Wild, Wild West (The Escape Club song)

"Wild, Wild West" is a song by English 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.

"Wild, Wild West"
Single by the Escape Club
from the album Wild Wild West
B-side"We Can Run"
Released1988
Length
  • 5:44
  • 3:59 (7-inch version)
  • 7:54 (12-inch version)
LabelEMI, Atlantic
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

Background

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.[1]

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,[2] 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."[1]

Track listings

7-inch vinyl

  1. "Wild Wild West" – 3:59
  2. "We Can Run" – 3:40 (B-Side previously unreleased)

12-inch vinyl

  1. "Wild Wild West" (remix) – 7:54
  2. "Wild Wild West" (Artillery Mix) – 5:58
  3. "Wild Wild Dub Club" – 7:20
  4. "Bacapella" – 5:45

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[17] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "Interview with Trevor Steel of The Escape Club". Kickin' it Old School. 6 April 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  2. 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.
  3. "The Escape Club – Wild, Wild West". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  4. "RPM 20 Dance Singles" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49 no. 10. 2 December 1988. p. 10. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  5. "RPM 100 Singles" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49 no. 9. 26 November 1988. p. 10. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  6. "The Escape Club – Wild, Wild West". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  7. "The Escape Club Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  8. "The Escape Club Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  9. "The Escape Club Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  10. "The Escape Club Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  11. "The Escape Club Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  12. "Top 25 Dance Singles of '88" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49 no. 10. 24 December 1988. p. 10. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  13. "Top 25 Dance Singles of '88" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49 no. 10. 24 December 1988. p. 10. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  14. "1988 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 100 no. 52. 24 December 1988. p. Y-20.
  15. "Billboard Top 100 – 1988". Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  16. "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  17. "American single certifications – Escape Club – Wild, Wild, West". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
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