Home | Songs By Year | Songs from 1969
Hitchin' a Ride (Vanity Fare song)
Buy Hitchin' a Ride (Vanity Fare song) now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the song. And once you've experienced the song, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
"'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.Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1970 In Chicago the record achieved even greater heights, scaling the WCFL Big 10 Countdown on 1825 May 1970, and ranking #4 for all of 1970, and rival WLS Radio 89 Hit Parade on 18 June 1970, and ranking #10 for all of 1970.
"Hitchin' a Ride" sold a million copies in the United States alone, and it became a gold record.
Background
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.
Chart performance (Vanity Fare)
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Sinitta version
{{Infobox song
| name = Hitchin' a Ride
| cover = Sinitta HitchinARide.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Sinitta
| album = Wicked
| B-side = I'm On My Way
| released = April 1990
| recorded = 1989
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Synthpop
| length = 3:42
| label = Fanfare Records
| writer = Mitch Murray
Peter Callander
| producer = Ralf Rene Maue
| prev_title = Love on a Mountain Top
| prev_year = 1989
| next_title = Love and Affection
| next_year = 1990
| misc =
}}
"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, number 19 in Ireland, and number 131 in Australia.
Critical reception
Bill Coleman from 'Billboard' wrote, "U.K. siren continues her bid for American stardom with a peppy, HiNRG cover of the Vanity Fare nugget." 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."Formats and track listings
;7" single#"Hitchin' a Ride" 3:42
#"I'm on My Way" 3:52
;12" single
#"Hitchin' a Ride" (extended version) 6:35
#"I'm on My Way" 3:52
;CD single
#"Hitchin' a Ride" (extended version) 6:35
#"I'm on My Way" 3:52
#"Hitchin' a Ride" 3:42
Charts
Other cover versions
* A country music version of the song was released by singer, Jack Reno and reached #12 on the U.S. country chart in 1971.
* 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.[http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20rianz&qartistid=811#n_view_location Flavour of New Zealand, 2 May 1975]
* A 1986 recording by The Replacements is featured on the 2017 live album 'For Sale: Live at Maxwell's 1986'.
See also
*Hitch hike (dance)
References
Buy Hitchin' a Ride (Vanity Fare song) now from Amazon
<-- Return to songs from 1969