One-Hit Wonders: Big Country and “In A Big Country”

January 26, 2012 9:30 AM

Big Country – “In a Big Country” (Mercury, 1983)

Filed under

Related tags

1980's, In A Big Country, New wave, One hit wonders

Though they had a string of hits in the UK over the course of more than fifteen years, Big Country found only one hit in the US… and we all know which one that is.

inabigcountry 385 One Hit Wonders: Big Country and In A Big Country

“In a Big Country” was the third single by Big Country released by Mercury Records in the US. Taken from their debut album, The Crossing, the song was the collaboration of band members Stuart Adamson, Mark Brzezicki, Tony Butler and Bruce Watson and produced by U2 knob-turner Steve Lillywhite.

Released in May 1983, the song made a slow, steady 6-month climb up the charts, peaking at #17 on the pop chart in December (and #3 on the rock charts).

Unlike many One-Hit Wonders who like to believe otherwise, frontman Stuart Adamson is quite alright fitting into that category. “If we’re known for nothing more than just that one song,” he told VH-1, “I’d be pretty happy with that.”