Cannonball (Supertramp song)
"Cannonball" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Supertramp | ||||
from the album Brother Where You Bound | ||||
B-side | "Ever Open Door" | |||
Released | 1985 | |||
Genre | Progressive rock, jazz rock[1] | |||
Length | 4:47 (single version) 7:38 (album version) 7:42 (12-inch Direct-To-Disc"Audiophile"Version) 10:00 (12-inch Instrumental version) | |||
Label | A&M | |||
Songwriter(s) | Rick Davies | |||
Producer(s) | Supertramp, David Kershenbaum | |||
Supertramp singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Cannonball" on YouTube |
"Cannonball" is the opening track from Supertramp's 1985 album Brother Where You Bound.
Overview[]
"Cannonball" was written and sung by keyboardist Rick Davies entirely in the chord of G minor. Davies stated in an interview "I did it simply to see if it could be done".
The lyrics to the song may have been seen as a veiled message to former member Roger Hodgson but Davies revealed in a French radio interview that they were inspired by a less than perfect concert promoter whom he refused to name.[citation needed]
The track became Supertramp's last US Top 40 single to date, peaking at number 28 on the Billboard singles charts in July 1985.[2] It also crossed over to the dance charts, peaking at number nine.
On the flip side of the 12-inch release is a 10-minute instrumental version of the song.[3] Near the LP version's fade-out, the brass play a citation of the Jazz tune Topsy.
The promo video was directed by Steve Barron and depicted a caveman who goes from his home to modern day Grand Junction, CO to see the band rehearsing the song on stage.
Personnel[]
- Rick Davies: piano, synthesizers, vocals
- John Helliwell: saxophones
- Bob Siebenberg: drums
- Dougie Thomson: bass
- Marty Walsh: guitar
- Doug Wintz: trombone
Chart performance[]
Chart (1985) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (KMR)[4] | 63 |
Dutch Top 40[5] | 35 |
German Singles Chart[6] | 60 |
Swiss Singles Chart[7] | 25 |
US Billboard Hot 100[8] | 28 |
US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks[8] | 4 |
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[8] | 9 |
References[]
- ^ Adams, Bret. Brother Where You Bound at AllMusic. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
- ^ "The Hot 100 Chart".
- ^ "Supertramp – Cannonball (1985, Vinyl)".
- ^ Australian Chart Book (1970-1992) - David Kent pp301
- ^ "De Nederlandse Top 40, week 26, 1985". Archived from the original on 18 May 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
- ^ "Chartverfolgung / Supertramp / Single". Music Line (in German). Germany: Media Control Charts. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- ^ "hitparade.ch". Retrieved 19 November 2008.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "billboard.com Supertramp chart history". Retrieved 19 November 2008.
External links[]
- Supertramp songs
- 1985 singles
- Songs written by Rick Davies
- 1985 songs
- A&M Records singles