"Hitchin' a Ride" is a song written by Mitch Murray and Peter Callander issued as a single by the English pop/rock band Vanity Fare in late 1969. It reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart in February 1970 but was a bigger hit in the United States, reaching number 5 on the Hot 100 on June 27, 1970. Billboard ranked the record as the number 14 song of 1970.[2] In Chicago, the record achieved even greater heights, topping the WCFL Big 10 Countdown on 18–25 May 1970,[3] ranking #4 for all of 1970[4] and ranking #12 on rival WLS Radio 89 Hit Parade on 6 July 1970,[5] ranking #10 for all of 1970.[6] "Hitchin' a Ride" sold a million copies in the United States alone, and it became a gold record.[7]
The song is about a young man who is attempting to hitchhike since he has no money. The song is noted for its two recorders first heard in the introduction as well as in the sections between the choruses and the verses.
The song is also noted for its instrumental section, featuring an electric piano, that plays a bass line in repetition, which is accompanied by the piano's upper register, bass, drums, and guitar, which is later heard before the song's fade. The U.S. single edit shortens the ending by eliminating the final repeated lines of "ride, ride" before the song fades out.
"Hitchin' a Ride" was covered by American singer Sinitta. It was released in 1990 as the fifth and final single from her second album Wicked (1989). The song was produced by Ralf Rene Maue. The B-side contains a previously unreleased song "I'm On My Way". This single reached number 24 in the UK,[18] number 19 in Ireland, and number 131 in Australia.[19]
Critical receptionEdit
Bill Coleman from Billboard wrote, "U.K. siren continues her bid for American stardom with a peppy, HiNRG cover of the Vanity Fare nugget."[20] David Giles from Music Week stated that the song has been "given an ultra-glossy Hi-NRG sheen". He added that "it sounds a little dated, reminiscent perhaps of Kelly Marie's "Feels Like I'm in Love", but should still clear the shelves."[21]
A country music version of the song was released by singer, Jack Reno and reached #12 on the U.S. country chart in 1971.[23]
British group Paper Lace adapted their 1974 version as "Hitchin' a Ride '75", reaching #55 on the official UK "Breakers List" chart and #16 in New Zealand.[24]
^Eddy, Chuck (22 March 1997). "Automotive Rock". The Accidental Evolution of Rock 'n' Roll: A Misguided Tour Through Popular Music. Da Capo Press. p. 272. ISBN0-306-80741-6.
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Hitchin a Ride is a song written by Mitch Murray and Peter Callander issued as a single by the English pop rock band Vanity Fare in late 1969 It reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart in February 1970 but was a bigger hit in the United States reaching number 5 on the Hot 100 on June 27 1970 Billboard ranked the record as the number 14 song of 1970 2 In Chicago the record achieved even greater heights topping the WCFL Big 10 Countdown on 18 25 May 1970 3 ranking 4 for all of 1970 4 and ranking 12 on rival WLS Radio 89 Hit Parade on 6 July 1970 5 ranking 10 for all of 1970 6 Hitchin a Ride sold a million copies in the United States alone and it became a gold record 7 Hitchin a Ride Single by Vanity Farefrom the album Early in the MorningB side Man Child Released1969March 1970 US Recorded1969GenreRock 1 Length2 44 Single Version 3 08 Album Version LabelPage OneSongwriter s Mitch Murray Peter CallanderProducer s Des Champ Roger EasterbyVanity Fare singles chronology Early in the Morning 1969 Hitchin a Ride 1969 Come Tomorrow 1970 Contents 1 Background 2 Chart performance Vanity Fare 2 1 Weekly charts 2 2 Year end charts 3 Sinitta version 3 1 Critical reception 3 2 Formats and track listings 3 3 Charts 4 Other cover versions 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksBackground EditThe song is about a young man who is attempting to hitchhike since he has no money The song is noted for its two recorders first heard in the introduction as well as in the sections between the choruses and the verses The song is also noted for its instrumental section featuring an electric piano that plays a bass line in repetition which is accompanied by the piano s upper register bass drums and guitar which is later heard before the song s fade The U S single edit shortens the ending by eliminating the final repeated lines of ride ride before the song fades out