"Wild, Wild West" is a song by British

pop rock Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre and form of rock music characterized by a strong commercial appeal, with more emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than standard rock musi ...

band the Escape Club from their debut studio album, ''

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'' (1988). The single reached 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:

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, portions of the song bear a strong similarity to

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'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 Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He was a member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party a ...

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." One recent reviewer said of the ban and disembodied limbs, "British censors would've been acting in the public interest. ..It's pretty easy psychedelic trick-shot, and it's also pure nightmare fuel. I hate looking at it."

Track listings

7-inch, cassette, and mini-CD single # "Wild, Wild West" – 3:59 # "We Can Run" – 3:40 UK and European 12-inch single :A1. "Wild, Wild West" (dance mix) :B1. "Wild, Wild West" (single edit) :B2. "We Can Run" US, Canadian, and Australian 12-inch single :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 ''

'' liner notes. Studios * Recorded at Maison Rouge, Air London, and Westside Studios (London, England) * Mastered at

Sterling Sound George Marino (April 15, 1947June 4, 2012) was an American mastering engineer known for working on albums by rock bands starting in the late 1960s. Biography Marino was born on April 15, 1947, in the New York City borough The Bronx. He attended ...

(New York City) Personnel * The Escape Club – writing ** Trevor Steel – lead vocals, guitar ** John Holliday – backing vocals, guitar ** Johnnie Christo – backing vocals, bass ** Milan Zekavica – drums, percussion *

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– backing vocals * Plum – backing vocals * Steve Pigott – keyboards *

Jon Carin Jon Carin (born October 21, 1964) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and producer. He has collaborated with acts including Pink Floyd, the Who, Eddie Vedder, Neil Finn, Kate Bush and Richard Butler. Biography As a teenager, Jon Carin ...

– keyboards *

Alan Clark Alan Kenneth Mackenzie Clark (13 April 1928 – 5 September 1999) was a British Conservative Member of Parliament (MP), author and diarist. He served as a junior minister in Margaret Thatcher's governments at the Departments of Employment, Tr ...

– keyboards * Andy Duncan – percussion * Steve Scales – percussion * Jim Patterson – horns * Dave Plews – horns * Brian Brummitt – horns * Ben Parks – horns *

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– production * John Luongo – mixing * Christopher Marc Potter – engineering * Gary Hellman – engineering *

George Marino George Marino (April 15, 1947June 4, 2012) was an American mastering engineer known for working on albums by rock bands starting in the late 1960s. Biography Marino was born on April 15, 1947, in the New York City borough The Bronx. He attended ...

– mastering

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

References

{{Authority control 1987 songs 1988 debut singles The Escape Club songs Atlantic Records singles Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles Cashbox number-one singles Warner Music Group singles