Three Steps to Heaven (song)

"Three Steps to Heaven" is a song co-written and recorded by Eddie Cochran, released in 1960. The record topped the charts in the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom posthumously for Cochran following his death in a car accident in April 1960.^[1] In the US it did not reach the Billboard Hot 100.

"Three Steps to Heaven"
Single by Eddie Cochran
from the album The Eddie Cochran Memorial Album
B-side	"Cut Across Shorty"
Released	March 1960 (USA) May 1960 (UK)
Recorded	January 8, 1960, Gold Star Studios, Hollywood, California
Genre	Rock and roll, doo-wop, pop, country
Length	2:21
Label	Liberty 55242 (USA) London HLG 9115 (UK)[1]
Songwriter(s)	Eddie Cochran Bob Cochran[1]
Producer(s)	Snuff Garrett
Eddie Cochran singles chronology
"Hallelujah, I Love Her So" (1959) "Three Steps to Heaven" (1960) "Lonely" (1960)

"Three Steps To Heaven" was recorded in January 1960 and featured Buddy Holly's Crickets on instruments. The song was written by Eddie Cochran and his brother Bob Cochran.^[1]

David Bowie used the guitar chord riff in his 1971 song "Queen Bitch" on his album Hunky Dory. He later made reference to the song title in the lyrics of "It's No Game" on 1980's Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps).

The Police released a recording of the song in 2024.

Personnel

• Eddie Cochran: vocal and rhythm guitar
• Sonny Curtis: guitar
• Conrad 'Guybo' Smith: electric bass
• Jerry Allison: drums^[2]

Chart performance

Chart (1960)	Peak position
Ireland Singles Chart	1
Netherlands Singles Chart	10
New Zealand Singles Chart	6
Norway Singles Chart	7
South African Singles Chart	5
UK Singles Chart	1

^[3]

Cover versions

Showaddywaddy's 1975 cover version of this song was also a hit, reaching No. 1 in Ireland and No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart.^[4]

The Police recorded a version which was released in 2024 on the Synchronicity box set collection.

P.J. Proby recorded it in 2010, as did Keld Heick, Daniel O'Donnell on The Jukebox Years album in 2004, John Spencer, Benny Scott, Foster and Allen, Paul Michiels, Ricky Norton in 1997, Heinz in 1963, and Jerry Williams in 1974.

See also

• List of posthumous number-one singles (UK)