Hitchin' a Ride (Vanity Fare song)
Encyclopedia
"Hitchin' a Ride" is a song written by Mitch Murray
and Peter Callander
issued as a single
by the UK-based band, Vanity Fare
in late 1969. It reached #16 on the UK Singles Chart
in February 1970, but was a bigger hit
in the United States, reaching #5 on the Billboard Hot 100
in the spring of 1970. The song is about a young man who is attempting to hitchhike, since he has no money. The song is noted for its two clarinets, first heard in the introduction as well as in the sections between the choruses and the verses. The song is also noted for its instrumental middle section, featuring an electric piano, that plays a bass line in repetition, which is accompanied by the piano's upper register, bass, drums, and guitar, which is later heard before the song's fade. Some radio stations shorten the ending by eliminating the repeated instrumental portion, featuring the final repeated lines "RIDE, RIDE" before the song fades out. It sold a million copies in the United States alone.
(1989). The song was produced by Ralf Rene Maue and wasn't released in the US until January 1990 about two years later. The B-side contains a previously unreleased song "I'm On My Way". This single reached #24 in UK.
12" single
CD single
Mitch Murray
Mitch Murray , is an English songwriter, record producer and author.-Musical career:...
and Peter Callander
Peter Callander
Peter Callander is a British songwriter and record producer.-Career:Active from the 1960s to the present day, Callander has written or co-written songs that have been performed by recording artists such as Cilla Black, Tom Jones, Cliff Richard, Shirley Bassey, and The Tremeloes, among many...
issued as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
by the UK-based band, Vanity Fare
Vanity Fare
Vanity Fare were a UK pop/rock group formed in 1966, best remembered for their million selling song, "Hitchin' a Ride," which became a worldwide hit in 1970.-Career:...
in late 1969. It reached #16 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in February 1970, but was a bigger hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
in the United States, reaching #5 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in the spring of 1970. The song is about a young man who is attempting to hitchhike, since he has no money. The song is noted for its two clarinets, first heard in the introduction as well as in the sections between the choruses and the verses. The song is also noted for its instrumental middle section, featuring an electric piano, that plays a bass line in repetition, which is accompanied by the piano's upper register, bass, drums, and guitar, which is later heard before the song's fade. Some radio stations shorten the ending by eliminating the repeated instrumental portion, featuring the final repeated lines "RIDE, RIDE" before the song fades out. It sold a million copies in the United States alone.
Sinitta version
"Hitchin' a Ride" was covered by American singer Sinitta. It was released in 1990 as the fifth and final single from her second album WickedWicked (Sinitta album)
Wicked is a second studio album by American singer Sinitta. It was released in 1989.-Album information:Following the release of her debut album Sinitta! in 1987 Sinitta moved away from working directly with Stock Aitken Waterman although she continued to record at PWL under the direction of...
(1989). The song was produced by Ralf Rene Maue and wasn't released in the US until January 1990 about two years later. The B-side contains a previously unreleased song "I'm On My Way". This single reached #24 in UK.
Formats and track listings
7" single- "Hitchin' a Ride" - 3:42
- "I'm on My Way" - 3:52
12" single
- "Hitchin' a Ride" (Extended Version) - 6:35
- "I'm on My Way" - 3:52
CD single
- "Hitchin' a Ride" (Extended Version) - 6:35
- "I'm on My Way" - 3:52
- "Hitchin' a Ride" - 3:42
Other cover versions
- A country music version of the song was released by country singer Jack RenoJack RenoJack Reno was an American country singer.-Career:Born in Bloomfield, Iowa, Reno appeared at the Grand Ole Opry in the 1960s and played with Waylon Jennings and Dolly Parton...
and reached #12 on the U.S. country chart in 1971. - British group Paper LacePaper LacePaper Lace are a Nottingham based pop group, formed in 1969. They are known to Americans as a one-hit wonder; however, in the UK they were a "classic two and a half hit wonder".-History:...
adapted their 1975 version as "Hitchin' a Ride '75", though it failed to chart.
External links
- [ Vanity Fare biography] at Allmusic websiteWebsiteA website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...