I'm Not Ashamed (song)

Last updated
"I'm Not Ashamed"
Big Country I'm Not Ashamed 1995 single cover.jpg
Single by Big Country
from the album Why the Long Face
Released30 May 1995 [1]
Length
  • 4:12 (album version)
  • 3:44 (single version)
Label Transatlantic
Songwriter(s) Stuart Adamson
Producer(s)
Big Country singles chronology
"The One I Love"
(1993)		"I'm Not Ashamed"
(1995)		"You Dreamer"
(1995)

"I'm Not Ashamed" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, released in 1995 as the lead single from their seventh studio album Why the Long Face . It was written by Stuart Adamson, and produced by Big Country and Chris Sheldon. [2] "I'm Not Ashamed" reached number 69 in the UK Singles Chart. [3]

Contents

Background

Speaking to the Weekly Post & Free Press Recorder in 1995, Adamson said of the song's lyrics, "Lyrics come to you at the most bizarre times. I was out for a run in Lincolnshire, and all of a sudden I'd got this lyric. I ran back to the studio where we were recording and wrote the entire lyric for 'I'm Not Ashamed'." [4]

In 2006, bassist Tony Butler described "I'm Not Ashamed" as a "great anthemic track" and added, "I always felt that the lyrics were too sophisticated to be a single, but it does have some of my favourite chord progressions in the intro section." [5]

Release

"I'm Not Ashamed" was released by Transatlantic on 30 May 1995 in the UK only. The single's release date was postponed a number of times. Approximately 2,000 copies reached the shops a week before the finalised 30 May release date due to an administrative error and this resulted in the first week of sales not counting towards the chart position. It also resulted in both editions of the CD single being released at the same time, rather than one a week after the other. [1] [6] Upon its release, "I'm Not Ashamed" received limited airplay on national radio but was more successful in generating plays on regional stations. [1]

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Desmond Webb and produced by Marc Wilkinson for Frontline Films. [7]

Critical reception

Upon its release as a single, The Dumfries and Galloway Standard described "I'm Not Ashamed" as "typically Stuart Adamson" and added, "It's big on guitars, chorus and heart, but you can't help feeling that it's also behind the times. Nevertheless, a listenable blast from the past for the band's original and now aging fans." [8] Simon Williams of NME was negative in his review, calling it a "glutinous slab of life's-what-you-make-it cod philosophy". [9]

In a review of Why the Long Face, Jerry Ewing of Metal Hammer wrote, "Why the Long Face is all muscular riffs, rock solid rhythms and singalong chorus[es]. The opening salvo of 'You Dreamer', 'Message of Love' and 'I'm Not Ashamed' set out the band's agenda perfectly; rousing hard rock in the finest British tradition that remains evergreen and peerless." [10] Allan Glen, in his 2011 book Stuart Adamson: In a Big Country, considered the song "lyrically very dark and introspective" which was "completely at odds with the British music press" who were "preoccupied with the loud, brash and life-affirming sounds of Britpop". [11]

In a review of the 2018 deluxe edition of Why the Long Face, the Hartlepool Mail described both "I'm Not Ashamed" and its follow-up "You Dreamer" as being "the equal of most of [the band's] more celebrated back catalogue, but made little impact [at the time]". [12] Peter Roche of AXS noted the song's "reflections on personal triumphs and private travails". [13] John Bergstrom of PopMatters considered it to be a "chunky rock number" on which the band "come across like Living Colour". [14]

Track listing

Cassette and CD single

  1. "I'm Not Ashamed" (Single Edit) – 3:44
  2. "One in a Million" (1st Visit) – 5:20
  3. "Monday Tuesday Girl" – 3:55
  4. "I'm Not Ashamed" (Full Version) – 4:12

CD single #2

  1. "I'm Not Ashamed" (Single Edit) – 3:44
  2. "Crazytimes" – 4:05
  3. "Big Country" – 3:16
  4. "Blue on a Green Planet" (Cool Version) – 4:40

Personnel

Big Country

Production

Charts

Chart (1995)Peak
position
UK Singles Chart [3] 69

Related Research Articles

<i>The Crossing</i> (Big Country album) 1983 studio album by Big Country

The Crossing is the debut album released by Scottish band Big Country in July 1983. The album reached #3 in the UK; overseas, it hit #4 in Canada on the RPM national Top Albums Chart and #18 in the US on the Billboard 200 in 1983. It went on to be certified platinum in the UK and Canada. It contains the song "In a Big Country" which is their only U.S. Top 40 hit single.

