Big Country might have arrived in the early 1980s, but the band was never really New Wave. There was more of Thin Lizzy to them than post-punk brutishness. Their melodies revealed that as well.
Many got to know them from their massive-selling single, "In a Big Country," but never chose to explore further. That song was magnificent, sure, but the group had an excellent run of albums at the beginning of their career.
Unfortunately, the struggle that vocalist/guitarist Stuart Adamson sang about was real. He committed suicide in 2001, leaving behind a catalog of music that should not be easily dismissed.
Big Country was far more than one-hit wonders
"Look Away" (1986)
From the album The Seer, this song, not "In a Big Country," was the group's highest-charting song in the UK (it reached No. 7), but it failed to chart in the United States. For the most part, Americans didn't seem to grasp the band's thick sound, which was somewhat built on bagpipes.
But this is the song that should have done much better in the US, as it is a driving rock anthem with a sing-along chorus. The track remains as vibrant 40 years after its initial release.
"Chance" (1983)
Another song with a sing-along chorus, but one that is overall extremely different from "Look Away." Instead, this is a reflective tune with brilliant lyrics. The latter was one of the best-kept secrets of a band that deserves far more love outside its native UK.
The track only has three verses, but each hits home, followed by the bittersweet chorus that is achingly beautiful. No one really sounded like Big Country, and the truth is, no one still does.
"East of Eden" (1984)
The final two songs on this list come from the band's second album, Steeltown, which is arguably richer than the excellent debut, The Crossing. Both are excellent, but the former offers a bit more nuance, especially the remastered version, which has less muddy production. The odd part is that Steve Lillywhite was at the helm and surprisingly didn't do a very good job.
"East of Eden" is a great example of the album it's on, though. These are songs about happiness, but about having to constantly search for hope. The vocals bounce off the lyrics while the underlying music hints at bits of doom. The contrast makes everything work.
"Steeltown" (1984)
Written about the real town of Corby, England, the track is straightforward about the boom and bust of an English steel town; many of the factories were worked by transplanted Scots. Unfortunately, by 1980, many of the factories had closed, and people became jobless and homeless.
The song is more story than verse-verse-chorus, but that is exactly how it should be. The despair is real, and the pain is felt.
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