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The River Is Wide
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Wikipedia article
"'The River Is Wide'" was a song written by Billy Admire and Gary Knight and was originally recorded by the Forum in 1967.
Background
The Forum
The record was first released in 1966 on the Penthouse label.'Billboard', July 8, 1967 - [https://books.google.com/books?id=wycEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA6&lpg=PA6&dq=%22The+River+Is+Wide%22Billboard&source=bl&ots=1RXL0ErdtM&sig=0O9_Xxfr5rCOG1y9VtBgCKAlKHk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiXraqwhJLTAhVIlJQKHbeDAJYQ6AEIGzAB#v=onepage&q=%22The%20River%20Is%20Wide%22Billboard&f=false Page 6 'RIVER FLOWS ON THIRD TRY'] It did not go anywhere and after being re-mastered and re-edited, it was released a second time in May 1967, this time on the Mira label. Nothing happened the second time. Then Decca got hold of the master. The record then started to make some progress in the UK, which got the attention of a DJ in Seattle. He started playing it and it started attracting attention in Seattle. By July 1967, the record was at no. 88 in the 'Billboard' charts. It finally got to no. 45.'Rock Movers & Shakers', Barry Lazell - Billboard Publications, Inc., 1 Apr. 1989 - [https://books.google.com/books?id=L2kGAQAAMAAJ&q=%22The+River+Is+Wide%22The+Forum%22&dq=%22The+River+Is+Wide%22The+Forum%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjC6fCikJLTAhXCErwKHYfyB7o4FBDoAQgYMAA Page 213]Bobby Rydell
By May 1968, Bobby Rydell had a version of the single out on the Reprise label. It was produced by Dave Hassinger. The B side, "Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder", was arranged by Artie Butler. In May 1968, Billboard predicted that his version would reach the Top 60 of the Hot 100 chart.'Billboard', May 4, 1968 - [https://books.google.com/books?id=qggEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA68&dq=%22The+Forum%22The+River+Is+Wide%22Hit&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjW6p3QjpLTAhUKe7wKHQC8C3sQ6AEIIzAC#v=onepage&q=%22The%20Forum%22The%20River%20Is%20Wide%22Hit&f=false Page 68 Top 60 Pop Spotlight]The Grass Roots
It became a hit for American rock band the Grass Roots. In April 1969, their version of "The River Is Wide" entered the 'Billboard' Hot 100 chart at no. 87,'Billboard', [https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1969-04-12= Hot 100 chart for the week of April 12, 1969] and by May, it had reached its peak position at no. 31.'Billboard', June 7, 1969 - [https://books.google.com/books?id=jygEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA66&dq=%22The+Grassroots%22The+River+Is+Wide%22Billboard%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjjl46bmpLTAhVInpQKHaNBDpYQ6AEIMzAG#v=onepage&q=%22The%20Grassroots%22The%20River%20Is%20Wide%22Billboard%22&f=false Page 66 Hot 100 For week ending June 1, 1969] The song appeared on their studio album Lovin' Things, which was released the same year. It later appeared on the band's compilation albums 'More Golden Grass' and 'Their 16 Greatest Hits', which were released in 1970 and 1971 respectively.'Billboard', October 24, 1970 - [https://books.google.com/books?id=gSkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA57&dq=%22The+Grass+Roots%22The+River+Is+Wide%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiT06f8mJLTAhVCF5QKHaaDDcMQ6AEIKzAD#v=onepage&q=%22The%20Grass%20Roots%22The%20River%20Is%20Wide%22&f=false Page 57 Billboard Album Reviews] The song has also been included on multiple subsequent compilations by the group. The single version does not contain the thunder present at the beginning of the LP version, and is also in a different key.
Releases
United States
References
Category:1966 songs
Category:1967 singles
Category:1969 singles
Category:The Grass Roots songs
Category:Song recordings with Wall of Sound arrangements
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