"Going Back to My Roots" is a 1977 song by

Lamont Dozier Lamont Herbert Dozier (; June 16, 1941 – August 8, 2022) was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer from Detroit. He co-wrote and produced 14 US '' Billboard'' number-one hits and four number ones in the UK. Career Dozier was a ...

. A cover version of "Going Back to My Roots" by the British-American band

Odyssey The ''Odyssey'' (; ) is one of two major epics of ancient Greek literature attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest surviving works of literature and remains popular with modern audiences. Like the ''Iliad'', the ''Odyssey'' is divi ...

was the most successful in music charts in particularly European countries, besides reaching number one in South Africa. Cover versions by FPI Project and

Linda Clifford Linda Clifford (born June 14, 1948) is an American Contemporary R&B, R&B, disco and house music singer who scored hits from the 1970s to the 1980s, most notably "If My Friends Could See Me Now", "Bridge over Troubled Water (song), Bridge over ...

have also entered the UK Singles Chart, with FPI Project's version charting in other European markets as well. Originally an album track discussing genealogy, the song was written for the

African-American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from any of the Black racial groups of Africa. ...

market and touches on the matters of self-identity, family, and soul fulfillment. It has appeared on assorted compilation albums.

Background

The song was written and first recorded by

for his 1977 LP ''Peddlin' Music on the Side''. It was produced by

Stewart Levine Stewart Levine (born 1946) is an American record producer. He has worked with many artists such as The Crusaders, Minnie Riperton, Lionel Richie, Simply Red, Hugh Masekela, Huey Lewis and the News, Patti LaBelle, Sly Stone, Boy George, Oleta Ada ...

and features additional production from

Hugh Masekela Hugh Ramapolo Masekela (4 April 1939 – 23 January 2018) was a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, singer and composer who was described as "the father of South African jazz". Masekela was known for his jazz compositions and f ...

and Rik Pekkonen. It has widely been seen as covering the same subject matter as the bestselling

Alex Haley Alexander Murray Palmer Haley (August 11, 1921 – February 10, 1992) was an American writer and the author of the 1976 book '' Roots: The Saga of an American Family.'' ABC adapted the book as a television miniseries of the same name and ...

novel ''

Roots A root is the part of a plant, generally underground, that anchors the plant body, and absorbs and stores water and nutrients. Root or roots may also refer to: Art, entertainment, and media * ''The Root'' (magazine), an online magazine focusin ...

'' that depicts a modern-day African-American tracing his ancestry back, via the slave trade, to a village in

The Gambia The Gambia, officially the Republic of The Gambia, is a country in West Africa. Geographically, The Gambia is the List of African countries by area, smallest country in continental Africa; it is surrounded by Senegal on all sides except for ...

. This is supported by the extended final section, which moves into

Afrobeat Afrobeat (also known as Afrofunk) is a West African music genre, fusing influences from Nigerian (such as Yoruba) and Ghanaian (such as highlife) music, with American funk, jazz, and soul influences. With a focus on chanted vocals, complex i ...

and Yoruba chanting. Yet in an interview with ''

Blues & Soul ''Blues & Soul'' is a British music magazine, established in 1967 by John Abbey. ''The Independent'' has noted ''Blues & Soul'' as being the equal of magazines such as ''NME'' and '' Q''. ''Billboard'' magazine has called ''Blues & Soul'' "a r ...

'' magazine in 1977, Dozier stated otherwise: “The song was inspired by the fact that I have my ‘roots’ in

Detroit Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

and when I moved to

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

, a few years ago, I found myself taking trips to Detroit to see my family and so on.”

Richie Havens version

An early cover version was recorded by

Richie Havens Richard Pierce Havens (January 21, 1941 – April 22, 2013) was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. His music encompassed elements of folk music, folk, soul music, soul (both of which he frequently cover song, covered), and rhythm and b ...

in 1980. Unusually for folk musician Havens, it incorporated

disco Disco is a music genre, genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the late 1960s from the United States' urban nightclub, nightlife, particularly in African Americans, African-American, Italian-Americans, Italian-American, LGBTQ ...

influences; this version was later sampled in FPI Project's version of the song and in "Destiny and Tenacity" on

the Kleptones The Kleptones are a one-man English electronic music act fronted by music producer and DJ Eric Kleptone. They are best known for their Internet-exclusive mashup albums. Typically, Eric Kleptone mixes rock/R&B instrumentals with rap and hip-hop ...

' 2010 album '' Uptime / Downtime''.

