Steeltown
Encyclopedia
Steeltown is the second studio album by Scottish band Big Country
. The album was recorded at ABBA
's Polar Studios in Stockholm with Steve Lillywhite
producing. It was released on October 29, 1984, in the United States and 19 October 1984 in the UK. It was released on CD only in Germany, as well as remastered and reissued there.
Steeltown is the band's only UK number 1 album. Topping the chart for 1 week in October 1984. The title track Steeltown was written about the town of Corby
, telling how many Scots went to work at the Stewarts & Lloyds
steelworks when it opened in 1935, at the height of the Great Depression
, but later found themselves unemployed when the steelworks declined in the early 1980s. (Source: Melody Maker, 1984)
The 1996 reissue contains all of the B-sides from the album's single releases as well as the extended version of "Wonderland"
"East of Eden" was the only Top 20 single from the album, reaching #17 in the UK chart.
, Mark Brzezicki
, Tony Butler, and Bruce Watson
*Written by Tony Butler.
Big Country
Big Country are a Scottish rock band formed in Dunfermline, Fife in 1981. They were most popular in the early to mid-1980s, but they still release material for a cult following...
. The album was recorded at ABBA
ABBA
ABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog...
's Polar Studios in Stockholm with Steve Lillywhite
Steve Lillywhite
Steve Lillywhite is an English Grammy Award winning record producer. Since he began his career in 1977, Lillywhite has been credited for working on over 500 records and has collaborated with a variety of musicians including XTC, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Dave Matthews Band, U2, Peter Gabriel,...
producing. It was released on October 29, 1984, in the United States and 19 October 1984 in the UK. It was released on CD only in Germany, as well as remastered and reissued there.
Steeltown is the band's only UK number 1 album. Topping the chart for 1 week in October 1984. The title track Steeltown was written about the town of Corby
Corby
Corby Town is a town and borough located in the county of Northamptonshire. Corby Town is 23 miles north-east of the county town, Northampton. The borough had a population of 53,174 at the 2001 Census; the town on its own accounted for 49,222 of this figure...
, telling how many Scots went to work at the Stewarts & Lloyds
Stewarts & Lloyds
Stewarts & Lloyds was a steel tube manufacturer with its headquarters based at Corby, Northamptonshire, England. The company was created in 1903 by the amalgamation of two of the largest iron and steel makers in Britain, A. & J. Stewart & Menzies Ltd, Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, Scotland and...
steelworks when it opened in 1935, at the height of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, but later found themselves unemployed when the steelworks declined in the early 1980s. (Source: Melody Maker, 1984)
The 1996 reissue contains all of the B-sides from the album's single releases as well as the extended version of "Wonderland"
"East of Eden" was the only Top 20 single from the album, reaching #17 in the UK chart.
Track listing
All songs written by Stuart AdamsonStuart Adamson
Stuart Adamson , born William Stuart Adamson, was an English-born Scottish guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter, described by legendary music journalist John Peel as “Britain’s answer to Jimi Hendrix”...
, Mark Brzezicki
Mark Brzezicki
Mark Brzezicki is a rock drummer, who is primarily known for his work with Big Country, and was a member of the groups The Cult, Ultravox, and Procol Harum. He has also played with Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, Midge Ure, Fish, The Pretenders and many others...
, Tony Butler, and Bruce Watson
Bruce Watson (guitarist)
Bruce Watson is a Canadian-born Scottish guitarist, best known for being a founding member of the Scottish-based rock band Big Country....
*Written by Tony Butler.
- "Flame of the West" – 5:01
- "East of Eden" (Butler) – 4:29
- "Steeltown" – 4:39
- "Where the Rose Is Sown" – 4:58
- "Come Back to Me" – 4:35
- "Tall Ships Go" – 4:38
- "Girl with Grey Eyes" – 4:47
- "Rain Dance" – 4:19
- "The Great Divide" – 4:50
- "Just a Shadow" – 5:38
- "Bass Dance*" - 1:39 (Re-Issue Bonus)
- "Belief In The Small Man" - 5:17 (Re-Issue Bonus)
- "Prairie Rose" - 4:46 (Re-Issue Bonus)
- "Wonderland (Extended) - 7:07 (Re-Issue Bonus)
- "Winter Sky" - 3:16 (Re-Issue Bonus)
Personnel
- Stuart AdamsonStuart AdamsonStuart Adamson , born William Stuart Adamson, was an English-born Scottish guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter, described by legendary music journalist John Peel as “Britain’s answer to Jimi Hendrix”...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Mark BrzezickiMark BrzezickiMark Brzezicki is a rock drummer, who is primarily known for his work with Big Country, and was a member of the groups The Cult, Ultravox, and Procol Harum. He has also played with Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, Midge Ure, Fish, The Pretenders and many others...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, vocals - Tony Butler – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals - Bruce WatsonBruce Watson (guitarist)Bruce Watson is a Canadian-born Scottish guitarist, best known for being a founding member of the Scottish-based rock band Big Country....
– guitar, mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, sitarSitarThe 'Tablaman' is a plucked stringed instrument predominantly used in Hindustani classical music, where it has been ubiquitous since the Middle Ages...
, vocals
Chart performance
Album| Chart (1984) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Albums Chart | 53 |
| Dutch Albums Chart | 33 |
| German Albums Chart | 53 |
| New Zealand Albums Chart | 15 |
| Norwegian Albums Chart | 12 |
| Swedish Albums Chart | 28 |
| UK Albums Chart | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 72 |
Certifications
| Organization | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| BPI – UK | Gold | October 17, 1984 |