It's a Long Way There
"It's a Long Way There" | ||||
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![]() Dutch 7" picture sleeve | ||||
Single by Little River Band | ||||
from the album Little River Band | ||||
B-side | "Time to Fly" / "Meanwhile" | |||
Released | August 1976 | |||
Recorded | 1975 | |||
Genre | Soft rock | |||
Length | 4:16 (single version) 8:39 (album version) | |||
Label | EMI Music / Harvest | |||
Songwriter(s) | Graham Goble | |||
Producer(s) | Glenn Wheatley, Little River Band | |||
Little River Band singles chronology | ||||
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"It's a Long Way There" is a song by Australian band Little River Band, released in August 1976 as the band's debut international single and in October 1976 as the third single from the group's self-titled studio album. The song peaked at number 35 on the Australian Kent Music Report singles chart, and peaked at #28 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming the band's first top 40 hit in the United States.
Written by Graeham Goble in 1972,[1] the song was inspired by his regular trips from Melbourne to visit his family in Adelaide.[2] The song was initially performed by Goble's earlier band Mississippi, which included three subsequent members of Little River band: Goble, Beeb Birtles and Derek Pellicci.[3] Ric Formosa played lead guitar, Glenn Shorrock sang lead vocals, with Goble and Birtles providing harmonies.[4]
Reception
Cash Box magazine said "A haunting string introduction gives way to some funky rock and roll in this fully realised single from the Little River Band. A trifle long for AM play, this should definitely break through on the progressive FM side. The harmonies are deep and rich."[5]
Billboard (magazine) said "There's a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young feel as it shifts from a symphonic, airy opening to guitar-dominated mid-rock base. Carefully honed folk rock vocals throughout."[6]
Writing in Something Else, S.Victor Aaron said that more often than not, they ended up sounding like Crosby, Stills & Nash. "It wasn’t the match of Crosby, Stills & Nash at their best, but darn close enough. In fact, "It’s a Long Way There" might be the best CSN song that CSN never did."[4]
Track listings
- Australian 7" (EMI 11292)
- Side A. "It's a Long Way There" - 4:16
- Side B. "Time to Fly" - 3:00
- US 7" (Harvest 4318)
- Side A. "It's a Long Way There" - 4:16
- Side B. "Meanwhile" - 3:53
Charts
Chart (1976/77) | Peak position |
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Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] | 35 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[8] | 32 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9] | 14 |
US Billboard Hot 100[10] | 28 |
References
- ^ "It's A Long Way There". graehamgoble.com. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
- ^ "Re-It's A Long Way There". Lefsetz Letter. 2013-04-04. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
- ^ Mississippi - It's A Long Way There (1973), retrieved 2022-11-15
- ^ a b "How "It's a Long Way There" Introduced the Little River Band". Something Else. 18 November 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
- ^ "Single Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 14 August 1976. p. 20. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Little River Band" (PDF). Cash Box. 4 September 1976. p. 13. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 179. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Little River Band – It's a Long Way There". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ "Little River Band – It's a Long Way There" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2007). Top Pop Singles: 1955-2006. Record Research.
- v
- t
- e
- Wayne Nelson
- Chris Marion
- Ryan Ricks
- Colin Whinnery
- Bruce Wallace
- Graeham Goble
- Beeb Birtles
- Derek Pellicci
- Glenn Shorrock
- Roger McLachlan
- Graham Davidge
- Dave Orams
- Ric Formosa
- David Briggs
- George McArdle
- Geoff Cox
- Mal Logan
- Barry Sullivan
- Stephen Housden
- John Farnham
- David Hirschfelder
- Steve Prestwich
- Malcolm Wakeford
- James Roche
- Peter Beckett
- Tony Sciuto
- Richard Bryant
- Steve Wade
- Hal Tupea
- Paul Gildea
- Kevin Murphy
- Adrian Scott
- Glenn Reither
- Kip Raines
- Billy Thomas
- Mel Watts
- Greg Hind
- Rich Herring
- Little River Band
- After Hours
- Diamantina Cocktail
- Sleeper Catcher
- First Under the Wire
- Time Exposure
- The Net
- Playing to Win
- No Reins
- Monsoon
- Get Lucky
- Backstage Pass
- Live in America
- Live Classics
- It's a Long Way There (Greatest Hits)
- Greatest Hits
- Too Late to Load
- Worldwide Love
- The Classic Collection
- The Definitive Collection
- Ultimate Hits
- Masterpieces
- "Curiosity (Killed the Cat)"
- "Emma"
- "Everyday of My Life"
- "It's a Long Way There"
- "I'll Always Call Your Name"
- "Help Is on Its Way"
- "Witchery"
- "Home on Monday"
- "Happy Anniversary"
- "Shut Down Turn Off"
- "Reminiscing"
- "Lady"
- "Lonesome Loser"
- "Cool Change"
- "The Night Owls"
- "Man on Your Mind"
- "Take It Easy on Me"
- "Down on the Border"
- "St. Louis"
- "The Other Guy"
- "When the War Is Over"
- "Love Is a Bridge"
- "When Will I Be Loved"
- "Forever Blue"
- Members
- Discography
- Awards
- Birtles Shorrock Goble
- Birtles & Goble
- Mississippi
- We Two Pty Ltd v Shorrock (2002)
Category
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