Odyssey version

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

disco group

released a cover version of this song in 1981. It charted at No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart, spending six weeks in the top ten, followed by another remaining six weeks on the chart. It also graced the US ''Billboard'' R&B Singles chart at No. 68. In South Africa, "Going Back to My Roots" reached #1. This version of the song appears on the '' Ashes to Ashes: Series 2 Original Soundtrack'' and was also danced to by

Patsy Palmer Julie Anne Merkell (''née'' Harris; born 26 May 1972), known professionally as Patsy Palmer, is a British actress and DJ. After appearing as Natasha in the children's drama series ''Grange Hill'' (1985–1987), she came to prominence for her p ...

and Anton du Beke on the third series of ''Strictly Come Dancing''.

Charts

FPI Project version

In 1989, a version was released by FPI Project, a trio consisting of Marco Fratty, Corrado Presti and Roberto Intrallazzi who, according to John Bush of

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

introduced

Italo house Italo house (often simply referred to as "Italian" or "Italian house" in the UK) is a form of house music originating in Italy. Typically popular in Italy, Britain, and United States since the late 1980s, it fuses house music and Italo disco. ...

to the world in the early 1990s. "Going Back to My Roots" features the vocals of English actress/singer Sharon D. Clarke and uses "Rich in Paradise" (featuring vocals by Paolo Dini) as its backing track. "Rich in Paradise" samples Richie Havens' version of "Going Back to My Roots", as well as T99's "Too Nice to Be Real", Honesty 69's "Rich in Paradise", and the

Yeah! Woo! The Think break is a drum break that has been widely sampled in popular music. It comes from the 1972 song " Think (About It)" by the American soul singer Lyn Collins, written and produced by James Brown. The drum break was performed by John " ...

loop. "Going Back to My Roots" / "Rich in Paradise" has charted on two separate occasions in

the UK The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

, the first in 1989 at No. 9, and a 1999 release of new mixes on the 99 North label at No. 96. The 1989 version also charted at No. 5 in

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

, No. 5 in

Austria Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...

and No. 10 in

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

. Another version, by Nick Hussey featuring Barry Stewart on vocals, made No.12 on the UK Dance Chart in 1994. The song appears on the compilation album '' Deep Heat 5 – Feed the Fever''.

Track listings

Original release

7":

EMI EMI Group Limited (formerly EMI Group plc until 2007; originally an initialism for Electric and Musical Industries, also referred to as EMI Records or simply EMI) was a British transnational conglomerate founded in March 1931 in London. At t ...

/ 06 2037567 (Italy) # "Going Back to My Roots" – 4:10 # "Salsa in Paradise" – 4:00 7": On the Beat / OTB 1385-0 (France) # "Going Back to My Roots" – 4:10 # "Rich in Paradise" – 3:35 7": On the Beat / OTB 1385-7 (France) # "Going Back to My Roots" – 4:02 # "Rich in Paradise" – 3:35 7":

ZYX The Zygii (, ''Zygoí'') or Zygians were described by Strabo as a nation to the north of Colchis. He wrote: ''And on the sea lies the Asiatic side of the Bosporus, or the Syndic territory. After this latter, one comes to the Achaei and the Zyg ...

/ ZYX 6256-7 (Germany) # "Going Back to My Roots" – 3:40 # "Rich in Paradise" – 3:38 7": Rumour / RUMA 9 (UK) # "Going Back to My Roots" # "Rich in Paradise" 7": Rumour / RUMAS 9 (UK) # "Going Back to My Roots" (vocal remix) # "Rich in Paradise" 12": Paradise Project / MIX 001 (Italy) # "Going Back to My Roots" – 5:48 # "Rich in Paradise" – 5:28 # "Piano in Paradise" – 1:42 12": Paradise Project / MIX 002 (Italy) # "Going Back to My Roots" (vocal version) – 5:50 # "Rich in Paradise" (original version) – 5:28 # "Piano in Paradise" (original version) – 1:42 # "Going Back to My Roots" (remix version) – 5:05 # "Salsa in Paradise" (Bum Bum version) – 5:00 # "Going Back to My Roots" (Pianoappella version) – 3:15 12": On the Beat / OTB 1385-6 (France) # "Going Back to My Roots" (club mix) – 5:30 # "Going Back to My Roots" – 3:40 # "Rich in Paradise" (club mix) – 5:30 # "Rich in Paradise" (single version) – 3:36 12" & CD: ZYX / ZYX 6256-12 (Germany) # "Going Back to My Roots" – 5:25 # "Rich in Paradise" – 5:25 # "Piano Paradise" – 1:40 12" & CD: ZYX / ZYX 6256R-12 (Germany) # "Going Back to My Roots" (remix version) – 5:05 # "Salsa in Paradise" (Bum Bum version) – 5:00 # "Going Back to My Roots" (Pianoappella version) – 3:15 12" & CD: ZYX / ZYX 6290-12 (Germany) # "Going Back to My Roots" (vocal mix) – 5:50 # "Rich in Paradise" (original version) – 5:30 # "Going Back to My Roots" (Pianoappella) – 3:15 12" Rumour / RUMAT 9 (UK) # "Going Back to My Roots" – 5:30 # "Rich in Paradise" – 5:30 # "Piano Paradise" – 1:38 12": Rumour / RUMAX 9 (UK) # "Going Back to My Roots" (vocal remix) # "Rich in Paradise" (original version) # "Going Back to My Roots" (remix) # "Salsa in Paradise" (Boom Boom version)

