| "Heart of the World" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Big Country | ||||
| Released | 9 July 1990 [1] | |||
| Length | 4:41 | |||
| Label | Mercury | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Stuart Adamson | |||
| Producer(s) | Tim Palmer | |||
| Big Country singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Heart of the World" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, released in 1990 as a non-album single. It was written by Stuart Adamson and produced by Tim Palmer. "Heart of the World" reached number 50 on the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for three weeks. [2]
During March 1990, Big Country spent time recording two new songs, "Save Me" and "Heart of the World", at Livingston Studios in London. The tracks that would emerge as B-sides on the singles were recorded at Chipping Norton Studios in Oxford during the same month. With drummer Mark Brzezicki's departure from the band in 1989, the sessions featured Pat Ahern on drums. [3]
"Save Me" was released as a single in April 1990 and reached number 41 in the UK Singles Chart. "Heart of the World" followed as a single in July and reached number 50 in the UK. The band originally wanted "Heart of the World" to be released as the first single of the two, but the band's label, Mercury, opted for "Save Me" instead. [4] Unlike "Save Me", "Heart of the World" was not included on the band's compilation album Through a Big Country: Greatest Hits (1990).
Speaking of "Heart of the World", bassist Tony Butler told the Aberdeen Evening Express in July 1990, "It's a simple song about belief in oneself. Throughout time people have followed guidelines set by heroes, and that's a positive human attitude we want to encourage." [5]
The song's music video was directed by Howard Greenhalgh. [6] In 1991, Adamson picked it as his favourite Big Country video. [7]
Upon its release, David Giles of Music Week considered "a small hit [to be] on the cards for this standard, slightly anthemic, Adamson composition". [8] Louise Philip of The Press and Journal gave the single three stars and commented: "Sounding more raw than usual, the only real letdown is the guitar solo which sounds too much like 'One Great Thing'." [9] David Ewen of the Aberdeen Evening Express described "Heart of the World" as "a strong song, rendered in [Big Country's] own inimitable style". [5] Jon Homer, reviewing the single for Channel 4's Teletext service, described the song as "another slice of anthemic guitar rock that manages to be as powerful as the loudest heavy metal band, but several times more effective and intelligent". He predicted the song would be a "minor hit perhaps". [10]
7-inch and cassette single
12-inch single
12-inch single (limited edition)
CD single
Big Country
Production
Other
| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart [2] | 50 |
The Crossing is the debut album released by Scottish band Big Country in July 1983. The album reached #3 in the UK; overseas, it hit #4 in Canada on the RPM national Top Albums Chart and #18 in the US on the Billboard 200 in 1983. It went on to be certified platinum in the UK and Canada. It contains the song "In a Big Country" which is their only U.S. Top 40 hit single.
Steeltown is the second studio album by Scottish band Big Country. The album was recorded at ABBA's Polar Studios in Stockholm with Steve Lillywhite producing. It was released on 19 October 1984, in the UK and 29 October 1984, in the United States. It was released on CD only in Germany, as well as remastered and reissued there.
The Seer is the third studio album by the Scottish band Big Country, released in 1986. The album featured very traditional Scottish musical settings, reminiscent of the band's debut album The Crossing (1983). Kate Bush worked on the title song in a duet with lead singer and lyricist Stuart Adamson. The album's first single, "Look Away", was an Irish number one, and was also the group's biggest hit single in the UK, reaching number 7.
Restless Heart was an American country music band from Nashville, Tennessee. The band's longest-tenured lineup consisted of Larry Stewart, John Dittrich, Paul Gregg, Dave Innis, and Greg Jennings. Record producer Tim DuBois assembled the band in 1984 to record demos and chose Verlon Thompson as the original lead singer, but Thompson was replaced by Stewart in this role before the band had recorded any material. Between 1984 and 1998, Restless Heart recorded for RCA Records Nashville. They released the albums Restless Heart, Wheels, Big Dreams in a Small Town, and Fast Movin' Train in the 1980s.
