"State of Independence" is a song written by Jon Anderson and Vangelis. The song is written in a reggae/calypso style and features an abstract spiritual lyric. Originally recorded by Jon and Vangelis for their 1981 album The Friends of Mr Cairo, "State of Independence" was released as a single the same year but did not chart. The song subsequently became better known when Donna Summer released a cover version a year later in 1982, which became a Top Twenty UK single and becoming a Number One hit in the Netherlands. In 1992, a third version of the song — retitled "Spiritual High " — was recorded and released as a single by Moodswings, with vocals by The Pretenderslead singerChrissie Hynde.
Original Jon and Vangelis version (and subsequent Anderson re-recordings)
Jon & Vangelis released "State of Independence" as a single in 1981, with "Beside" as the B-Side. It was re-released in 1984 and this version peaked at 67 in the UK Singles Chart. Jon Anderson recorded a new version of the song for his solo album Change We Must and a live acoustic version can be found on his Live from La La Land. More recently, Anderson also performed the song live with the AndersonPonty Band.
covered "State of Independence" on her 1982 album Donna Summer produced by Quincy Jones. It was released as the follow-up to her hit single "Love Is in Control " in 1982. This version just missed the U.S. Top 40, peaking at #41. It did much better in Europe, including a one-week stay at number one in the Dutch Top 40, making it Summer's second chart-topper in the Netherlands. The single was reissued in Europe in 1990 following the release of the compilation album The Best of Donna Summer. Summer's version is notable for its all-star choir which included Lionel Richie, Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Brenda Russell, Christopher Cross, Dyan Cannon, James Ingram, Kenny Loggins, and Stevie Wonder.
1996 remixes
Following the dance chart success of the 1995 remix of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love", PolyGram issued a remixed version of Summer's recording of "State of Independence". The single, released both on 12" vinyl and CD on PolyGram's sub-label Manifesto, included mixes by Phil Ramocon, Sold Out, DJ Dero, Ralph Falcon & Oscar G, and Jules & Skins. It peaked at 13 on the UK Singles Chart in 1996, going one place higher than the original release, with the Dance mixes peaking at #1 in the UK Dance Music Charts. The Martin Luther King sample introduced by Eddie Gordon into the track was to emphasize the full independent meaning of the song as he understood it.
Chart performance
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Moodswings version
In 1992 the duo Moodswings released their album Moodfood, which scored a hit with a cover version of the single, retitled as "Spiritual High Pt. II" with vocals by Chrissie Hynde and samples from Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. The single peaked at 47 in the UK Singles Chart. Their version was later played during the closing credits on the soundtrack of Single White Female and it was also included on The Pretenders' Greatest Hits in 2000.
