The River Is Wide

"The River Is Wide" was a song for The Forum in 1967. It became a hit for American rock band The Grass Roots.

"The River Is Wide"
Single by The Forum
ReleasedMay, 1967
Songwriter(s)Billy Admire, Gary Knight
Producer(s)Norm Ratner
The Forum singles chronology
""The River Is Wide"
Penthouse PH-504"		 "The River Is Wide" ""Trip On Me"
Mira 243"

Background

The Forum

The record was first released in 1966 on the Penthouse label.[1][2] It didn't go anywhere and after being re-mastered and re-edited, it was released a second time in May 1967, this time on the Mira label. Nothing happened the second time. Then Decca got hold of the master. The record then started to make some progress in the UK, which got the attention of a DJ in Seattle. He started playing it and it started attracting attention in Seattle. By July 1968, the record was at no. 88 in the Billboard charts.[1] It finally got to no. 45.[3]

Bobby Rydell

By May 1968, Bobby Rydell had a version of the single out on the Reprise label. It was produced by Dave Hassinger. The B side, "Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder", was arranged by Artie Butler. In May 1968, Billboard predicted that his version would reach the Top 60 of the Hot 100 chart.[4]

The Grass Roots
"The River Is Wide"
Single by The Grass Roots
ReleasedMarch 1967
Length2:30
Songwriter(s)Billy Admire, Gary Knight
Producer(s)Steve Barri
The Grass Roots singles chronology
"Lovin' Things"
(1969)		 "The River Is Wide"
(1967)		 "I'd Wait A Million Years"
(1969)

In April 1969, The Grass Roots' version of "The River Is Wide" entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart at no. 87,[5] and by May, it had reached its peak position at no. 31.[6] The song appeared on their studio album Lovin' Things, which was released the same year. It later appeared on the band's compilation albums More Golden Grass and Their 16 Greatest Hits, which were released in 1970 and 1971 respectively.[7] The song has also been included on multiple subsequent compilations by the group. The single version does not contain the thunder present at the beginning of the LP version, and is also in a different key.

Releases

US
List of singles
Act Title Catalogue Year Notes
The Forum "The River Is Wide" / " Fall In Love (All Over Again)" Penthouse PH-504 1966 Released Aug 1966
The Forum "The River Is Wide" / "I Fall In Love (All Over Again)" Mira 232 1966 Released Dec 1966
The Forum "The River Is Wide" / "Girl Without A Boy" Mira 232 1967 [2]
Bobby Rydell "The River Is Wide" / "Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder" Reprise 0684 1968 [8]
The Grass Roots "The River Is Wide" / "(You Gotta) Live For Love" Dunhill 45-4187 1969 [9]
The Grass Roots "The River Is Wide" / "I'd Wait A Million Years" Goldies 45 D-1439  [10]
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References
  1. Billboard, July 8, 1967 - Page 6 RIVER FLOWS ON THIRD TRY
  2. 45Cat - The Forum - Discography
  3. Rock Movers & Shakers, Barry Lazell - Billboard Publications, Inc., 1 Apr. 1989 - Page 213
  4. Billboard, May 4, 1968 - Page 68 Top 60 Pop Spotlight
  5. Billboard, Hot 100 chart for the week of April 12, 1969
  6. Billboard, June 7, 1969 - Page 66 Hot 100 For week ending June 1, 1969
  7. Billboard, October 24, 1970 - Page 57 Billboard Album Reviews
  8. 45Cat - Artist: Bobby Rydell, Catalogue: 0684
  9. 45Cat - The Grassroots, Catalogue: D-4187 / 45-4187 / 45-D-4187
  10. 45Cat - Record Details, Artist: The Grassroots, Catalogue: D-1439 / 45-D-1439
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