - Breakout search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
10. "Dutchcharts.nl – Swing Out Sister – Breakout" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
11. "Charts.org.nz – Swing Out Sister – Breakout". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
12. "Archive Chart: 1986-11-22" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
13. "Swing Out Sister – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
14. CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending NOVEMBER 14, 1987 at the Wayback Machine (archived 6 October 2012). Cash Box magazine.
15. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1980s". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
16. "Top 100 Hits for 1987". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 17 February 2014.