Harvest Home (song)
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Harvest Home
| cover = Harvest Home (Big Country single) cover art.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Big Country
| album = The Crossing
| released = 17 September 1982 (UK){{cite web |url= https://bigcountryinfo.com/releases/s_harvesthome.htm |title=Releases – Singles, EP’s & Promos – Harvest Home|publisher=Big Country Info|access-date=30 September 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/past-times/3694642/big-country-harvest-home/ |title=Big Country and Harvest Home: The start of something special for Fife band that conquered the world |publisher=The Courier |date=16 September 2022|access-date=30 September 2023 |last=Strachan |first=Graeme }}{{cite web|url=http://umdmusic.com/default.asp?Lang=English&Search=Big+Country&Where=Bands |title=Ultimate Music Database |website=Umdmusic.com |access-date=2014-04-08}}
| format =
| studio = AIR Studios, London
| venue =
| genre = Celtic rock
| length = 3:47
| label = Mercury
| writer = Stuart Adamson, Bruce Watson, Mark Brzezicki, Tony Butler
| producer = Chris Thomas
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Fields of Fire
| next_year = 1983
}}
"Harvest Home" is the debut single of the Scottish band Big Country. It was first released as a single in September 1982, then re-recorded for the band's debut album The Crossing.
Debut release
In early 1982, a newly formed Big Country declined a trade agreement with the Ensign label but later signed a recording contract with Mercury-Phonogram Records. The band went to London to begin work on their upcoming debut album with producer Chris Thomas. However, the band felt Thomas was not fully committing to the band due to his other production duties, and eventually, the entire recording session was scrapped. Late that year, they issued "Harvest Home", one of three tracks salvaged from the sessions. In early 1983, Steve Lillywhite replaced Thomas as the band's producer. Despite missing a place in the UK Singles Chart,{{cite book
| first= David
| last= Roberts
| year= 2006
| title= British Hit Singles & Albums
| edition= 19th
| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
| location= London
| isbn= 1-904994-10-5
| pages= 56–7}} the band shortly after supported the Jam, on their sell-out farewell tour.{{cite web|url=http://rqsretrouniverse.blogspot.com/2009/02/big-country-settlement-years.html |title=RetroUniverse: Big Country – The Settlement Years |website=Rqsretrouniverse.blogspot.com |date=2009-02-07 |access-date=2014-04-08}}
Critical praise
In their album review of The Crossing, Rolling Stone said that the "bagpipelike single-string riffs on such crackling tracks as" the "grandly martial Harvest Home are a nonstop, spine-tingling delight."{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/250904/review/5944030/thecrossing |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129090122/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/250904/review/5944030/thecrossing |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 January 2009 |title=Album Reviews and Ratings |work=Rolling Stone |access-date=2014-04-08}}
Music video
At the beginning of the music video, the members of the band are shown having a picnic together in the bushes. They later abandon the picnic area and enter a large building. Their musical instruments are inside, and the band walk in and start playing their instruments inside this building. Towards the end of the video, lead vocalist Stuart Adamson puts down his instrument and starts dancing.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee-484KdbO0 |title=YouTube |via=YouTube |access-date=2014-04-08}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}
Track listing
All tracks are credited to Stuart Adamson on the original single release.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/master/48810-Big-Country-Harvest-Home/image/SW1hZ2U6MTAzMjk0MDA=|title=Big Country – Harvest Home|website=Discogs|access-date=30 September 2023}} On The Crossing, "Harvest Home" is credited to Adamson, Bruce Watson, Mark Brzezicki and Tony Butler.{{refn|group=n|The ASCAP song database lists Stuart Adamson as both the sole songwriter of "Harvest Home" and as co-songwriter with Bruce Watson and former Big Country members Pete Wishart and Clive Parker-Sharp.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/performer/BIG%20COUNTRY?page=1|title=Big Country – ASCAP database|website=ASCAP|access-date=30 September 2023}} On the 2012 deluxe edition of The Crossing, "Harvest Home", "Balcony" and "Flag of Nations (Swimming)" are credited to Adamson and Watson.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/3413469-Big-Country-The-Crossing/image/SW1hZ2U6NDYyOTM0MDY=|title=Big Country – The Crossing (Deluxe Edition)|website=Discogs|access-date=30 September 2023}}}}
;7" vinyl
- "Harvest Home" – 3:45
- "Balcony" – 3:57
;12" vinyl
- "Harvest Home" – 3:45
- "Balcony" – 3:57
- "Flag of Nations (Swimming)" – 4:38
Personnel
;Big Country
- Stuart Adamson – vocals, guitar
- Bruce Watson – guitar, backing vocals
- Tony Butler – bass, backing vocals
- Mark Brzezicki – drums, backing vocals
;Technical
- Chris Thomas – producer
- Bill Price – engineer
- Davies and Starr – photography
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Year !Chart !Peak |
| rowspan="1"|1982
!scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite web |url=https://www.rockvf.com/Big+Country.art|title=Big Country Top Songs|website=Rockvf.com|access-date=30 September 2023}} |91 |
Notes
{{Reflist|group=n}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20141227181700/http://piereligion.org/harvestsongs.html Harvest Home song]}}
{{Big Country}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harvest Home (song)}}
Category:Song recordings produced by Chris Thomas (record producer)
Category:Songs written by Stuart Adamson
Category:Songs written by Mark Brzezicki
Category:Songs written by Tony Butler (musician)