B-side "Ever Open Door" Format 7" vinyl, 12" vinyl | Released 1985 (1985) Label A&M | |
Genre Progressive rock, disco, pop rock Length 4:47 (single version)
7:38 (album version)
7:42 (12-inch Direct-To-Disc"Audiophile"Version)
10:00 (12-inch Instrumental version) | ||
"Cannonball" is the opening track from Supertramp's 1985 album Brother Where You Bound. It was written and sung by keyboardist Rick Davies entirely in the chord of G minor. Davies stated in an interview "I did it simply to see if it could be done".
The lyrics to the song may have been seen as a veiled message to former member Roger Hodgson but Davies revealed in a French radio interview that they were inspired by a less than perfect concert promoter whom he refused to name.
The track became Supertramp's last US Top 40 single to date, peaking at number 28 on the Billboard singles charts in the spring of 1985. It also crossed over to the dance charts, peaking at number nine.
On the flip side of the 12-inch release is a 10-minute instrumental version of the song. Near the LP version's fade-out, the brass play a citation of the Jazz tune Topsy.
The promo video was directed by Steve Barron and depicted a caveman who goes from his home to modern day Los Angeles to see the band on stage rehearsing the song on stage.