Hitchin' a Ride (Vanity Fare song)

"Hitchin' a Ride" is a song written by Mitch Murray and Peter Callander issued as a single by the English pop/rock band Vanity Fare in late 1969. It reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart in February 1970, but was a bigger hit in the United States, reaching number 5 on the Hot 100 on June 27, 1970. Billboard ranked the record as the number 14 song of 1970.[1] In Chicago the record achieved even greater heights, scaling the WCFL Big 10 Countdown on 18-25 May 1970,[2] and ranking #4 for all of 1970,[3] and rival WLS Radio 89 Hit Parade on 1-8 June 1970,[4] and ranking #10 for all of 1970.[5]

"Hitchin' a Ride"
Single by Vanity Fare
from the album Early in the Morning
B-side"Man Child"
Released1969
March 1970 (US)
Format7" single
Recorded1969
GenrePop rock
Length3:07
2:37 (US single)
LabelPage One
Songwriter(s)Mitch Murray
Peter Callander
Producer(s)Des Champ
Roger Easterby
Vanity Fare singles chronology
"Early in the Morning"
(1969)		 "Hitchin' a Ride"
(1969)		 "Come Tomorrow"
(1970)
"Hitchin' a Ride"
Single by Sinitta
from the album Wicked
B-side"I'm On My Way"
ReleasedApril 1990
Format7" single, 12" single, CD single
Recorded1989
GenreSynthpop
Length3:42
LabelFanfare Records
Songwriter(s)Mitch Murray
Peter Callander
Producer(s)Ralf Rene Maue
Sinitta singles chronology
"Lay Me Down Easy"
(1989)		 "Hitchin' a Ride"
(1990)		 "Love and Affection"
(1990)

The song is about a young man who is attempting to hitchhike, since he has no money. The song is noted for its two recorders, first heard in the introduction as well as in the sections between the choruses and the verses.

The song is also noted for its instrumental section, featuring an electric piano, that plays a bass line in repetition, which is accompanied by the piano's upper register, bass, drums, and guitar, which is later heard before the song's fade. The U.S. single edit shortens the ending by eliminating the final repeated lines of "ride, ride" before the song fades out.

"Hitchin' a Ride" sold a million copies in the United States alone, and it became a gold record.[6]

Chart performance (Vanity Fare)

Weekly charts

Sinitta version

"Hitchin' a Ride" was covered by American singer Sinitta. It was released in 1990 as the fifth and final single from her second album Wicked (1989). The song was produced by Ralf Rene Maue. The B-side contains a previously unreleased song "I'm On My Way". This single reached number 24 in the UK,[14] number 19 in Ireland, and number 131 in Australia.[15]

Formats and track listings
7" single
  1. "Hitchin' a Ride" – 3:42
  2. "I'm on My Way" – 3:52
12" single
  1. "Hitchin' a Ride" (extended version) – 6:35
  2. "I'm on My Way" – 3:52
CD single
  1. "Hitchin' a Ride" (extended version) – 6:35
  2. "I'm on My Way" – 3:52
  3. "Hitchin' a Ride" – 3:42

Other cover versions
  • A country music version of the song was released by country singer Jack Reno and reached #12 on the U.S. country chart in 1971.
  • British group Paper Lace adapted their 1974 version as "Hitchin' a Ride '74", though it failed to chart.
  • A 1986 recording by The Replacements is featured on the 2017 live album For Sale: Live at Maxwell's 1986.

See also

References
  1. Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1970
  2. "Big 10 Countdown". WCFL. 1970-05-18. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  3. "Big 10 Countdown (end of the year 1970)". WCFL. 1970-12-28. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  4. "Radio89 Hit Parade". WLS. 1970-06-01. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  5. "Top 89 of 1970". WLS. 1970-12-28. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  6. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 582. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  7. "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
  8. NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, 5 May 1975
  9. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  10. Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 246.
  11. "Top 100 1970-06-27". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2016-01-19.
  12. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". collectionscanada.gc.ca.
  13. "Top 100 Hits of 1970/Top 100 Songs of 1970". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
  14. "The Official Charts Company - Hitchin' A Ride by Sinitta Search". The Official Charts Company. 6 May 2013.
  15. "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry (submitted to charts.mail@aria.com.au), received 15 July 2015". imgur.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
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