Still Restless is the ninth and final studio album by American country music band Restless Heart. Released in 2004, it was considered the band's reunion album, as it was their first release since 1998's Greatest Hits, as well as the first album since Fast Movin' Train (1990) to feature all five original band members. Their first and only album for Koch Records Nashville, it produced the single "Feel My Way to You", which peaked at #29 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts in late 2004.
Big Country are a Scottish rock band formed in Dunfermline, Fife, in 1981.
Where the Rose is Sown is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, which was released in 1984 as the second single from their second studio album Steeltown. It was written by Big Country and produced by Steve Lillywhite. "Where the Rose Is Sown" peaked at No. 29 in the UK and No. 25 in Ireland.
"Save Me" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, released in 1990 as a single from their compilation album Through a Big Country: Greatest Hits. The song was written by Stuart Adamson and produced by Tim Palmer. It reached number 41 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for three weeks.
"The Teacher" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, which was released in 1986 as the second single from their third studio album The Seer. It was written by Stuart Adamson and produced by Robin Millar. "The Teacher" reached No. 28 in the UK, and No. 14 in Ireland. A music video was filmed to promote the single.
"Ships (Where Were You)" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, written by Stuart Adamson (lyrics, music) and Bruce Watson (music). The song was originally recorded for and included on the band's fifth studio album No Place Like Home (1991). It was then re-recorded for their following album, The Buffalo Skinners (1993), and released as the album's second single on 19 April 1993. "Ships (Where Were You)" reached number 29 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 75 for three weeks.
"Alone" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, released in 1993 as the lead single from their sixth studio album The Buffalo Skinners. It was written by Stuart Adamson and produced by Big Country. "Alone" reached number 24 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for three weeks.
"The One I Love" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, released in 1993 as the third and final single from their sixth studio album, The Buffalo Skinners. It was written by Stuart Adamson and Bruce Watson, and was produced by Big Country.
"Broken Heart (Thirteen Valleys)" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, released on 17 October 1988 as the second single from their fourth studio album, Peace in Our Time. It was written by Stuart Adamson and produced by Peter Wolf. "Broken Heart (Thirteen Valleys)" reached number 47 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for four weeks.
"Fragile Thing" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, released in 1999 as the lead single from their eighth studio album Driving to Damascus. It was written by Stuart Adamson and Bruce Watson, and produced by Rafe McKenna and Big Country. "Fragile Thing" reached number 69 in the UK Singles Chart. A music video was filmed to promote the single.
"Republican Party Reptile" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, released by Vertigo in 1991 as an extended play from their fifth studio album No Place Like Home. It was written by Stuart Adamson and Bruce Watson, and produced by Pat Moran. The "Republican Party Reptile" EP reached No. 37 in the UK and remained in the charts for two weeks. A music video was filmed to promote the EP.
"Peace in Our Time" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, released in 1989 as the third and final single from their fourth studio album Peace in Our Time (1988). It was written by Stuart Adamson and produced by Peter Wolf. "Peace in Our Time" reached number 39 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for three weeks.
"Beautiful People" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, which was released in 1991 as the second and final single from their fifth studio album No Place Like Home. It was written by Stuart Adamson and produced by Pat Moran. "Beautiful People" reached No. 72 on the UK Singles Chart, and No. 36 on the BBC's Heavy Metal/Rock chart.
"I'm Not Ashamed" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, released in 1995 as the lead single from their seventh studio album Why the Long Face. It was written by Stuart Adamson, and produced by Big Country and Chris Sheldon. "I'm Not Ashamed" reached number 69 in the UK Singles Chart.
"You Dreamer" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, which was released in 1995 as the second and final single from their seventh studio album Why the Long Face. It was written by Stuart Adamson, and produced by Big Country and Chris Sheldon. "You Dreamer" reached No. 68 on the UK Singles Chart.
Non! is an extended play by Scottish rock band Big Country, which was released in the UK in 1995 as an action awareness record for Greenpeace. Non! reached No. 77 in the UK Singles Chart in December 1995.