Wide Open Road (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Wide Open Road


Caption =
Artist = The Triffids
from Album = Born Sandy Devotional
A-side = "Wide Open Road"
B-side = "Time of Weakness"
Released = February, 1986
Format = 7" Vinyl Single, 12" Vinyl Single, CD Single
Recorded =
Genre = Folk rock
Length =
Label = White Hot Records / Mushroom Records
Domino Records
Writer = David McComb
Producer = Gil Norton
Certification =
Chart position = * #64 (Australia)
* #26 (UK)
Last single = You Don't Miss Your Water (1985)
This single = "Wide Open Road" (1986)
Next single = Bury Me Deep in Love (1987)
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = "Wide Open Road"
CD Single Cover
Type = Single


Lower caption = Domino Records’ cover for 2006 promo CD

Wide Open Road is a single released by The Triffids from their album "Born Sandy Devotional". It was produced by Gil Norton (Pixies, Echo and the Bunnymen, Foo Fighters) and written by David McComb. The B-Side "Time of Weakness" was recorded live at the Graphic Arts Club, Sydney, November 1985 by Mitch Jones, mixed by Rob Muir (in Perth). "Dear Miss Lonely Hearts" was recorded at Planet Sound Studios, Perth and produced by the Triffids.

"Wide Open Road" reached #26 on the UK Singles Chart in 1986, and #64 on the Australian Singles Chart for the same year.cite book |title=Australian Chart Book 1970-1992 |format=doc |last=Kent |first=David |authorlink= David Kent|publisher=Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. |year=1993 |isbn=0-646-11917-6 |accessdate=2008-02-19]

In May, 2001 the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), as part of its 75th Anniversary celebrations, named "Wide Open Road" as one of the thirty greatest Australian songs of all time. [ [http://www.amcos.com.au/awards/music/2001_topthirty.asp Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) Top 30 Australian songs] ]

"Wide Open Road" was re-released as a CD single by Mushroom Records in 1998 as No.16 in a series of 25 limited edition classic Mushroom singles. It was also re-released as a download only single by Domino Records to coincide with the re-release of "Born Sandy Devotional" in July, 2006

Cover versions of the song were also recorded by Weddings Parties Anything on their 1998 compilation album "Trophy Night", and The Church on their 2007 acoustic album "El Momento Siguiente". It was also covered by fellow Perth outfit The Panics for Triple J's 'Like a Version' in 2007.

Track listing

All tracks written by David McComb.cite web |url=http://www.apra.com.au/cms/worksearch/worksearch.srvlt?action=workSearch&switchDet=Y |title=Australasian Performing Right Association |publisher=APRA |accessdate=2007-12-13 ]

Original release

#"Wide Open Road".
#"Time of Weakness"
#"Dear Miss Lonely Hearts" (12")
#"Native Bride" (12")

Mushroom Records re-release

#"Wide Open Road"
#"Time of Weakness"

Personnel

"Wide Open Road"

* David McComb - vocals, keyboards, guitar
* Alsy MacDonald - drums
* Robert McComb - guitar
* Martyn P. Casey - bass
* Jill Birt - keyboards
* Graham Lee - pedal steel guitar
* Adam Peters - piano, keyboards

"Time of Weakness"

* Alsy MacDonald - hi-hat
* David McComb - vocals, guitar
* Graham Lee - lap steel guitar
* Martyn Casey - bass
* Robert McComb - guitar

"Dear Miss Lonely Hearts

* Alsy MacDonald - drums
* Jill Birt - hammond organ
* David McComb - vocals, guitar
* Robert McComb - guitar, violin
* Martyn Casey - bass

"Native Bride"

* Alsy MacDonald - hi-hat
* David McComb - vocals, guitar
* Graham Lee - lap steel
* Martyn Casey - bass
* Robert McComb - guitar

References