Hard Road (Stevie Wright album)

Hard Road is the debut solo album from Australian singer Stevie Wright. The album's first single "Evie (Part 1)" was hugely successful and the title track was later covered on Rod Stewart's 1974 album Smiler. The album itself reach #2 on the Australian albums charts in 1974 was the 16th highest selling album in Australia that year. The compact disc is currently out-of-print and has become quite rare. A digital edition was available on iTunes as of June, 2014.

Hard Road
Studio album by
Stevie Wright
ReleasedApril 5, 1974
Recorded1973
Genre
Label
Producer
Stevie Wright chronology
Hard Road
(1974)		 Black Eyed Bruiser
(1975)
Singles from Hard Road
  1. "Evie (Part 1)"
    Released: 1974
  2. "Hard Road/Guitar Band"
    Released: 1974
Alternative covers
The Polydor Records release cover.
Alternative cover
The Atco Records release cover.
Alternative cover
The CD reissue cover and iTunes album artwork.

Background

In 1973, Harry Vanda and George Young returned to Australia after a period working in London paying off debts incurred while working as the Easybeats. They renewed their partnership with Albert Productions and as in-house producers began assembling a roster of artists for the label, among them their former Easybeats bandmate Stevie Wright.[1][2][3]

Work soon commenced on an album with Wright, with Vanda and Young assembling a backing group that included themselves, pianist Warren Morgan of The Aztecs, and Malcolm Young, George's younger brother and the rhythm guitarist for AC/DC, on guitar.[4] Wright wrote six songs for the album, while Vanda and Young wrote the remainder, including the title track and the three part "Evie".

Alternative covers

There are four different album covers for the album: The original Australian release, the Polydor release, the Atco release and the Australian compact disc reissue cover (which also serves as the artwork for the digital edition).

Re-issued vinyl

Hard Road was scheduled to be re-released worldwide on high quality, 180 mg vinyl for maximum dynamic and authenticity, April 19, 2014 through Albert Productions (Alberts). Renowned mastering expert Don Bartley converted the original analogue tapes to new vinyl masters, on vintage and retooled analogue gear.

Track listing

Side 1
  1. "Hard Road" (Harry Vanda - George Young) - 3:02
  2. "Life Gets Better" (Stevie Wright) - 3:10
  3. "The Other Side" (Stevie Wright) - 2:32
  4. "I Got You Good" (Stevie Wright) - 3:16
  5. "Dancing in the Limelight" (Stevie Wright) - 2:36
  6. "Didn't I Take You Higher" (Harry Vanda, George Young) - 5:57

Side 2
  1. "Evie" - 11:01
    Part 1 (Let Your Hair Down) (Harry Vanda, George Young)
    Part 2 (Evie) (Harry Vanda, George Young)
    Part 3 (I'm Losing You) (Harry Vanda, George Young)
  2. "Movin' On Up" (Stevie Wright) - 3:16
  3. "Commando Line" (Stevie Wright) - 3:58

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (1974) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 2

Year-end charts
Chart (1974) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] 16

References
  1. "MILESAGO - Groups & Solo Artists - Stevie Wright:". Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-01-13. Retrieved 2015-12-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Rocker's long fall from the top". www.theaustralian.com.au. 12 March 2010.
  4. Tait, John (2010). Vanda & Young. Sydney: University of New South Wales Press. ISBN 978 1 74223 217 1. p. 144
  5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 426. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
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