Harvest Home (song)

"Harvest Home" is the debut single of the Scottish band Big Country. It was first released as a single in September 1982 and later included on the band's debut album The Crossing in re-recorded form.[2]

"Harvest Home"
Single by Big Country
from the album The Crossing
Released17 September 1982 (UK)[1][2][3]
1983 (Worldwide)
RecordedJune 1982[2]
StudioAIR Studios, London
GenreCeltic rock
Length3:47
LabelMercury
Songwriter(s)Stuart Adamson, Bruce Watson, Mark Brzezicki, Tony Butler
Producer(s)Chris Thomas
Big Country singles chronology
"Harvest Home"
(1982)		 "Fields of Fire"
(1983)

Debut release

In early 1982, a newly formed Big Country declined a trade agreement with the Ensign label but later signed a recording contract with Mercury-Phonogram Records. The band went to London to begin work on their upcoming debut album with producer Chris Thomas. However, the band felt Thomas wasn’t fully committing to the band due to his other production duties, and eventually, the entire recording session was scrapped. Late that year, they issued "Harvest Home", one of three tracks salvaged from the sessions. In early 1983, Steve Lillywhite would replace Thomas as the band’s producer.[2] Despite missing a place in the UK Singles Chart,[4] the band shortly after found themselves supporting post-punk heavyweights the Jam, on their sell-out farewell tour.[5]

Critical praise

In their album review of The Crossing, Rolling Stone said that the "bagpipelike single-string riffs on such crackling tracks as" the "grandly martial Harvest Home are a nonstop, spine-tingling delight."[6]

Music video

At the beginning of the music video, the members of the band are shown having a picnic together in the bushes. They later abandon the picnic area and enter a large building. Their musical instruments are inside, and the band walk in and start playing their instruments inside this building. Towards the end of the video, lead vocalist Stuart Adamson puts down his instrument and starts dancing.[7]

Track listing

All tracks are credited to Stuart Adamson on the original single release.[8] On The Crossing, "Harvest Home" is credited to Adamson, Bruce Watson, Mark Brzezicki and Tony Butler.[n 1]

7" vinyl
  1. "Harvest Home" – 3:45
  2. "Balcony" – 3:57
12" vinyl
  1. "Harvest Home" – 3:45
  2. "Balcony" – 3:57
  3. "Flag of Nations (Swimming)" – 4:38

Personnel
Big Country
Technical

Charts
Year Chart Peak
position
1982 UK Singles (OCC)[2][11] 91

Notes
  1. The ASCAP song database lists Stuart Adamson as both the sole songwriter of "Harvest Home" and as co-songwriter with Bruce Watson and former Big Country members Pete Wishart and Clive Parker-Sharp.[9] On the 2012 deluxe edition of The Crossing, "Harvest Home", "Balcony" and "Flag of Nations (Swimming)" are credited to Adamson and Watson.[10]

References
  1. "Releases – Singles, EP's & Promos – Harvest Home". Big Country Info. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  2. Strachan, Graeme (16 September 2022). "Big Country and Harvest Home: The start of something special for Fife band that conquered the world". The Courier. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  3. "Ultimate Music Database". Umdmusic.com. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  4. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 56–7. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  5. "RetroUniverse: Big Country - The Settlement Years". Rqsretrouniverse.blogspot.com. 7 February 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  6. "Album Reviews and Ratings". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 29 January 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  7. "YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  8. "Big Country – Harvest Home". Discogs. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  9. "Big Country - ASCAP database". ASCAP. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  10. "Big Country – The Crossing (Deluxe Edition)". Discogs. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  11. "Big Country Top Songs". Rock VF.com. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
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