Released 15 July 1983 Length 48:24 The Crossing
(1983) Steeltown
(1984) Release date 15 July 1983 | Recorded May 1983 Label Mercury Artist Big Country Producer Steve Lillywhite | |
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Studio The Manor, Oxfordshire and RAK Studios, London Genres Rock music, New wave, Alternative rock, Celtic rock, Folk rock, Folk music, Post-punk Similar Steeltown, The Seer, Peace in Our Time, The Buffalo Skinners, Driving to Damascus |
Big country the crossing full album
The Crossing is the first studio album released by Scottish band Big Country. 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. The song featured heavily engineered guitar playing, strongly reminiscent of bagpipes; Adamson and fellow guitarist Watson achieved this through the use of the MXR Pitch Transposer 129 Guitar Effect. Also contributing to the band's unique sound was their use of the e-bow, a device which allows a guitar to sound more like strings or synthesizer.
Contents
- Big country the crossing full album
- Reception
- Track listings
- Bonus tracks 1983 cassette release
- Bonus tracks 1996 Remastered CD Edition
- Wonderland EP US only
- Additional bonus track
- 2012 Reissue first disc bonus track listing
- 2012 Reissue second disc track listing
- Personnel
- Chart performance
- Songs
- References
The album has been remastered and reissued on three occasions. The latest version released by Universal in 2012 in advance of the album's 30th anniversary includes a second disc of previously unissued demos. Also included in the set is a track produced by Chris Thomas from the first abortive attempt to record the band's debut album. The demos include the earliest recordings done by Adamson and Bruce Watson, some of which were recorded on four-track prior to recruiting either a drummer or bassist for the band.
The set also includes a booklet with interviews (new in the case of the current band members and archived in the case of the late Stuart Adamson) by the journalist and author Tim Barr. Lyrics for all of the key songs are also included, and the album has been remastered by Paschal Byrne from the original master tapes. In total, ten previously unreleased tracks were included in the deluxe, digitally remastered edition.
Big country the crossing full album
Reception
Critic Kurt Loder of Rolling Stone gave the album a glowing review, writing:
Track listings
All songs written by Stuart Adamson, Mark Brzezicki, Tony Butler, Bruce Watson, except as indicated. On the USA vinyl lp, the songs 1000 Stars and Fields Of Fire are in reversed order. The USA cd release keeps the same order as below.
- "In a Big Country" – 4:44
- "Inwards" – 4:36
- "Chance" – 4:26
- "1000 Stars" – 3:50
- "The Storm" – 6:19
- "Harvest Home" – 4:19
- "Lost Patrol" – 4:52
- "Close Action" – 4:15
- "Fields of Fire (400 Miles)" – 3:31
- "Porrohman" – 7:52
Bonus tracks (1983 cassette release)
- "Angle Park" (Adamson, Watson) – 4:08
- "Fields of Fire (400 Miles) - (Alternate Mix)" – 5:19
- "Heart & Soul" – 5:13
- "In a Big Country - (Pure Mix)" (Listed as '12" Mix') – 6:19
Bonus tracks (1996 Remastered CD Edition)
- "Angle Park" (Adamson, Watson) – 4:08
- "All of Us" - 4:09
- "The Crossing" – 7:09
- "Heart & Soul" - 4:33 (This version fades out earlier than the version on the 1983 cassette release)
Wonderland EP (US only)
- "Wonderland" – 3:58
- "All Fall Together (Jimmy Iovine remix)" – 5:16
- "Angle Park" (Adamson, Watson) – 4:08
- "The Crossing" – 7:10
Additional bonus track
- "Chance" (re-recorded single version) – 4:37
2012 Reissue first disc bonus track listing
- "Balcony"
- "Flag of Nations (Swimming)"
- "Angle Park"
- "All of Us"
- "Heart and Soul"
- "The Crossing"
- "Tracks of My Tears" (Live)
2012 Reissue second disc track listing
- "Angle Park" (Demo)
- "Harvest Home" (Demo)
- "We Could Laugh" (Demo)
- "In a Big Country" (Demo)
- "The Storm" (Demo)
- "Big City" (Demo)
- "Fields of Fire" (Riverside BBC TV)
- "Lost Patrol" (Demo)
- "Inwards" (Demo)
- "1000 Stars"
- "Lost Patrol"
- "Inwards"
- "Close Action"
- "Fields of Fire" (Demo)
- "1000 Stars" (Demo)
- "Ring Out Bells" (Demo)
- "Chance" (Demo)
Personnel
Chart performance
Album
Single
Songs
1In a Big Country4:45
2Inwards4:37
3Chance4:25