The Shadows – Wonderful Land

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Wonderful Land (Instrumental)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“Wonderful Land”

The Shadows Wonderful Land.jpg
By The cover art can be obtained from Columbia., Fair use, Link

Single by The Shadows
B-side“Stars Fell on Stockton”
Released23 February 1962
Recorded12 May, 6 July 1961 and 18 January 1962
StudioEMI Studios, London
GenreInstrumental surf
Length2:02
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Jerry Lordan
Producer(s)Norrie Paramor
The Shadows singles chronology
The Savage
(1961)”Wonderful Land
(1962)”Guitar Tango
(1962)

Wonderful Land” is an instrumental piece written by Jerry Lordan and first recorded and released as a single by The Shadows in February 1962. It stayed at number one for eight weeks on the UK Singles Chart, a feat only Elvis Presley (in 1960), the Shadows and the Archies (in 1969) managed in the whole of the 1960s.

Background and release

Lordan had previously written the hugely successful “Apache“, which the Shadows had recorded.

The Shadows – Apache (1960) 4K

On writing the song, Lordan said “I got the first phrase and it took me six months to get to the middle. I knew it had to have a second part and I couldn’t think of anything”. The basic track was recorded on 12 May 1961, with tom-tom overdub and extra drumming recorded on 6 July. However, there was something missing with the song and the Shadows kept it unreleased. Whilst the group were on tour, producer and musician Norrie Paramor added French horns and strings on 18 January 1962. Hank Marvin came up with the title, “Wonderful Land”, referring to America, but Lordan did not like it and “wish[ed] [he] could have come up with something better”.

It was the last single to be recorded by drummer Tony Meehan for the group. By the time of the song’s release, he had left the group and been replaced by Brian Bennett who co-wrote the B-side “Stars Fell on Stockton” with the rest of the group. The group was in a period of transition and whilst the song was at number one, Jet Harris left to be replaced by Brian Locking.

Stars Fell on Stockton (Mono) (2004 Remaster)

Track listings

7″: Columbia / DB 4790

  1. “Wonderful Land” – 2:02
  2. “Stars Fell on Stockton” – 2:17

Personnel

The Shadows – Wonderful Land (The Final Tour)

The Shadows – Wonderful Land (From "The Final Tour" DVD)

Charts

Chart (1962)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)2
Australia (Music Maker)2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)13
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)26
Canada (Vancouver CFUN)27
Germany (GfK)26
Ireland (Evening Herald)1
Israel (Kol Israel)1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)2
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)1
Norway (VG-lista)2
South Africa (Radio South Africa & Lourenço Marques)1
UK Singles (OCC)1

Mike Oldfield version

“Wonderful Land”
Single by Mike Oldfield
from the album QE2
A-sideSheba
Released28 November 1980
RecordedDenham, 1980
Length2:50
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)Jerry Lordan
Producer(s)Mike Oldfield
David Hentschel
Mike Oldfield singles chronology
Arrival
(1980)”Wonderful Land
(1980)”The Singles
(1981)

English musician Mike Oldfield covered “Wonderful Land” on his 1980 Virgin Records album, QE2.

Wonderful Land

Oldfield’s version was also released as a single and as the B-side for his “Sheba” single; in some countries, “Wonderful Land” was the A-side.

Sheba

The Shadows later covered one of Oldfield’s songs, “Moonlight Shadow“.

The Shadows – moonlight shadow

The video for “Wonderful Land” again shows Oldfield playing various instruments, including a violin, which he has claimed not to be able to play very well. The video is available on the Elements – The Best of Mike Oldfield video.

Mike Oldfield – Wonderful Land (Vinyl -Digital Remastered)

Charts

Chart (1981)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)40

Hank Marvin and Mark Knopfler version

Two guitarists, Hank Marvin (of The Shadows) and Mark Knopfler (of Dire Straits) recorded a version of “Wonderful Land” on the 1993 album Heartbeat, produced by Jeff Lynne.

Hank Marvin feat Mark Knopfler – Wonderful Land – A Retrospective Journey

Cover versions

  • “Wonderful Land” has been covered by a number of artists including Mike Oldfield,
Mike Oldfield – Wonderful Land
Wonderful Land
Wonderful Land – The Shadows – cover by Old Guitar Monkey
  • Steve Reynolds and Dave Monk
Wonderful Land – Hank Marvin and Mark Knopfler – cover by Steve Reynolds and Dave Monk
Wonderful Land by Philip Boterman (The Shadows)
Wonderful Land (Guitar Instrumental)
Wonderful Land – The Shadows Live – Tribute
  • The Overtures
The Overtures – Wonderful Land (2016)
  • The Thomshell Light orchestra
WONDERFUL LAND – THE SHADOWS (Cover)
The Shadows – Wonderful Land (YAMAHA TYROS 5)

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