The Gift (Way Out West song)

"The Gift" is a song by English electronic music duo Way Out West featuring English singer Joanna Law, credited as Miss Joanna Law.[1] It was released on the since defunct record label Deconstruction Records on 2 September 1996. The song reached #15 on the UK Singles Chart that year, and also peaked at #2 on the UK Dance Chart.[2] It is the third single from their eponymous debut studio album Way Out West.[3]

"The Gift"
Single by Way Out West featuring Miss Joanna Law
from the album Way Out West
Released	2 September 1996 15 March 2010 (re-release)
Length	7:20
Label	Deconstruction Records
Songwriter(s)	Jody Wisternoff, Nick Warren, Ewan MacColl, Jason Greenhalgh, Brian Smith
Producer(s)	Wisternoff, Warren
Way Out West singles chronology
"Domination" (1996) "The Gift" (1996) "Blue" (1997)
Joanna Law singles chronology
"You're Mine" (1992) "The Gift" (1996) "Forgiveness" (2000)

Background

The song uses a sample from Joanna Law's cover of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", titled "First Time Ever".[4] After its release, a music video for the song was also filmed.[5] The song has been featured on many compilation albums, including Judge Jules' Trance Nation Anthems on Ministry of Sound.[6]

"The Gift" received a 2010 update when Deconstruction re-released the song with additional remixes by Gui Boratto, Michael Woods, Tek-One and Way Out West themselves. The group's own remix of the song featured on their 2010 remix album, We Love Machine – The Remixes.[7]

Formats and track listings

CD single

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Gift" (Radio Edit)	4:25
2.	"The Gift" (Original Mix)	7:20
3.	"The Gift" (Club Mix)	8:18

Vinyl

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Gift" (Original Mix)	7:20
2.	"The Gift" (Club Mix)	8:18

2010 remixes

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Gift" (Way Out West's 2010 Remix)	7:54
2.	"The Gift" (Gui Boratto's Fallopian Remix)	7:43
3.	"The Gift" (Michael Woods Remix)	6:45
4.	"The Gift" (Tek-One Remix)	6:25

In popular culture

• The song is featured as the theme music for the 1998 MTV music television series, True Life.
• The song was performed live on the British television show Top of the Pops in 1996.

Charts

Chart	Peak position
UK Singles Chart (OCC)[2]	15
UK Dance Chart (OCC)[8]	2
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[9]	39

References

1. "Way Out West featuring Miss Joanna Law - The Gift". Discogs. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
2. "Way Out West - Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
3. "Way Out West - The Gift". Discogs. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
4. "This Weeks Featured Remix : Way Out West - The Gift ( Club Mix ) 1996". Modsnap Radio Blog. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
5. "Way Out West - The Gift - Artists - MTV". MTV. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
6. "Trance Nation Anthems: 3cd Set". Retrieved 3 April 2018.
7. "Way Out West - We Love Machine (The Remixes)". Armada Music. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
8. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
9. "Way Out West - Billboard". Billboard Charts. Retrieved 26 January 2018.