"Wild, Wild West"
Single by the Escape Club
from the album Wild Wild West
B-side"We Can Run"
Released1988
StudioMaison Rouge, Air London, Westside (London, England)
GenreDance-rock[1]
Length
  • 5:44
  • 3:59 (7-inch version)
  • 7:54 (12-inch version)
Label
Songwriter(s)The Escape Club
Producer(s)Chris Kimsey
The Escape Club singles chronology
"Wild, Wild West"
(1988)		 "Shake for the Sheik"
(1988)
Music video
"Wild, Wild West" on YouTube

"Wild, Wild West" is a song by British pop rock band the Escape Club from their debut studio album, Wild Wild West (1988). The single reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 the week of 12 November 1988, making the Escape Club the only British artist to have a No. 1 hit in the United States while never charting in the UK.

Background

Lead singer Trevor Steel said:

John had heard a Run-DMC track on the TV the previous night and rushed upstairs to put a hip-hop drum beat onto his drum machine. The journey to the drum machine doubled the speed though and when I came round to see him the next morning and started singing over it, it turned into "Wild, Wild West". I think we wrote that song in the space of two hours. It was originally going to be three minutes long and the extended section with the rap was only meant for the 12" single. We loved it so much full length though that we put the whole thing out.[2]

Lyrics and music

The lyrics, with phrases such as "I love her eyes and her wild, wild hair", "heading for the '90s, living in the wild, wild west", are augmented with gunshot, laser and blaster (a la Star Wars) sound effects. Critics have noted that, due to the distinct drum beat and vocal patterns during the verses,[3] portions of the song bear a strong similarity to Elvis Costello's "Pump It Up". On the lyrical content, singer Trevor Steel said, "I guess it was just a reflection of the times, living in the '80s with all the yuppies getting rich quick and living under the fear of the Cold War and AIDS. The "Ronnie" in the song was a reference to Ronald Reagan."[2]

Music video

The music video was banned from British television for unclear reasons. The Florida Sun Sentinel claimed it was due to sexism. At the time, band members speculated it was due to the use of disembodied limbs through special effect. They also defended the video, saying the sexism was "designed to make fun of the more overtly sexist promo videos of the era." When asked in a 2012 interview, lead singer Trevor Steel responded, "I can't remember why the video was banned in the UK, I think some kids got scared looking at the disfigured legs."[4][5][6][7] One recent reviewer said of the ban and disembodied limbs, "British censors would've been acting in the public interest. [...] It's [a] pretty easy psychedelic trick-shot, and it's also pure nightmare fuel. I hate looking at it."[8]

Track listings

7-inch, cassette, and mini-CD single[9][10][11]

  1. "Wild, Wild West" – 3:59
  2. "We Can Run" – 3:40

UK and European 12-inch single[12][13]

A1. "Wild, Wild West" (dance mix)
B1. "Wild, Wild West" (single edit)
B2. "We Can Run"

US, Canadian, and Australian 12-inch single[14][15][16]

A1. "Wild, Wild West" (dance mix) – 7:54
A2. "Wild, Wild West" (single edit) – 3:59
B1. "Wild, Wild West" (Wild, Wild dub club) – 7:20
B2. "We Can Run" – 3:40

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the Wild Wild West liner notes.[17]

Studios

Personnel

  • The Escape Club – writing
    • Trevor Steel – lead vocals, guitar
    • John Holliday – backing vocals, guitar
    • Johnnie Christo – backing vocals, bass
    • Milan Zekavica – drums, percussion
  • Tessa Niles – backing vocals
  • Plum – backing vocals
  • Steve Pigott – keyboards
  • Jon Carin – keyboards
  • Alan Clark – keyboards
  • Andy Duncan – percussion
  • Steve Scales – percussion
  • Jim Patterson – horns
  • Dave Plews – horns
  • Brian Brummitt – horns
  • Ben Parks – horns
  • Chris Kimsey – production
  • John Luongo – mixing
  • Christopher Marc Potter – engineering
  • Gary Hellman – engineering
  • George Marino – mastering

