"Broken Arrow" is a song by Canadian musician Robbie Robertson, included on his debut solo studio album, Robbie Robertson (1987). Although it was not released as a single, it received airplay in Canada in mid-1988 and reached number 29 on the RPM Top Cancon Singles chart, which ranked songs of Canadian content only. The song was also included as the B-side on the UK formats of "Somewhere Down the Crazy River".[1][2]
"Broken Arrow" was later popularized by English singer-songwriter Rod Stewart, who included a cover of the track on his 1991 album Vagabond Heart. Stewart's version was released as a single and became a hit in several countries, peaking at number two in Canada and number 20 in the United States. In 1992, this version was released again as a double A-side with Stewart's cover of Elton John's "Your Song" and charted in several additional countries.
Starting in 1993, The Grateful Dead began to incorporate the song into their live setlists at the suggestion of their bassist Phil Lesh.[3]
Background
After the conclusion of the album's recording sessions with members of U2 in Ireland, Robertson went to Peter Gabriel's studio in Bath, Somerset and proceeded to work on "Broken Arrow", which at the time had been written by not recorded. The sessions in Bath included Robertson, Gabriel, Daniel Lanois, and David Bottrill, who served as the session's audio engineer.[4]
Gabriel assisted with the drum programming on a LinnDrum, which was responsible for the detuned tambourine sound. Some of the percussion also came from acoustic instruments, including one that Bottrill described as a "hairy drum" owned by Gabriel. A Delta Lab DL2 unit was used on some of Gabriel's instruments, which included a Prophet 5 and some piano. Further instrumentation, including the drums, bass, and guitars, were recorded in Los Angeles.[4] When discussing his audio production inclinations, Lanois commented that "Broken Arrow" was a song that was "presented with one angle, and then that is contrasted or undermined by something ominous, something that you feel more than you hear."[5]
Critical reception
Bill Flanagan of Musician magazine called the song "a fragile mood piece full of longing and melancholy" and said that "it might be the most beautiful song he's ever written."[6] Mark Prendergast referred to "Broken Arrow" as the album's "finest achievement and a contemporary songwriting masterpiece." He praised Robertson's vocal delivery as "perfect: husky, beseeching, and full of that lived-in feeling" and thought that Lanois's production work was kinetically true to the spirit of the piece".[4]
Billboard ranked "Broken Arrow" ninth on its list ranking Robertson's best songs both as a member of The Band and as a solo artist, calling the song "one of Robertson's most romantic songs". They also felt that the song sounded "atmospheric and dreamy" and "a little forbidden and clandestine, adding to its appeal."[7]Rolling Stone included the song on its list of Robertson' best songs in his recording career and that it possessed "one of his most beautiful and sensual melodies."[8]
Rod Stewart covered "Broken Arrow" and included it as the third track on his 16th studio album,Vagabond Heart (1991).[11] On August 26,1991,it was released as the fourth single from the album by Warner Records. This version became a chart hit,rising to number two on Canada's RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart and number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100,becoming Stewart's 21st top-20 hit on the latter chart.[12] In the United Kingdom,the song originally reached number 54 on the UK Singles Chart,but in 1992,it was re-released as a double A-side single with Stewart's cover of "Your Song",originally by Elton John;this release peaked at number 41 on the same chart.
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