Living in a Box (song)

"Living in a Box" is a song by the British band of the same name, released on 23 March 1987 as their first single from their self-titled debut album. It was the group's biggest hit single along with "Room in Your Heart" (1989), reaching No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart. "Living in a Box" became the group's only top-40 hit in the United States, peaking at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was later covered by Bobby Womack; his version reached No. 70 in the UK.

Background

The song's title came from a comment by a friend of the band's songwriter and keyboard player Marcus Vere. The friend lived in a small council flat in Sheffield prompting him to remark "I feel like I'm living in a cardboard box!", referring to the sense of feeling enclosed. The video featured British DJ Tony Blackburn holding and moving the mouth of a cardboard cutout of himself over his face.

Track listings

Non-US 7-inch single

A. "Living in a Box" – 3:02

B. "Living in a Box" (The Penthouse mix) – 3:10

Non-US 12-inch single

A. "Living in a Box" (dance mix) – 6:10

AA. "Living in a Box" (The Penthouse mix) – 5:18

UK 12-inch single (The Bootleg mix)

A1. "Living in a Box" (The Bootleg mix) – 6:03

B1. "So the Story Goes" – 3:50

B2. "The Liam McCoy" – 3:01

UK CD single

1. "Living in a Box" (dance mix) – 6:10
2. "Living in a Box" (The Penthouse mix) – 5:18
3. "Superheroes" – 3:57

US and Canadian 7-inch single

A. "Living in a Box" (single version) – 3:02

AA. "Living in a Box" (edited dance mix) – 3:50

US 12-inch single

A1. "Living in a Box" (dance mix) – 6:10

B1. "Living in a Box" (The Penthouse mix) – 5:18

B2. "Living in a Box" (edited dance mix) – 3:50

Charts

Weekly charts

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Weekly chart performance for "Living in a Box"

Chart (1987)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)	49
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)	7
US Billboard Hot 100	17
US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard)	16
US Dance Club Play (Billboard)	6
US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)	74

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Living in a Box"

Chart (1987)	Position
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)	17
Norway Spring Period (VG-lista)	15
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)	12
UK Singles (Gallup)	54
West Germany (Media Control)	31