Chart performance Vanity Fare EditWeekly charts Edit Chart 1969 70 PeakpositionAustralia Kent Music Report 8 24Canada RPM Top Singles 9 3New Zealand 10 16South Africa Springbok 11 2UK 12 16US Billboard Hot 100 13 5US Billboard Easy Listening 14 22US Cash Box Top 100 15 4 Year end charts Edit Chart 1970 RankCanada 16 49US Billboard Hot 100 17 14Sinitta version Edit Hitchin a Ride nbsp Single by Sinittafrom the album WickedB side I m On My Way ReleasedApril 1990Recorded1989GenreSynthpopLength3 42LabelFanfare RecordsSongwriter s Mitch MurrayPeter CallanderProducer s Ralf Rene MaueSinitta singles chronology Love on a Mountain Top 1989 Hitchin a Ride 1990 Love and Affection 1990 Music video Hitchin a Ride on YouTube Hitchin a Ride was covered by American singer Sinitta It was released in 1990 as the fifth and final single from her second album Wicked 1989 The song was produced by Ralf Rene Maue The B side contains a previously unreleased song I m On My Way This single reached number 24 in the UK 18 number 19 in Ireland and number 131 in Australia 19 Critical reception Edit Bill Coleman from Billboard wrote U K siren continues her bid for American stardom with a peppy HiNRG cover of the Vanity Fare nugget 20 David Giles from Music Week stated that the song has been given an ultra glossy Hi NRG sheen He added that it sounds a little dated reminiscent perhaps of Kelly Marie s Feels Like I m in Love but should still clear the shelves 21 Formats and track listings Edit 7 single Hitchin a Ride 3 42 I m on My Way 3 5212 single Hitchin a Ride extended version 6 35 I m on My Way 3 52CD single Hitchin a Ride extended version 6 35 I m on My Way 3 52 Hitchin a Ride 3 42Charts Edit Chart 1990 PeakpositionAustralia ARIA 19 131Europe Eurochart Hot 100 22 54Ireland IRMA 19UK Singles OCC 24Other cover versions EditA country music version of the song was released by singer Jack Reno and reached 12 on the U S country chart in 1971 23 British group Paper Lace adapted their 1974 version as Hitchin a Ride 75 reaching 55 on the official UK Breakers List chart and 16 in New Zealand 24 A 1986 recording by The Replacements is featured on the 2017 live album For Sale Live at Maxwell s 1986 See also EditHitch hike dance References Edit Eddy Chuck 22 March 1997 Automotive Rock The Accidental Evolution of Rock n Roll A Misguided Tour Through Popular Music Da Capo Press p 272 ISBN 0 306 80741 6 Billboard Year End Hot 100 singles of 1970 WCFL Big 10 Countdown WCFL 1970 05 18 Retrieved 2023 01 05 Big 10 Countdown Top 40 1970 WCFL 1970 12 28 Retrieved 2023 01 05 Radio89 Hit Parade WLS 1970 06 01 Retrieved 2023 01 05 Top 89 of 1970 WLS 1970 12 28 Retrieved 2023 01 05 Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited p 582 ISBN 1 904994 10 5 Kent David 1993 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 illustrated ed St Ives N S W Australian Chart Book p 320 ISBN 0 646 11917 6 Image RPM Weekly Library and Archives Canada Bac lac gc ca 17 July 2013 Retrieved 2016 10 02 NZ Top 40 Singles Chart 5 May 1975 SA Charts 1965 March 1989 Retrieved 5 September 2018 officialcharts com officialcharts com Retrieved September 20 2022 Joel Whitburn s Top Pop Singles 1955 1990 ISBN 0 89820 089 X Whitburn Joel 1993 Top Adult Contemporary 1961 1993 Record Research p 246 Top 100 1970 06 27 Cashbox Magazine Retrieved 2016 01 19 Item Display RPM Library and Archives Canada collectionscanada gc ca 17 July 2013 Top 100 Hits of 1970 Top 100 Songs of 1970 Musicoutfitters com Retrieved 2016 10 02 The Official Charts Company Hitchin A Ride by Sinitta Search The Official Charts Company 6 May 2013 a b Response from ARIA re chart inquiry submitted to charts mail aria com au received 15 July 2015 imgur com Archived from the original on 16 July 2015 Retrieved 4 August 2015 Coleman Bill 9 June 1990 Single Reviews PDF Billboard p 84 Retrieved 28 October 2020 Giles David 14 April 1990 Singles PDF Music Week p 25 Retrieved 30 October 2020 Eurochart Hot 100 Singles PDF Music amp Media 19 May 1990 Retrieved 19 June 2021 Whitburn Joel 2004 The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits 1944 2006 Second edition Record Research p 287 Flavour of New Zealand 2 May 1975External links EditVanity Fare biography at Allmusic website Vanity Fare Hitchin a Ride on YouTube Paper Lace Hitchin a Ride 75 on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hitchin 27 a Ride Vanity Fare song amp oldid 1181547239, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
