Big Country - Giant (original full length version)

When Big Country released Wonderland in 1984, for most territories around the world, it was backed by an instrumental track, 'Giant.'
This was a completely new instrumental recorded at the same time as Wonderland and as with that song, it was also produced by Steve Lillywhite.
The interesting thing is, however, that there are three different versions of it!
There is what I would call the original version you find in this clip (making its KZbin debut) which has a run time of 5.19. This is the version with the percussive intro. A version of the song was also released without the percussive intro perhaps in an effort to trim total running time of what it was released with, and that has a run time of 5.06. A third, and slightly different version also was mixed with a run time of 3.56, making it the shortest of the three and the main one that has been uploaded to KZbin.
The mystery of it all is where which particular version of the b-side ended up on the original releases:
- Full length version (5.19) - 7" single & 12" ltd edtn clear vinyl (later on the Singles Collection Volume 1 (blue box))
- Non percussive intro version (5.06) - 12" singles worldwide except France, Germany and The Netherlands
- Short remix version (3.56) - Germany and Netherlands 7" and 12" singles (and subsequently added to various compilation albums and the 2014 Steeltown Deluxe)
The smallest sized records received the longest version!
What is also of interest is that the short remix version was seemingly the version used for the foundation of All Fall Together when it was recorded in early to mid 1984. Its sonic properties are an almost identical match with that song.
So there you have it! One b-side - three versions - and depending on where in the world you bought it and on what formats, you may be far more familiar with one version of it over another.
A wonder(land)fully detailed piece on Big Country's fifth single has just been published by my good friend and 'The Great Divide - The Big Country Podcast' co-host Svein B Hjorthaug on his Rocking in the Norselands page - check it out here:
norselandsrock...
And, as always, Stay Alive!

[@walewskimusic1504]

So many layers of drums! Love it!

[@Mudge07]

UK 12” standard vinyl version, this one is familiar to my ears, it’s raining drums!

[@denhayward8631]

This is epic 😊 Thank you, Andy

[@garrymathers9]

Altogether now..we will all fall together the black sky and the rain you can laugh and i will sing we changed for ever

[@peterkalisch602]

thanks for uploading this!

[@aarlevanbram]

I do remember being in a record store en the owner was fond of Big Country. He had two versions of the 12" of Wonderland. Phonogram (Philips) Loved to play them all winter long! They got lost but luckily Etsuko from Japan did send me both about ten years ago.

[@philipthompson8525]

A Classic, Cheers.

[@paulsmith2516]

I love this, Mark hitting AAAALLLL da drums lol. I don't know this but it really does sound like an early something that would have gone in to the Restless Natives soundtrack but was just a bit too bombastic for the tone of the film. There really are a lot of echoes of the incidental music of that soundtrack with the acoustic guitar and the lead line tone. Anybody else know or am I just making this nonsense up, I dunno 😆🖤🤍❤😆

[@tadada90125]

Thank you for your upload, Andy! It was a wonder(land)ful morning with your post.

[@adriannugara4849]

Would love to hear this live

[@SteveFBS]

We will all fall together...a black sky in the rain....

[@tabazan9182]

❤❤❤❤

[@jaford2]

So much better than the remix! Sold my 12" for a pittance along with all the others, but never transferred this to digital... 😢

[@briandonnelly8749]

EPIC

[@kickapootrackers7255]

👍🏹🔥 preciate ya

[@tstieber]

This is the version I'm most used to but don't recall which release I must have had. I'm actually thinking I'll have to see if this isn't also on the Japanese box set...

[@BC1000Stars]

You’re absolutely correct, Tom. This is the version added to that release (but mislabeled on the rear cover as All Fall Together)

[@philipthompson8525]

Stu_was_Art

[@philipthompson8525]

Where's The Stuart Adamson Coin ,Then mint And Post Office

[@arthurassfuk2182]

Why is Mark Brutalski still in this band? Big Country should fire him immediately. Don't get me wrong, I love Mark Brutalski and he's a great drummer, but his drumming style is way too brutal for Big Country. Just listen to Porrohman, Eiledon, Grace, In A Broken Promise Land, Home Of The Brave or this song and you will realize they brutality of Mark Brutalski's drumming. What Big Country needs is a female drummer, because female drummers can't play with brutal force. Except for female drummers in metal bands. As a new drummer for Big Country I would recommend Sina Doering aka Sina Drums from Germany. Her drumming style is so soft and beautiful, it could make little babies sleep. Before someone says something, I know that his real name is Mark Brzezicki, but he should change his name to Mark Brutalski because of the brutality of his drumming style.

[@JAIstarkillerkid]

This is sarcasm right? These days, you sometimes need to ask.

[@briandonnelly8749]

I can't beilve wh.at I have just read .some people 😪 ..Mark is Big country and admired my many artist's..he played with tons of musicians. Intact I think he's to good for the current line up of BC

[@briandonnelly8749]

@@JAIstarkillerkid an early April fools joke lol