<i>The Seer</i> (Big Country album) 1986 studio album by Big Country

The Seer is the third studio album by the Scottish band Big Country, released in 1986. The album featured very traditional Scottish musical settings, reminiscent of the band's debut album The Crossing (1983). Kate Bush worked on the title song in a duet with lead singer and lyricist Stuart Adamson. The album's first single, "Look Away", was an Irish number one, and was also the group's biggest hit single in the UK, reaching #7.

<i>Why the Long Face</i> (album) 1995 studio album by Big Country

Why the Long Face is the seventh studio album by Scottish band Big Country, released in 1995. It was produced by Chris Sheldon and members of the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Country</span> Scottish rock band

Big Country are a Scottish rock band formed in Dunfermline, Fife, in 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fields of Fire (song)</span> 1983 single by Big Country

"Fields of Fire" is one of the biggest hits by the Scottish rock band Big Country. It was first released in the United Kingdom in 1983 as the second single from the band's debut album The Crossing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Save Me (Big Country song)</span> 1990 single by Big Country

"Save Me" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, released in 1990 as a single from their compilation album Through a Big Country: Greatest Hits. The song was written by Stuart Adamson and produced by Tim Palmer. It reached number 41 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for three weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King of Emotion</span> 1988 single by Big Country

"King of Emotion" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, released in 1988 as the lead single from their fourth studio album Peace in Our Time. It was written by Stuart Adamson and produced by Peter Wolf. "King of Emotion" reached number 16 in the UK Singles Chart. In the US, it reached number 11 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 20 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East of Eden (Big Country song)</span> 1984 single by Big Country

"East of Eden" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, which was released in 1984 as the lead single from their second studio album Steeltown. It was written by Big Country and produced by Steve Lillywhite. "East of Eden" reached No. 17 in the UK, and No. 12 in Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Teacher (song)</span> 1986 single by Big Country

"The Teacher" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, which was released in 1986 as the second single from their third studio album The Seer. It was written by Stuart Adamson and produced by Robin Millar. "The Teacher" reached No. 28 in the UK, and No. 14 in Ireland. A music video was filmed to promote the single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ships (Where Were You)</span> 1993 single by Big Country

"Ships (Where Were You)" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, written by Stuart Adamson (lyrics, music) and Bruce Watson (music). The song was originally recorded for and included on the band's fifth studio album No Place Like Home (1991). It was then re-recorded for their following album, The Buffalo Skinners (1993), and released as the album's second single. "Ships (Where Were You)" reached number 29 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 75 for three weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alone (Big Country song)</span> 1993 single by Big Country

"Alone" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, released in 1993 as the lead single from their sixth studio album The Buffalo Skinners. It was written by Stuart Adamson and produced by Big Country. "Alone" reached number 24 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for three weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The One I Love (Big Country song)</span> 1993 single by Big Country

"The One I Love" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, released in 1993 as the third and final single from their sixth studio album, The Buffalo Skinners. It was written by Stuart Adamson and Bruce Watson, and was produced by Big Country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fragile Thing</span> 1999 single by Big Country featuring Eddi Reader

"Fragile Thing" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, released in 1999 as the lead single from their eighth studio album Driving to Damascus. It was written by Stuart Adamson and Bruce Watson, and produced by Rafe McKenna and Big Country. "Fragile Thing" reached number 69 in the UK Singles Chart. A music video was filmed to promote the single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Republican Party Reptile (song)</span> 1991 single by Big Country

