"Hitchin' a Ride"
Single by Vanity Fare
from the album Early in the Morning
B-side"Man Child"
Released7 November 1969 (UK)[1]
March 1970 (US)
Recorded1969
GenreRock[2]
Length2:44 (Single Version)
3:08 (Album Version)
LabelPage One
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Vanity Fare singles chronology
"Early in the Morning"
(1969)		 "Hitchin' a Ride"
(1969)		 "Come Tomorrow"
(1970)

"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.[3] In Chicago, the record achieved even greater heights, topping the WCFL Big 10 Countdown on 18–25 May 1970,[4] ranking #4 for all of 1970[5] and ranking #12 on rival WLS Radio 89 Hit Parade on 6 July 1970,[6] ranking #10 for all of 1970.[7] "Hitchin' a Ride" sold a million copies in the United States alone, and it became a gold record.[8]

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

Sinitta version

"Hitchin' a Ride"
Single by Sinitta
from the album Wicked
B-side"I'm On My Way"
ReleasedApril 1990
Recorded1989
GenreSynthpop
Length3:42
LabelFanfare Records
Songwriter(s)Mitch Murray
Peter Callander
Producer(s)Ralf Rene Maue
Sinitta 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,[19] number 19 in Ireland, and number 131 in Australia.[20]

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."[21] 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."[22]

Formats and track listings

7" single
  1. "Hitchin' a Ride" – 3:42
  2. "I'm on My Way" – 3:52
12" single
  1. "Hitchin' a Ride" (extended version) – 6:35
  2. "I'm on My Way" – 3:52
CD single
  1. "Hitchin' a Ride" (extended version) – 6:35
  2. "I'm on My Way" – 3:52
  3. "Hitchin' a Ride" – 3:42

Charts

Chart (1990) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[20] 131
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[23] 54
Ireland (IRMA) 19
UK Singles (OCC) 24

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.[24]
  • 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.[25]
  • A 1986 recording by The Replacements is featured on the 2017 live album For Sale: Live at Maxwell's 1986.

See also

References

  1. ↑ https://www.45cat.com/record/pof158
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1970
  4. ↑ "WCFL Big 10 Countdown". WCFL. 1970-05-18. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  5. ↑ "Big 10 Countdown (Top 40 - 1970)". WCFL. 1970-12-28. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  6. ↑ "Radio89 Hit Parade". WLS. 1970-06-01. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  7. ↑ "Top 89 of 1970". WLS. 1970-12-28. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  8. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 582. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
  11. ↑ NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, 5 May 1975
  12. ↑ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  13. ↑ "officialcharts.com". officialcharts.com. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  14. ↑ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  15. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 246.
  16. ↑ "Top 100 1970-06-27". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2016-01-19.
  17. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". collectionscanada.gc.ca. 17 July 2013.
  18. ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1970/Top 100 Songs of 1970". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
  19. ↑ "The Official Charts Company - Hitchin' A Ride by Sinitta Search". The Official Charts Company. 6 May 2013.
  20. 1 2 "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.
  21. ↑ Coleman, Bill (9 June 1990). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 84. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  22. ↑ Giles, David (14 April 1990). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 25. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  23. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 19 May 1990. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  24. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 287.
  25. ↑ Flavour of New Zealand, 2 May 1975
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