"Caught in the Middle"
Single by Juliet Roberts
from the album Natural Thing
Released19 July 1993 (1993-07-19)
Genre
Length
  • 3:31 (1993 Gospel Revival edit)
  • 3:21 (1994 Def Classic radio mix)
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Danny Poku
  • Juliet Roberts
Producer(s)Danny Poku
Juliet Roberts singles chronology
"Another Place Another Day Another Time"
(1992)		 "Caught in the Middle"
(1993)		 "I Want You"
(1994)
Music video
"Caught in the Middle" on YouTube

"Caught in the Middle" is a song by British singer-songwriter Juliet Roberts, originally released in July 1993 by Cooltempo and Slam Jam. In June 1994, the song was re-released as a remix and became a club hit. It was well received among music critics, reaching number-one on both the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and the UK Dance Singles Chart (Music Week), where it peaked atop both in 1993 and 1994. Additionally, the song peaked at number 14 in the UK, and number 31 in Scotland, while on the Eurochart Hot 100, it reached number 43. "Caught in the Middle" was co-written by Roberts and included on her debut album, Natural Thing (1994), and it won the Record Mirror Club Cut of the Year honour at the 1994 Music Week Awards.[1]

Critical reception

"1993 was a very positive and productive year. It was nlce to get some records out and for them to be successful. There's now room for growth — or else to fall flat on my face! The most interesting thing was all the remixes of my singles. It's quite exciting that someone can offer a totally different interpretation of your muslc, and when they're done well — as mine were — It's a lot of fun. I certainly got my rocks off on them!"

—Juliet Roberts talking to Music Week about the song.[2]

1993 version

Andy Beevers from Music Week rated "Caught in the Middle" four out of five, calling it a "superb single by one of the UK's foremost soul singers" that "is shaping up to be a big seller."[3] In the magazine's RM Dance Update, he wrote, "This extremely special song, which was originally due out on Warners, finally sees the light of day a year later on Cooltempo. The title ended up being very prophetic for Juliet Roberts, and the 'How Long?' refrain was exactly the question being asked by the nation's DJs and punters. Now the track is here for all to enjoy in its Danny D-produced and Roger S-mixed glory. Sanchez's smooth but slamming remixes with their acapella and heartbeat breakdowns and dubwise outras are pure magic. What a voice! What a song!"[4] It was also described as a "classy garage anthem".[5] Another editor, James Hamilton, declared it as "gospelish garage".[6]

1994 version

In 1994, Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Hot on the heels of the red-hot "I Want You" come fresh new David Morales remixes of a sparkling gem that has already stormed dancefloors throughout the U.K. and Europe. The power of the chorus is undeniably strong, and Roberts cuts loose a high-velocity performance that proves her star power. Once this one reaches the top of club charts (and you can bet top dollar that it will), watch this delightful single work every last programmer's nerve at top 40 radio. From the fab debut album Natural Thing."[7] Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "Don't confuse this lady with the actress who recently married Lyle Lovett. This Roberts is caught in the act singing on Dina Carroll and Lisa Stansfield territory. Those nightingales should get worried, because the competition is getting tighter."[8]

Andy Beevers from Music Week's RM Dance Update said, "When you've got to improve on near perfection, then there is only one person to call. Yep, that man Morales. He has taken this tune and created an epic remix that manages to surpass the ones which took it to the top of the 1993 end-of-year RM Club Chart. The classic Def Mix provides added bounce with its brash pianos. firing brass and wonderful techno-ish outro. It also boasts more serious breakdowns than an Allegro that's been round the clock a couple of times."[9] He stated that "Caught in the Middle" "is poised to be an even bigger hit this time around."[10] Neil Spencer from The Observer felt it "set her powerhouse vocals with equally muscular beats."[11]

Track listings

Charts

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 19 July 1993
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
[21]
United Kingdom (re-release) 20 June 1994 [22]

References

  1. ↑ "Beats & Pieces" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 5 March 1994. p. 8. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  2. ↑ "'93 How Was It 4 You?" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). 25 December 1993. p. 6. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  3. ↑ Beevers, Andy (17 July 1993). "Market Preview: Dance – Pick of the Week" (PDF). Music Week. p. 8. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  4. ↑ Beevers, Andy (3 July 1993). "Hot Vinyl Buzzing" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 6. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  5. ↑ "Cool Cuts" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 20 March 1993. p. 3. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  6. ↑ Hamilton, James (17 July 1993). "Djdirectory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 7. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  7. ↑ Flick, Larry (28 May 1994). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 51. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  8. ↑ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 24 July 1994. p. 13. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  9. ↑ Beevers, Andy (21 May 1994). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 6. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  10. ↑ Beevers, Andy (11 June 1994). "Market Preview: Dance – Pick of the Week" (PDF). Music Week. p. 16. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  11. ↑ Spencer, Neil (3 April 1994). "Pop Releases". The Observer.
  12. ↑ "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. 11 September 1993. p. 19. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  13. ↑ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 31 July 1993. p. 22. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  14. ↑ "RM Club Chart Number Ones Of 93" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). 25 December 1993. p. 3. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  15. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. 9 July 1994. p. 17. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  16. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 03 July 1994 – 09 July 1994". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  17. ↑ "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 2 July 1994. p. 26. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  18. ↑ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 4 June 1994. p. 4. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  19. ↑ "The RM Club Chart 93" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). 25 December 1993. p. 4. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  20. ↑ "The RM Club Chart of the Year" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 24 December 1994. p. 10. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  21. ↑ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 17 July 1993. p. 19.
  22. ↑ "Single Releases". Music Week. 18 June 1994. p. 19.
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