"Wonderland" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Single by Big Country | ||||
B-side | "Giant" | |||
Released | 13 January 1984 | |||
Recorded | 1983 | |||
Genre | New wave, Celtic rock, post-punk | |||
Length | 3:59 | |||
Label | Mercury | |||
Songwriter(s) | Stuart Adamson Mark Brzezicki Tony Butler Bruce Watson | |||
Producer(s) | Steve Lillywhite | |||
Big Country singles chronology | ||||
|
"Wonderland" is a single-only release by Scottish band Big Country, released in the UK on 9 January 1984 [1] between their first and second albums. It became a top ten hit for them in the UK, peaking at number 8, giving the band their third top ten entry. [2] The song was included on all the band's subsequent greatest hits collections, although it was never released on any of the band's studio albums. Also released as a 4-song EP in the US in 1984 on Mercury (Mercury 818835-1 M-1) with the A-side consisting of "Wonderland" and "All Fall Together" and the B-side with "Angle Park" and "The Crossing". [3]
The music video for the song features the band playing the song in a wooded area.
Upon its release, Tommy Vance, reviewing for Kerrang! , believed "Wonderland" "should be heard by anyone who likes fine music". He added, "I'm a real fan of Steve Lillywhite's productions and he's done a superb job here. The guitar sound is good and the drumming superb." [4] Ian Birch of Smash Hits called it "Big Country's answer to the Gone with the Wind – bags of romance, riding off into deep red sunsets and never letting on how upset you really are". He added, "It needs to be played at great volume to capture the sound and the sweep." [5] Lemmy, as guest reviewer for Record Mirror , commented, "Very good. I like them. Nice time signature. They seem to be a good, consistent, useful band." [6] Karen Swayne of Number One considered the song to be "archetypal Big Country – broad, sweeping and majestic". She added it "proves once again that they can make rock sound fresh" and noted "there's less of a Celtic feel too". [7]
Charts | Peak position |
---|---|
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) [8] | 28 |
UK Singles Chart [2] | 8 |
US Billboard Hot 100 | 86 |
US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 48 |
Motörhead were an English rock band formed in London in 1975 by bassist and lead vocalist Lemmy Kilmister, guitarist Larry Wallis and drummer Lucas Fox. Lemmy was also the primary songwriter and only constant member. The band are often considered a precursor to the new wave of British heavy metal, which re-energised heavy metal in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Though several guitarists and drummers have played in Motörhead, most of their best-selling albums and singles feature drummer Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor and guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke.
Smash is the third studio album by American rock band the Offspring, released on April 8, 1994, by Epitaph Records. After touring in support of their previous album Ignition (1992), the band recorded their next album over two months at Track Record in North Hollywood, California. Smash was the band's final studio album to be produced by Thom Wilson, who had worked with them since their 1989 eponymous debut. This also marks the first album where Dexter Holland is credited with playing the guitar as opposed to vocals only.
Tinderbox is the seventh studio album by English rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees. It was released on 21 April 1986 by Wonderland and Polydor Records in the United Kingdom and by Geffen Records in the United States. It was the band's first full-length effort recorded with then-new guitarist John Valentine Carruthers; Carruthers had previously only added a few parts on the 1984 EP The Thorn. The first recording sessions for the album took place at Hansa by the Wall in Berlin in May 1985.
"Run Runaway" is a song by British rock band Slade, released in 1984 as the third single from the band's 11th studio album, The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome, and as the lead single from the album's US counterpart, Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply. The song was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea and produced by John Punter. It reached No. 7 in the United Kingdom and was the band's breakthrough hit in the United States, where it reached No. 20.
"(Feels Like) Heaven" is a song by Scottish new wave band Fiction Factory, which was released in 1983 as the second single from their debut studio album Throw the Warped Wheel Out (1984). The track was a hit in Switzerland, reaching #2 on the singles chart. In the UK, it peaked at #6. Other chart positions include #10 in Germany, #14 in Sweden and #20 in Austria. The song is a regular feature on 1980s and new wave compilation albums.
"Uncle Sam" is a song by the English ska/pop band Madness from their sixth studio album Mad Not Mad (1985). It was predominantly written by saxophonist Lee Thompson, but also jointly credited to guitarist Chris Foreman.
"My Oh My" is a song by British rock band Slade, released in November 1983 as the second single from the band's 11th studio album, The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome, and in 1984 as the second single from the album's US counterpart, Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply. The song was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea and produced by John Punter. "My Oh My" reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart, topped the charts of Norway and Sweden, and peaked at No. 37 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Parade is the fourth studio album by English new wave band Spandau Ballet, released on 25 June 1984 by Chrysalis Records. The band wanted the album to sound more like how they played together live, and their guitarist/songwriter Gary Kemp came up with material that he felt would be more appropriate for the arenas in which they performed now since they were attracting larger audiences. Because they would be parading themselves around the world as part of the album's corresponding tour, he hit upon the idea of a parade as the theme of the album and included an international cast of characters taking part in a parade on the album cover.
"Myzsterious Mizster Jones" is a song by English rock band Slade, released in 1985 as the third single from their twelfth studio album, Rogues Gallery. The song was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and was produced by John Punter. "Myzsterious Mizster Jones" reached number 50 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for five weeks.
Big Country are a Scottish rock band formed in Dunfermline, Fife, in 1981.
"Radio Wall of Sound" is a song by English rock band Slade, released in October 1991 as the first single from their compilation album Wall of Hits. Written and produced by bassist Jim Lea, the song reached number 21 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for five weeks. It was Slade's last hit single, discounting later chartings of "Merry Xmas Everybody".
"7 Year Bitch" is a song by English rock band Slade, released in 1985 as the second single from their twelfth studio album, Rogues Gallery. The song was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and was produced by John Punter. It reached number 60 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for three weeks.
"(And Now the Waltz) C'est La Vie" is a song by English rock band Slade, released in 1982 as the lead single from the band's eleventh studio album, The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome and also included on its 1984 North American counterpart, Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply. The song was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and was produced by Lea. "(And Now the Waltz) C'est La Vie" reached number 50 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for seven weeks.
Slades Greats is a compilation album by the British rock band Slade. It was released by Polydor on 25 May 1984 and reached No. 89 in the UK charts. The compilation, a revised re-issue of the 1980 compilation Slade Smashes!, was released following the band's late 1983-early 1984 success with the singles "My Oh My" and "Run Runaway".
"Only When You Leave" is a song by English new wave band Spandau Ballet, released as the first single from their fourth album Parade. It peaked at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart and made the top 10 in several other countries but only reached number 34 in the US, where it was their last song to appear on the Billboard Hot 100. Most critics were impressed with Tony Hadley's vocals and enjoyed the song. The music video used its theme of revenge as a way of paying tribute to the late film director Alfred Hitchcock.
"Burning in the Heat of Love" is a song by English rock band Slade, released in 1977 as a non-album single. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and was produced by Chas Chandler. The song failed to make an appearance in the UK Singles Chart.
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.
"East of Eden" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, which was released in 1984 as the lead single from their second studio album Steeltown. It was written by Big Country and produced by Steve Lillywhite. "East of Eden" reached No. 17 in the UK, and No. 12 in Ireland.
"Broken Heart (Thirteen Valleys)" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, released in 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.