"Republican Party Reptile" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, released by Vertigo in 1991 as an extended play from their fifth studio album No Place Like Home. It was written by Stuart Adamson and Bruce Watson, and produced by Pat Moran. The "Republican Party Reptile" EP reached No. 37 in the UK and remained in the charts for two weeks. A music video was filmed to promote the EP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peace in Our Time (Big Country song)</span> 1989 single by Big Country

"Peace in Our Time" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, released in 1989 as the third and final single from their fourth studio album Peace in Our Time (1988). It was written by Stuart Adamson and produced by Peter Wolf. "Peace in Our Time" reached number 39 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for three weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beautiful People (Big Country song)</span> 1991 single by Big Country

"Beautiful People" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, which was released in 1991 as the second and final single from their fifth studio album No Place Like Home. It was written by Stuart Adamson and produced by Pat Moran. "Beautiful People" reached No. 72 on the UK Singles Chart, and No. 36 on the BBC's Heavy Metal/Rock chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heart of the World (song)</span> 1990 single by Big Country

"Heart of the World" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, released in 1990 as a non-album single. It was written by Stuart Adamson and produced by Tim Palmer. "Heart of the World" reached number 50 on the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for three weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Dreamer</span> 1995 single by Big Country

"You Dreamer" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, which was released in 1995 as the second and final single from their seventh studio album Why the Long Face. It was written by Stuart Adamson, and produced by Big Country and Chris Sheldon. "You Dreamer" reached No. 68 on the UK Singles Chart.

<i>Non!</i> (Big Country EP) 1995 EP by Big Country

Non! is an extended play by Scottish rock band Big Country, which was released in the UK in 1995 as an action awareness record for Greenpeace. Non! reached No. 77 in the UK Singles Chart in December 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somebody Else (Big Country song)</span> 2000 single by Big Country

"Somebody Else" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, released in 2000 as the third and final single from their eighth studio album Driving to Damascus (1999). The song was written by Stuart Adamson and Ray Davies, and was produced by Rafe McKenna and Big Country. "Somebody Else" reached number 126 in the UK Singles Chart and was the band's final single release prior to lead vocalist and guitarist Stuart Adamson's suicide in 2001.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Country Club Issue 34 - Page 2". Bigcountryinfo.com. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  2. ↑ "Why the Long Face - Big Country | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 1995-09-05. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  3. 1 2 "BIG COUNTRY | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  4. ↑ "Win the chance to see Big Country" . Weekly Post & Free Press Recorder. Huddersfield. 8 June 1995. p. 18. Retrieved 22 July 2023– via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ↑ "Why The Long Face (notes)". Bigcountryinfo.com. 2006-11-05. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  6. ↑ "Big Country - THE HISTORY OF BIG COUNTRY by Scottish Music Network". Scottishmusicnetwork.co.uk. 2001-06-12. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  7. ↑ "I'm Not Ashamed (notes)". Bigcountryinfo.com. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  8. ↑ "Music review: Big Country - I'm Not Ashamed" . The Dumfries and Galloway Standard . 2 June 1995. p. 22. Retrieved 22 July 2023– via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ↑ Williams, Simon (27 May 1995). "Singles". New Musical Express . p. 45. ISSN   0028-6362.
  10. ↑ Ewing, Jerry (June 1995). "Album Reviews". Metal Hammer .
  11. ↑ Glen, Allan (2011). Stuart Adamson: In a Big Country . Polygon. p.  156. ISBN   978-1846971914.
  12. ↑ "Big Country - Why The Long Face - 4CD boxset reviewed". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  13. ↑ Peter Roche (2018-06-28). "Overlooked Big Country album gets magnificent makeover". AXS. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  14. ↑ Bergstrom, John (2018-06-28). "Big Country tried to redefine themselves on 'Why the Long Face'". PopMatters . Retrieved 2020-04-23.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.