"Sky High" is the name of a 1975 single by British pop music group Jigsaw. The song, the main title theme to the film entitled The Man from Hong Kong, was a worldwide hit in the latter part of 1975, reaching #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the Adult Contemporary chart in the United States. It was composed by Clive Scott and Des Dyer of Jigsaw. The orchestral arrangement was by Richard Hewson. It was also a top 10 single in the UK Singles Chart. The 1975 Australian single was released under the name "British Jigsaw" because there was an established and popular local band called "Jigsaw". Two years later the song gained more striking commercial success in Japan, peaking at #2 on the Oricon singles chart and selling approximately 570,000 copies. ZYX Records released an extended 12" version in 1987. A remixed version of the original Jigsaw cut by PWL remixer Pete Hammond was a minor dance hit in the US in the spring of 1989. In a nod to the original 7" single release, "Brand New Love Affair" was also remixed and put on the B-side, but managed to reach #66 on the Billboard Hot 100 the following year.
Cover and remix versions
A cover version in French was recorded in 1975 by Éric Estève, who also contributed the lyrics. The title was Plus haut que le soleil.
British singer Newton recorded "Sky High" in the mid-1990s. His cover version produced by Mike Stock and Matt Aitken became a hit, reaching the top-ten on the Australian charts. Although attributed to Newton, the lead vocal was actually performed for the recording by original Jigsaw vocalist Des Dyer who also clandestinely appears in the video.
British house outfit Ministry of Sound released a version in 1996 as Voices Present "Individual" – Sky High. The CD-single contained 6 different version, including remixes by Japanese DJ and producer Satoshi Tomiie and Swedish outfit Stonebridge and Nick Nice.
Italian record label The SAIFAM Group produced a cover version in 2000 under the artist name of DJ Miko. This was available from SAIFAM on vinyl and compilation CD, and also on compilation CD from UK record label Klone Records. This version of the song is also featured in the Dance Dance Revolution series, starting with the Solo 2000 installment. DJ Miko further remixed this version for the 2002 Dancemania compilation Speed 8. A remix of this DJ Miko version was later produced by DJ Kaya, which appeared on Dancemania's Covers 01 and TRE*SURE 10th Anniversary Special Edition in 2006.
Japanese rockband Beat Crusaders also covered the song on their 2005 album Musicrusaders.
UK record label Almighty Records produced a remix of the original Jigsaw track in 2006. This featured on their Almighty Definitive 4 compilation album in 2006.
US rap groupBone Thugs-n-Harmony sampled "Sky High" on their song "Flow Motion" from their Strength & Loyalty CD in 2007.
The regional German TV channel NDR uses this as a theme song for its news magazine Schleswig-Holstein Magazin.
