Building Bridges (song)
"Building Bridges" is a song written and originally recorded by American country music singer-songwriter Larry Willoughby, co-written with Hank DeVito. Willoughby's version peaked at #55 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1984.[1]
"Building Bridges" | ||||
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Single by Larry Willoughby | ||||
from the album Building Bridges | ||||
Released | 1984 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 3:32 | |||
Label | Atlantic | |||
Songwriter(s) | Hank DeVito, Larry Willoughby | |||
Producer(s) | Rodney Crowell | |||
Larry Willoughby singles chronology | ||||
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Chart performance
Chart (1984) | Peak position |
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US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[2] | 55 |
Nicolette Larson version
"Building Bridges" | ||||
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Single by Nicolette Larson | ||||
from the album ...Say When | ||||
Released | 1985 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 3:48 | |||
Label | MCA | |||
Songwriter(s) | Hank DeVito, Larry Willoughby | |||
Producer(s) | Tony Brown, Emory Gordy, Jr. | |||
Nicolette Larson singles chronology | ||||
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A year later, Nicolette Larson - the ex-wife of Hank DeVito - recorded the song on her album ...Say When. Her version went to #72 on the same chart.[3]
Chart performance
Chart (1985) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[4] | 72 |
Brooks & Dunn/Sheryl Crow/Vince Gill version
"Building Bridges" | ||||
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Single by Brooks & Dunn featuring Sheryl Crow and Vince Gill | ||||
from the album Hillbilly Deluxe | ||||
Released | June 5, 2006 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 4:23 (album version) | |||
Label | Arista Nashville | |||
Songwriter(s) | Hank DeVito Larry Willoughby | |||
Producer(s) | Kix Brooks Tony Brown Ronnie Dunn | |||
Brooks & Dunn singles chronology | ||||
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Sheryl Crow singles chronology | ||||
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Vince Gill singles chronology | ||||
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"Building Bridges" was covered by country music duo Brooks & Dunn and released as the third single released from their 2005 album Hillbilly Deluxe.[5] It features Sheryl Crow and Vince Gill on background vocals. The song peaked at number four on the country music charts and was nominated for the Country Music Association Award for Musical Event of the Year.
Critical reception
Deborah Evans Price of Billboard described the single favorably, saying that Dunn's "lead vocal is as compelling as always." She also thought that Gill's and Crow's voices made the song "distinctive".[6]
Music video
The music video takes place in the desert with the band and the duo singing in front of big screens at dusk. The music video was directed by Shaun Silva.
Chart performance
Chart (2006) | Peak position |
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Canada Country (Billboard)[7] | 2 |
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[8] | 4 |
US Billboard Hot 100[9] | 66 |
Year-end charts
Chart (2006) | Position |
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US Country Songs (Billboard)[10] | 29 |
Other versions
The song was sung by Steve Sanders as a member of The Mighty Oaks Band (the stage band for The Oak Ridge Boys) as a band feature from 1982-1986. The Mighty Oaks Band also recorded the song, but the recording was never commercially released. Their rendition can be heard on various live concert radio broadcasts from that time period.
References
- "Crow, Gill to Harmonize With Brooks & Dunn | CMT". cmt.com. Retrieved 2015-07-19.
- "Larry Willoughby Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- "Say When chart positions". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
- "Nicolette Larson Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- "Brooks & Dunn Are "Building Bridges" with Sheryl Crow & Vince Gill for Next CD - AngryCountry.com". magazine.angrycountry.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-07-19.
- Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2005-09-03. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2015-07-19.
- "Brooks & Dunn Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard.
- "Brooks & Dunn Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- "Brooks & Dunn Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- "Best of 2006: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2006. Retrieved 2012-07-10.