Where the Rose Is Sown

"Where the Rose Is Sown"
Single by Big Country
from the album Steeltown
B-side
  • "Belief in the Small Man"
  • "Bass Dance"
  • "Prairie Rose"
Released16 November 1984[1]
Length4:13
LabelMercury
Vertigo (Canada)
Songwriter(s)Stuart Adamson
Mark Brzezicki
Tony Butler
Bruce Watson
Producer(s)Steve Lillywhite
Big Country singles chronology
"East of Eden"
(1984) 		"Where the Rose Is Sown"
(1984) 		"Just a Shadow"
(1985)

Where the Rose is Sown is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country,[2] which was released in 1984 as the second single from their second studio album Steeltown. It was written by Big Country and produced by Steve Lillywhite.[3] "Where the Rose Is Sown" peaked at No. 29 in the UK and No. 25 in Ireland.[4][5]

Music video

A music video was filmed to promote the single. It received medium rotation on MTV.[6]

Critical reception

Upon release, Lesley White of Smash Hits commented: "More of the same from the frustrated messiahs of contemporary rock. A treat for lovers of "real music" everywhere - give me artful pretence any day."[7] Sunie of Number One said: ""It's the lovin' things you do..." Anyone remember the old '60s hit? It lurks just behind this song, artfully obscured by guitar solos, "heeyahs" and the Lillywhite wall of sound. I rather like it."[8]

Cash Box commented: "Big Country delivers a pounding slice of tragic political rock which is given its edge in Adamson's biting delivery. Trademark guitar riffs and a no-nonsense beat should help [it] become another anthemic classic from the band."[9] Billboard stated: "Group's stirring strength is sadly buried in muddy sound."[10]

In a retrospective review of Steeltown, Tim Peacock of Record Collector described the song as one of the album's "obvious go-to tracks", adding that it had an anti-war message "especially resonant in the wake of the Falklands".[11]

Track listing

7" single
  1. "Where the Rose Is Sown" - 4:03
  2. "Belief in the Small Man" - 5:12
7" single (German release)
  1. "Where the Rose Is Sown" - 4:08
  2. "Bass Dance" - 1:40
7" single (US/Canada release)
  1. "Where the Rose Is Sown" - 4:08
  2. "Prairie Rose" - 4:50
7" single (UK limited edition release)
  1. "Where the Rose Is Sown" - 4:03
  2. "Belief in the Small Man" - 5:12
  3. "Wonderland" - 4:47 (Recorded live in Austin, Texas, 22 March 1984)
  4. "In a Big Country" - 6:15 (Recorded live in Austin, Texas, 22 March 1984)
  5. "Auld Lang Syne" - 1:09 (Recorded live in Austin, Texas, 22 March 1984)
7" single (US promo)
  1. "Where the Rose Is Sown" - 3:58
  2. "Where the Rose Is Sown" - 3:58
12" single
  1. "Where the Rose Is Sown (Extended Remix)" - 7:43
  2. "Where the Rose Is Sown (7" Version)" - 4:03
  3. "Bass Dance" - 1:40
  4. "Belief in the Small Man" - 5:12
12" single (German release)
  1. "Where the Rose Is Sown (Extended Remix)" - 7:43
  2. "Bass Dance" - 1:40
  3. "Belief in the Small Man" - 5:12
12" single (Canadian release)
  1. "Where the Rose Is Sown" - 4:44
  2. "Prairie Rose" - 4:47
12" single (US promo)
  1. "Where the Rose Is Sown" - 3:58
  2. "Where the Rose Is Sown" - 3:58

Chart performance

Chart (1984) Peak
position
Irish Singles Chart[5] 25
UK Singles Chart[4] 29

Personnel

Big Country
Production
Other
  • Brian Aris - sleeve photography
  • Grant-Edwards Management - management

References

  1. ^ "Where The Rose Is Sown". Bigcountryinfo.com. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  2. ^ "The Michigan Daily - December 6, 1984 - Big County - Steeltown". The Michigan Daily. 6 December 1984. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  3. ^ William Ruhlmann. "Steeltown - Big Country | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  4. ^ a b "BIG COUNTRY | full Official Chart History". Official Charts. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  5. ^ a b "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". The Irish Charts. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  6. ^ Billboard magazine - MTV Programming - 8 December 1984 - page 31
  7. ^ Smash Hits magazine - Singles - Lesley White - 6–19 December 1984 - page 19
  8. ^ Number One magazine - Singles - Sunie - 24 November 1984 - page 52
  9. ^ Cash Box newspaper - 8 December 1984 - Reviews: singles - page 11
  10. ^ Billboard magazine - Reviews: singles - 15 December 1984 - page 73
  11. ^ "Steeltown - Record Collector Magazine". Recordcollectormag.com. Retrieved 4 April 2018.