Holding Back the River
Holding Back the River is the second studio album released by Scottish pop rock quartet Wet Wet Wet. Released on 30 October 1989, the album, intentionally written as a lyrical follow-up to the band's debut album Popped In Souled Out, spawned the singles "Sweet Surrender", "Broke Away", "Hold Back the River" and "Stay With Me Heartache" and peaked at #2 on the UK Albums Chart.
Holding Back the River | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 30 October 1989 | |||
Recorded | 1988—1989 | |||
Genre | Pop, pop rock | |||
Length | 48:58 | |||
Label | Mercury | |||
Producer | Wet Wet Wet | |||
Wet Wet Wet chronology | ||||
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Singles from Holding Back the River | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Number One | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Smash Hits | 8.5/10[3] |
Aside from the nine tracks found on the standard album, "How the Hell Did They Get There" appears as a hidden track on the CD and digital download versions, having previously been released as a B-side to the album's lead single, "Sweet Surrender". Outside of the UK, the album saw particular success in Australia, where it was certified Gold and re-released in the form of a limited edition coloured vinyl.[4]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Clark/Cunningham/Mitchell/Pellow, except "Maggie May", by Martin Quittenton & Rod Stewart. All tracks produced by Wet Wet Wet.
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Sweet Surrender" | 6:00 |
2. | "Stay with Me Heartache (Can't Stand the Night)" | 4:10 |
3. | "Blue for You" | 4:51 |
4. | "Broke Away" | 4:45 |
5. | "You've Had It" | 5:12 |
6. | "I Wish" | 5:04 |
7. | "Keys to Your Heart" | 4:23 |
8. | "Maggie May" | 6:02 |
9. | "Hold Back the River" | 4:45 |
10. | "How the Hell Did That Get There" (hidden track) | 3:38 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "This Time" (live version) | 4:59 |
2. | "Sweet Surrender" (extended version) | 6:50 |
3. | "You've Had It" (Louis Silas club mix) | 7:02 |
4. | "Sweet Surrender" (Ben Liebrand club mix) | 6:51 |
5. | "And Now for Something Completely Different" | 2:43 |
6. | "Keys to Your Heart" (original demo) | 4:15 |
7. | "With a Little Help from My Friends" (live, Wembley Arena, 14/12/89) | 5:11 |
8. | "I Can Give You Everything" (live, Wembley Arena, 14/12/89) | 5:25 |
9. | "Party City" | 5:05 |
10. | "I Feel Fine" | 5:02 |
11. | "Hold Back the River" (acoustic) | 4:15 |
12. | "Stay With Me Heartache" (Young T.C. & T mix) | 5:58 |
13. | "Stay With Me Heartache" (Stay Where You Are mix) | 4:35 |
14. | "Stoned Me" (Tonight Live with Steve Vizard) | 4:07 |
Charts
Chart (1989–1990) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (ARIA)[5] | 12 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[6] | 28 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[7] | 34 |
UK Albums (OCC)[8] | 2 |
Chart (1990) | Position |
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European Albums (Music & Media)[9] | 94 |
References
- Lewis, Jonathan. "Wet Wet Wet — Holding Back the River". AllMusic.
- Panos, Andrew (1 November 1989). "Review: Wet Wet Wet — Holding Back the River (Phonogram)". Number One. No. 332. London: IPC Magazines Ltd. p. 43. ISSN 0266-5328. Retrieved 6 November 2022 – via Flickr.
- Soutar, Mike (1–14 November 1989). "Wet Wet Wet: Holding Back the River". Smash Hits. Vol. 11, no. 21. Peterborough: EMAP Metro. p. 72. ISSN 0260-3004. Retrieved 2 November 2022 – via Flickr.
- Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
- "Australiancharts.com – Wet Wet Wet – Holding Back The River". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Wet Wet Wet – Holding Back The River" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- "Wet Wet Wet | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- Bakker, Machgiel (22 December 1990). "1990 REVIEW: Music & Media Year - End Awards . European Top 100 Albums 1990" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 51. pp. 29, 38. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- Holding Back the River at AllMusic. Retrieved , 28 April 2015 (UTC).