Later releases

12": 99 North / 99 NTH 17 (UK, 1999) # "Rich in Paradise / Going Back to My Roots" (DnD classic vocal mix) – 6:45 # "Rich in Paradise / Going Back to My Roots" (Philter's Good Time mix) – 6:46 # "Rich in Paradise / Going Back to My Roots" ( Loop Da Loop's full vocal mix) – 5:16 12": 99 North / 99 NTH 17R (UK, 1999) # "Rich in Paradise / Going Back to My Roots" (The Phantom's Big Bash mix) – 6:44 # "Rich in Paradise / Going Back to My Roots" (DnD Bonus Dubb) – 5:40 # "Rich in Paradise / Going Back to My Roots" (original FPI mix) – 5:50 CD: 99 North / CD NTH 17 (UK, 1999) # "Rich in Paradise / Going Back to My Roots" (DnD classic radio mix) – 3:30 # "Rich in Paradise / Going Back to My Roots" (Java remix) – 7:56 # "Rich in Paradise / Going Back to My Roots" (original FPI mix) – 5:50 12": Simple Vinyl / S12DJ096 (UK, 2003) # "Going Back to My Roots" (original vocal mix) – 5:50 # "Rich in Paradise" (original mix) – 5:30 # "Piano in Paradise" (bonus mix) – 1:40 12": Simple Vinyl / S12DJ096 (UK, 2005) # "Going Back to My Roots" (original vocal mix) – 5:50 # "Rich in Paradise" (original mix) – 5:26 # "Going Back to My Roots" (LuvDup remix) – 8:03 # "Going Back to My Roots" (Hannu remix) – 6:22 12": J / JV 003 (Italy, 2005) # "Going Back to My Roots" (extended rmx 2005) – 6:23 # "Going Back to My Roots" (original rmx 2005) – 4:38 # "Rich in Paradise" (original mix) – 4:35 Digital: In the Music / ITM 061 (Italy, 2014) # "Rich in Paradise (Going Back to My Roots)" (vocal remix) – 5:51 # "Rich in Paradise (Going Back to My Roots)" (Pianoappella) – 3:16 # "Rich in Paradise (Going Back to My Roots)" (vocal dance remix) – 5:08 # "Rich in Paradise (Going Back to My Roots)" – 5:27 # "Rich in Paradise" – 5:27 # "Salsa in Paradise" – 5:00 # "Rich in Paradise (Going Back to My Roots)" (instrumental dance mix) – 4:47 # "Rich in Paradise (Going Back to My Roots)" (instrumental remix) – 5:07 # "Piano in Paradise" – 1:40 Digital: Snatch! / SNATCH114 (UK, 2018) # "Rich in Paradise (Going Back to My Roots)" (Soul Speech remix) – 8:37 # "Rich in Paradise (Going Back to My Roots)" (Soul Speech dub mix) – 6:39 Digital: Just Entertainment / JD 1085 (Italy, 2018) # "Rich in Paradise (Going Back to My Roots)" (Flashmob 2018 dub remix) – 6:29 # "Rich in Paradise (Going Back to My Roots)" (Flashmob 2018 vocal remix) – 5:25

Charts

Linda Clifford version

The song was covered by

in 2002 which charted for a single week at No. 85 on the UK Singles Chart.

References

{{authority control 1977 songs 1981 singles 1989 singles 2002 singles Odyssey (band) songs Linda Clifford songs Songs written by Lamont Dozier Number-one singles in South Africa RCA Records singles