Bring On the Dancing Horses
| "Bring On the Dancing Horses" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||
| Single by Echo & the Bunnymen | ||||
| from the album Songs to Learn & Sing | ||||
| B-side | "Over Your Shoulder", "Bedbugs and Ballyhoo" | |||
| Released | 14 November 1985 | |||
| Format | 7", 12", picture disc | |||
| Genre | Post-punk, alternative rock | |||
| Length | 3:59 (7"), 5:37 (12") | |||
| Label | Korova (UK) WEA (Worldwide) |
|||
| Writer(s) | Will Sergeant, Ian McCulloch, Les Pattinson, Pete de Freitas | |||
| Producer(s) | Laurie Latham, The Bunnymen | |||
| Echo & the Bunnymen singles chronology | ||||
|
||||
"Bring On the Dancing Horses" is a single by Echo & the Bunnymen which was released on 14 November 1985. It was the only new single to be included on their 1985 compilation album Songs to Learn & Sing. According to the liner notes that accompany the CD release of the album, the song was recorded specifically for the John Hughes film Pretty in Pink, the soundtrack of which also includes it. The song reached number 21 on the UK Singles Chart[1] and number 15 on the Irish Singles Chart.[2]
In a retrospective review of the single, Allmusic journalist Stewart Mason said that the layers of synths on the song and Ian McCulloch's overdubbed vocals on the chorus add to the "psychedelic haze of the track". Mason wrote: "Bring On the Dancing Horses has a dreamily catchy chorus and a nice melody."[3]
Contents
Versions
The single was released as a 7-inch single, a 12-inch single and a shaped picture disc. On the 7-inch single and the picture disc the title track is three minutes and 59 seconds long and the b-side is "Over Your Shoulder". The title track was extended by one minute and 38 seconds for the 12-inch single, to five minutes and 37 seconds, and an extra track, "Bedbugs and Ballyhoo", was added to the b-side. The 7-inch single was also released as a limited edition with an extra disc containing "Villiers Terrace" and "Monkeys" from the August 1979 John Peel session. Laurie Latham produced the title track and The Bunnymen produced the b-sides. The singles were released on Korova in the United Kingdom and on WEA elsewhere.
Cover versions
"Bring On the Dancing Horses" has been covered by various artists. American skater punk group Lagwagon released a version on their 2000 B-sides and rarities album Let's Talk About Leftovers and Simple Minds recorded a version for their 2001 covers album Neon Lights. The song has also been performed live by The Flaming Lips and The Decemberists. A version of the song, performed by Universal Circus, is included on the 2005 Spanish tribute album Play the Game: Un Tributo a Echo & the Bunnymen.[4] Part of the song was also sung by The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers at the 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards, during their performance of Human. It is also featured on the cover EP The Velveteen Age by Diane Birch.
Track listings
All tracks written by Will Sergeant, Ian McCulloch, Les Pattinson and Pete de Freitas.
- 7-inch (Korova KOW 43, WEA S248933-7) and picture disc (Korova KOW 43P, WEA 248933-7)
- "Bring On the Dancing Horses" – 3:59
- "Over Your Shoulder" – 4:04
- 12-inch release (Korova KOW 43T, WEA 248932-0)
- "Bring On the Dancing Horses" – 5:37
- "Bedbugs and Ballyhoo" – 3:35
- "Over Your Shoulder" – 4:04
Chart positions
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart[1] | 21 |
| Irish Singles Chart[2] | 15 |
Personnel
- Ian McCulloch – vocals, guitar
- Will Sergeant – lead guitar
- Les Pattinson – bass
- Pete de Freitas – drums
- Laurie Latham – producer
- The Bunnymen – producer
References
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
