Big Country are a Scottish rock band formed in Dunfermline, Fife, in 1981, however none of those members were born in Scotland. Lead guitarist and singer Stuart Adamson (11 April 1958 – 16 December 2001, RIP) was formerly in The Skids. The well known radio DJ in the UK John Peel described Adamson as Scotland's Jimi Hendrix. Joining him in Big Country were Mark Brzezicki on drums (left), Tony Butler on bass (centre-right) and Bruce Watson also on guitar (right). Sadly Adamson passed away in 2001 at the age of 43 in what the police concluded was a suicide, in a hotel room in Hawaii, after a period of him going missing.
Big Country continue to this day though, with a line up that includes original members Watson and Brzezicki.
In their pomp they were as good as any band in the world what with their exceptional rhythm section, comprised of military-like drumming precision and thunderous but complex basslines, anthemic, emotive songs and rhythmic twin guitar interplay and of course superb lead guitar. Had Big Country been given U2's slot at Live Aid the music landscape of the 80s and 90s could've been so different.
It was difficult to whittle down but here are my ten favourite Big Country songs.
10] The Seer (1986)
I would say there may be other BC songs I enjoy more musically but this has Kate frickin Bush on it, and that is kind of a big deal.
An intense and unique track.
9] Steeltown (1984)
The title track from their Steve Lilywhite-produced second album that went to number 1 in the UK album charts.
It was written about the plight of the many workers who lost their livelihoods with the decline of the steelworks in the town of Corby.
Anyone who's ever lost a job in an economic downturn will probably feel this track.
8] In A Big Country (1983)
Cha! The quintessential Big Country song from their excellent debut album The Crossing.
Sounding big, expansive and sing-a-long-able, it features many of the elements associated with Big Country, including that 'bagpipe guitar' tone.
7] Blue On A Green Planet (1995)
There are a couple of versions of this song, but it's this rocking one from their seventh studio album, Why The Long Face?, that I like the most. It was also on an EP made for Greenpeace, as it's quite fitting. "Some people say you have to change to stay the same. I guess we've tried so hard to stay the same we've changed" is an interesting line in this song that has copious amounts of awesome lead guitar.
6] Wonderland (1984)
A standalone single released before the Steeltown album came out. Much of that Big Country goodness in a moving, season-related song.
Incredible live version above^. Watch it!
5] Alone (1993)
The first of three songs from their sixth studio album The Buffalo Skinners that make this list. For this album Mark Brzezicki was not available to play on it and instead Simon Phillips was drafted in, whose impressive CV includes playing with The Who and Toto.
This was the first single from the album, a blazing rock song with an absolutely searing guitar towards the end. The introspective lyrics have to make you wonder how he felt at times, especially in hindsight.
4] Pink Marshmallow Moon (1993)
Occasionally described as some kind of love song before being played live at their concerts, this melodic track is made in part by some slick yet emotive slide guitar.
3] Chance (1983)
One of their most singalong songs with that chorus. Even though it's not particularly clear what the song is about, you can feel that it means something through the emotion it conveys. The guitar melody in between verses is another hook this song has and it has a beautiful breakdown after the first chorus. You can see why it's a fan favourite.
2] Look Away (1986)
Pop rock perfection if you ask me. This classic topped the Irish charts and got to no.7 in the UK. "A cops and robbers thing" is often the description given by Adamson before live versions out there. It's the Big Country song I remembered from before I even really knew who they were.
1] Seven Waves (1993)
This was mostly a Bruce Watson composition which shows you the talent throughout the band. I'll let the live version above explain the song. That third verse... oof. So lyrically heavy I have to lie down sometimes after hearing it. I hope you like it too.
Here is the above countdown as a Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2DDE0QnivpLk4U93YIcMN7
Big Country official website: https://bigcountry.co.uk
Stay alive!