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[31] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States 1988
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • cassette
 Atlantic
United Kingdom 30 August 1988
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
 WEA [32]
Japan 10 December 1988 Mini-CD [33]

References

  1. ↑ Breihan, Tom (7 June 2021). "The Number Ones: The Escape Club's "Wild, Wild West". Stereogum. Retrieved 12 November 2023. In theory, I should be able to get behind a song like "Wild, Wild West." I like bubblegum dance-rock.
  2. 1 2 "Interview with Trevor Steel of The Escape Club". Kickin' it Old School. 6 April 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  3. ↑ English, Timothy (2007). Sounds like teen spirit : stolen melodies, ripped-off riffs, and the secret history of rock and roll. iUniverse Star. p. 55. ISBN 9781583480236. OCLC 191820511. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  4. ↑ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 450. CN 5585.
  5. ↑ Wilker, Deborah (24 March 1989). "ESCAPE CLUB HAS A WILD BEGINNING". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  6. ↑ "Interview with Trevor Steel of The Escape Club". Kickin' it Old School via Redisover the 80s. 6 April 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  7. ↑ Jones, Rhys (5 May 2009). "Escape To Club Wild Wild West". Retro Universe. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  8. ↑ Breihan, Tom (7 June 2021). "November 12, 1988: The Number Ones: The Escape Club's "Wild, Wild West"". Stereogum. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  9. ↑ Wild, Wild West (UK 7-inch single sleeve). The Escape Club. WEA. 1988. U7928, 257928-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ↑ Wild, Wild West (US cassette single sleeve). The Escape Club. Atlantic Records. 1988. 4-89048.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ↑ Wild, Wild West (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). The Escape Club. WEA. 1988. 10P3-6074.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ↑ Wild, Wild West (UK 12-inch single sleeve). The Escape Club. WEA. 1988. U 7928 T.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ↑ Wild, Wild West (European 12-inch single sleeve). The Escape Club. WEA. 1988. 257 864-0.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ↑ Wild, Wild West (US 12-inch single sleeve). The Escape Club. Atlantic Records. 1988. 0-86544.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ↑ Wild, Wild West (Canadian 12-inch single sleeve). The Escape Club. Atlantic Records. 1988. 78 65440.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ↑ Wild, Wild West (Australian 12-inch single sleeve). The Escape Club. WEA. 1988. 0-257927.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ↑ Wild Wild West (US CD album liner notes). The Escape Club. Atlantic Records. 1988. 7 81871-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ↑ "The Escape Club – Wild, Wild West". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  19. ↑ "RPM 100 Singles" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49, no. 9. 26 November 1988. p. 10. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  20. ↑ "RPM 20 Dance Singles" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49, no. 10. 2 December 1988. p. 10. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  21. ↑ "The Escape Club – Wild, Wild West". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  22. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. 12 November 1988. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  23. ↑ "Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. 26 November 1988. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  24. ↑ "Album Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 37. 10 September 1988. p. 16.
  25. ↑ "Dance Club Songs". Billboard. 15 October 1988. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  26. ↑ "Alternative Airplay". Billboard. 1 October 1988. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  27. ↑ "Top 25 Dance Singles of '88" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49, no. 10. 24 December 1988. p. 10. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  28. ↑ "Top 25 Dance Singles of '88" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49, no. 10. 24 December 1988. p. 10. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  29. ↑ "1988 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 52. 24 December 1988. p. Y-20.
  30. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 – 1988". Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  31. ↑ "American single certifications – Escape Club – Wild, Wild, West". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  32. ↑ "New Singles". Music Week. 27 August 1988. p. 35.
  33. ↑ "ワイルド・ワイルド・ウエスト | エスケイプ・クラブ" [Wild Wild West | Escape Club] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
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