Way Out West (song)

"Way Out West" is the debut single by Australian band The Dingoes. It was released in October 1973 and peaked in the top 40 of the Australian Kent Music Report singles chart[1] and reached number 26 in Melbourne.[2] The song became the band's signature tune.[2]

"Way Out West"
Single by The Dingoes
from the album The Dingoes
ReleasedOctober 1973
Format7" Vinyl,
Recorded1973
GenreRock, Country
Length3:15
LabelMushroom
Songwriter(s)The Dingoes
Producer(s)The Dingoes & John French
The Dingoes singles chronology
"Way Out West"
(1973)		 "Boy on the Run"
(1974)

Lyrics

The song explains the fly-in fly-out (often abbreviated FIFO) life of mining in Australia, telling the story of a man who has left his job and wife in the city to work for a company drilling for oil and enjoys "living and a working on the land".

Music

“Way Out West” is set in the Key of G.[3]

Charts
Chart (1973) Position
Australia (Kent Music Report) 40

James Blundell & James Reyne version
"Way Out West"
Single by James Blundell & James Reyne
from the album This Road & The Best
Released22 March 1992
FormatCD Single
Recorded1991
GenreRock, Country
Length4:03
LabelEMI
Songwriter(s)The Dingoes
Producer(s)James Reyne
James Reyne singles chronology
"Some People"
(1992)		 "Way Out West"
(1992)		 "Red Light Avenue"
(1994)

In 1991, Australian country artists James Blundell and James Reyne recorded a version that became a huge hit in Australia the following year, peaking at number two on the ARIA Singles Chart. It was the highest-charting single for both singers.

At the APRA Music Awards of 1992 the song won Country Song of the Year.[4]

Chart performance

“Way Out West” debuted at number 28 on 29 March 1992. The next week, it entered the top 10, then reached its peak of number two on 26 April, kept off the top spot by "Under the Bridge" by Red Hot Chili Peppers for two weeks.[5] It remained in the top 10 for four more weeks and the top 50 for a further three weeks.

Track listing

CD Single[6]

  1. James Blundell & James Reyne – “Way Out West” (4:03)
  2. James Blundell – “She Won't Let You Down” (4:05)
  3. James Reyne – “Long Yard Rider” (2:14)
  • EMI 436016-2 (EMI) [au] / EAN 5099943601622

Credits
  • Bass – Brett Goldsmith
  • Drums – Davey Porter
  • Guitar – Mark Punch, Paul Gildea
  • Harmonica – Justin Brady
  • Keyboards – Lee Borkman

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (1992) Position
Australia (ARIA)[7] 2

Year-end charts
Chart (1992) Position
Australia (ARIA)[8] 22
Australian Artist Singles Chart (ARIA) 4

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[9] Gold 35,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

Other versions

Adam Brand and the Outlaws covered the song on the 2016 album Adam Brand and the Outlaws.

References
  1. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988
  2. Guest, Thomas J (1991). Thirty Years of Hits 1960–1990 - Melbourne Top 40 research. Collingwood, Vic: M J Maloney. ISBN 0-646-04633-0.
  3. "WAY OUT WEST Chords - James Reyne". E-Chords. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  4. "1992 APRA MUSIC AWARD WINNERS". APRA AMCOs. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  5. "Single Top 50 26/04/1992". Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  6. "James Blundell & James Reyne – Way Out West". Discogs. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  7. "Australian-charts.com – James Blundell and James Reyne – Way Out West". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  8. "ARIA Charts – End of year 1992". ARIA. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  9. "1992 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
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