Alone (Big Country song)

"Alone" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, released in 1993 as the lead single from their sixth studio album The Buffalo Skinners. It was written by Stuart Adamson and produced by Big Country. "Alone" reached No. 24 in the UK and remained in the charts for three weeks.[2]

"Alone"
Single by Big Country
from the album The Buffalo Skinners
Released1 March 1993[1]
Length5:08
LabelCompulsion
Chrysalis
Songwriter(s)Stuart Adamson
Producer(s)Big Country
Big Country singles chronology
"Beautiful People"
(1991)		 "Alone"
(1993)		 "Ships (Where Were You)"
(1993)

The release of "Alone" as the album's first single was a band decision. Adamson told the fanzine Country Club in 1993: "I always wanted that as the first single. I wanted the first single to be a rock track and the record company were happy to go along with that."[3] A music video was filmed to promote the single. It was directed by Roger Pomphrey and features Martin Chambers on drums.[4]

Reception

Upon release, Larry Flick of Billboard commented: "Familiar traces of a Scottish accent in Adamson's strong, melodic vocal notwithstanding, the band effectively reintroduces itself on this single - and radio should welcome it back. Alternating passages of light and heavy pop are mixed with a crashing beat and blazing lead-guitar lines."[5] In a review of The Buffalo Skinners, Neil McKay of Sunday Life described the song as "rousing and tuneful as in [Big Country's] early heyday".[6] Dan Hyatt of the Albuquerque Journal noted: "The first song, "Alone," has all the earmarks of an anthem for the '90s, kind of a "what's my place in the world, and why" song."[7]

Kevin Belvins of The Leader-Post noted: "The album's refreshing tone is set immediately with the frantic opening cut "Alone"."[8] In a review of one of the band's 1993 concerts, Diana Aitchison of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch commented: "One song to watch for on the charts is "Alone," which opens with a moody staccato guitar and gels with the band's signature reeling bagpipe sound."[9] Johnny Loftus of AllMusic described the song as "a template for the entire album", with "churning guitar and bass", an "impossibly triumphant chorus" and "rangy solo".[10]

Track listing
Cassette single
  1. "Alone" - 5:08
  2. "Chance" (Live) - 7:28
CD single and UK 12" single
  1. "Alone" - 5:08
  2. "Never Take Your Place" - 4:01
  3. "Rockin' in the Free World" - 6:47
CD single (UK #1)
  1. "Alone" - 5:08
  2. "Rockin' in the Free World" - 6:47
  3. "Eastworld" - 4:39
  4. "Chance" (Live) - 7:28
CD single (UK #2)
  1. "Alone" - 5:08
  2. "Never Take Your Place" - 4:01
  3. "Winter Sky" (Live) - 4:36
  4. "Look Away" (Live) - 4:42
CD single (US promo)
  1. "Alone" (Album Version) - 5:08
  2. "Alone (Edit) - 4:06

Charts
Chart (1993) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[2] 24

Personnel

Big Country

Additional musicians

Production

  • Big Country - producers of "Alone", producers and mixing on "Never Take Your Place", "Rockin' in the Free World" and "Eastworld"
  • Mike Fraser - mixing on "Alone"
  • Chris Sheldon - recording on "Alone" and "Rockin' in the Free World"
  • Stuart Hamilton - recording on "Never Take Your Place" and "Eastworld"
  • Pete Dauncey - producer of "Chance", "Winter Sky" and "Look Away" (Live)
  • Gareth Watson - engineer on "Chance", "Winter Sky" and "Look Away" (Live)
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References
  1. Glen, Allan (May 1, 2011). "Stuart Adamson: In a Big Country". Birlinn – via Google Books.
  2. "BIG COUNTRY | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
  3. "Country Club Issue 26 - Page 7". www.bigcountryinfo.com.
  4. "Country Club Issue 26 - Page 8". www.bigcountryinfo.com.
  5. Flick, Larry (20 November 1993). "Single reviews". Billboard.
  6. McKay, Neil (25 April 1993). "Album review". Sunday Life.
  7. Hyatt, Dan (18 November 1993). "Music: Tracks". Albuquerque Journal.
  8. Belvins, Kevin (19 July 1993). "Much more than standard rock fare". The Leader-Post.
  9. Aitchison, Diana (1 December 1993). "Big Country is big hit despite a slow start". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  10. "The Buffalo Skinners - Big Country | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
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