Looking Over My Shoulder

'Til Tuesday song

"Looking Over My Shoulder"

Single by 'Til Tuesday

from the album Voices Carry

B-side

"Don't Watch Me Bleed"

Released

August 6, 1985^[1]

Genre

New wave^[2]

Length

3:50 (single version)
4:15 (album version)

Label

Epic

Songwriter(s)

Aimee Mann
Michael Hausman
Robert Holmes
Joey Pesce

Producer(s)

Mike Thorne

'Til Tuesday singles chronology

"Voices Carry"
(1985)

"Looking Over My Shoulder"
(1985)

"Love in a Vacuum"
(1985)

"Looking Over My Shoulder" is a song by American band 'Til Tuesday, which was released in 1985 as the second single from their debut studio album Voices Carry. The song was written by Aimee Mann, Michael Hausman, Robert Holmes and Joey Pesce, and produced by Mike Thorne. "Looking Over My Shoulder" peaked at No. 61 on the US Billboard Hot 100.^[3]

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Nick Haggerty and produced by Paul Schiff for N. Lee Lacy & Associates. It was shot during July 1985 in the Manhattan borough of New York City, including at the Convent of the Sacred Heart.^[4] The video received active rotation on MTV.^[5]

Critical reception

On its release as a single, Billboard described "Looking Over My Shoulder" as a "broad, sweeping tune" and praised Mann for "the best Bowie soundalike vocal yet achieved by a woman".^[6] Cash Box considered the song a "certain pop hit". They commented, "The moody verses give way to an infectious, effective chorus. Mann's vocal is strong and similar in intensity to her previous outing."^[7] In a retrospective review of Voices Carry, Joe Viglione of AllMusic noted the song's "bubbling intensity which Holmes' guitar adds drama to".^[8]

Track listing

7" single

"Looking Over My Shoulder" (Single Mix) – 3:50
"Don't Watch Me Bleed" – 3:26

7" single (US promo)

"Looking Over My Shoulder" (Single Mix) – 3:50
"Looking Over My Shoulder" (Single Mix) – 3:50

12" (US promo)

"Looking Over My Shoulder" (Single Mix) – 3:50
"Looking Over My Shoulder" (Long Version) – 4:06

Personnel

'Til Tuesday

Aimee Mann – vocals, bass
Robert Holmes – guitar, backing vocals
Joey Pesce – synthesizer, backing vocals
Michael Hausman – drums, percussion

Production

Mike Thorne – producer
Bob Clearmountain – mixing on "Looking Over My Shoulder" (Single Mix)
Domenic Maita – engineer
Mike Krowiak, Jeff Lippay – studio assistants
Harvey Goldberg – mixing engineer
Moira Marquis – mixing assistant
Jack Skinner – mastering

Other

Britain Hill – photography
Hiro Ito – photography (Japanese sleeve)

Charts

Chart performance for "Looking Over My Shoulder"
Chart (1985)	Peak
US Billboard Hot 100^[9]	61
US Cash Box Top 100 Pop Singles^[10]	62

References

^ Kishbaugh, Jerry (August 2, 1985). "Aimee Mann's alluring voice carries 'til tuesday to national prominence". Citizens' Voice. p. 31.
^ Molanphy, Chris (November 20, 2021). "Be the One to Walk in the Sun Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
^ "'Til Tuesday - Looking Over My Shoulder". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
^ "Video Music: Aimee's Angst". Billboard. August 10, 1985. p. 31.
^ "MTV Programming". Billboard. September 14, 1985. p. 43.
^ "Reviews: Singles". Billboard. August 24, 1985. p. 63.
^ "Single Releases". Cash Box. August 31, 1985. p. 9.
^ Viglione, Joe. "Voices Carry - 'Til Tuesday". AllMusic. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
^ "'Til Tuesday Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
^ Downey, Pat; Albert, George; Hoffman, Frank (1994). Cash Box Pop Singles Charts, 1950-1993. Englewood, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, Inc. p. 351. ISBN 1563083167. Retrieved September 13, 2020.