Broken Heart (Thirteen Valleys)

"Broken Heart (Thirteen Valleys)" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, released in 1988 as the second single from their fourth studio album Peace in Our Time. It was written by Stuart Adamson and produced by Peter Wolf. "Broken Heart (Thirteen Valleys)" reached No. 47 in the UK and remained in the charts for four weeks.[1] A music video was filmed to promote the single. It was directed by Richard Lowenstein and shot near Wittenoom, Western Australia.[2][3]

"Broken Heart (Thirteen Valleys)"
Single by Big Country
from the album Peace in Our Time
B-side"Soapy Soutar Strikes Back"
Released1988
Length5:14
LabelMercury
Vertigo (Canada)
Songwriter(s)Stuart Adamson
Producer(s)Peter Wolf
Big Country singles chronology
"King of Emotion"
(1988)		 "Broken Heart (Thirteen Valleys)"
(1988)		 "Peace in Our Time"
(1989)

"Broken Heart" originated as a track called "The Longest Day" which Big Country recorded around 1985. The song's chorus and melody was later incorporated into "Broken Heart". "The Longest Day" was included on the 1989 single release of "Peace in Our Time".[4] In a 1988 radio interview, Adamson picked "Broken Heart" as one of his favourites from Peace in Our Time.[5] He recalled of the song to Sounds in 1990: "I think it's the best song I've ever written. It works great on acoustic or electric. "Thirteen Valleys" is the one that got away. I'll play that song, always. I'd put it up against any song."[6]

Reception

Upon release, Alex Kadis of Smash Hits commented: "Though at first this sounds shockingly like "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain", it soon takes a turn for the better and becomes one of those superbly atmospheric songs that Big Country have become so famous for."[7] In a review of Peace in Our Time, Steve Metsch of the Herald & Review described the song as "thoughtful" and one that is "deserving of more air play".[8] Alice Rudolph of the Altoona Mirror noted the album's "unique rhythms", including "what could be described as high-tech cowboy" in "Broken Heart".[9]

Jim Bohen of the Daily Record commented: "They've found new delicacy in instrumental touches like the interplay of mandolin and synthesizer that closes "Broken Heart"."[10] Peter Tesch of The Signpost described the song as "beautiful semi-ballad", as well as being "strong and passionate".[11] William Ruhlmann of AllMusic recommended the song by labelling it an AMG Pick Track.[12] James Masterton, in his book Chart Watch UK - Hits of 1989, considered the song "capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with past classics such as "One Great Thing" and "Fields of Fire"."[13]

Track listing
7" single
  1. "Broken Heart (Thirteen Valleys)" - 5:14
  2. "Soapy Soutar Strikes Back" - 4:15
12" single
  1. "Broken Heart (Thirteen Valleys)" - 5:14
  2. "Soapy Soutar Strikes Back" - 4:15
  3. "When a Drum Beats" - 6:20
  4. "On the Shore" - 3:39
CD single
  1. "Broken Heart (Thirteen Valleys)" - 5:14
  2. "Soapy Soutar Strikes Back" - 4:15
  3. "Wonderland" (12" Version) - 7:10
CD single (UK limited edition)
  1. "Broken Heart (Thirteen Valleys)" - 5:14
  2. "Soapy Soutar Strikes Back" - 4:15
  3. "Made in Heaven" - 5:10
  4. "When a Drum Beats" - 5:04
Cassette and CD single (Canadian release)
  1. "Broken Heart (Thirteen Valleys)" - 5:10
  2. "Soapy Soutar Strikes Back" - 4:06
  3. "When a Drum Beats" - 4:06
  4. "Starred and Crossed" - 4:06

Charts
Chart (1988) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[1] 47

Personnel

Big Country

Additional musicians

Production

  • Peter Wolf - producer of "Broken Heart"
  • Big Country - producers of all tracks except "Broken Heart" and "Wonderland"
  • Steve Lillywhite - producer of "Wonderland"
  • Brian Malouf - engineer and mixing on "Broken Heart"
  • Jeremy Smith - engineer on "Broken Heart"
  • Gonzalo Espinoza, Jeff Poe, Kristen Connolly - assistant engineers on "Broken Heart"
  • Geoff Pesche - mastering

References
  1. "BIG COUNTRY | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2019-09-22.
  2. "Country Club Issue 26 - Page 18". Bigcountryinfo.com. Retrieved 2019-09-22.
  3. "Big Country - Broken Heart (Thirteen Valleys) (1988)". IMVDb. Retrieved 2019-09-22.
  4. "The Longest Day". Bigcountryinfo.com. Retrieved 2019-09-22.
  5. "We Save No Souls Issue 2 - Page 24". Bigcountryinfo.com. Retrieved 2019-09-22.
  6. "All of Us Volume 4 Issue 1 - Page 10". Bigcountryinfo.com. Retrieved 2019-09-22.
  7. Kadis, Alex (30 November 1988). "Review: Singles". Smash Hits.
  8. Metsch, Steve (13 November 1988). "Big Country gives welcome alternative". Herald & Review.
  9. Rudolph, Alice (6 November 1988). "Land of Dreams". Altoona Mirror.
  10. Bohen, Jim (4 December 1988). "Recriminations about romance from British duo". Daily Record.
  11. Tesch, Peter (26 October 1988). "Quik Sins: Duran Duran has big failure, 'Country' gives great material". The Signpost.
  12. AllMusic Review by William Ruhlmann. "Peace in Our Time - Big Country | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-09-22.
  13. Masterton, James. Chart Watch UK - Hits of 1989 - James Masterton - Google Books. ISBN 9780463138571. Retrieved 2019-09-22.
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