View source for Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song)

{{short description|1990 song by Inga}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song)
| cover      = Inga Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song) 1990 single cover.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Inga Humpe|Inga]]
| album      = [[Planet Oz]]
| B-side     = I Get Along
| released   = 18 June 1990
| recorded   =
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      =
| length     = 3:43
| label      = [[East West Records|East West]]
| writer     = [[Trevor Horn]]
| producer   = Trevor Horn
| prev_title = [[Somethin' Stupid|Something Stupid]]
| prev_year  = 1989
| next_title = Do I Have To
| next_year  = 1991
}}
"'''Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song)'''" is a song by the German singer [[Inga Humpe]], released by [[East West Records|East West]] on 18 June 1990 as the second single from her debut solo studio album, ''[[Planet Oz]]''. The song was written and produced by [[Trevor Horn]]. It reached number 93 in the [[UK Singles Chart]].
==Background==
Inga was introduced to [[Trevor Horn]] at a studio in London through her producer, [[Andy Richards]], and they soon ran into one another again at other studios. On one occasion, Horn played "Riding into Blue" to Inga on a guitar and she immediately expressed interest in recording it.<ref>{{cite AV media |people=Inga Humpe |date=1990 |title=Interview |medium=TV music programme |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBI-4FywG80 |via=YouTube |access-date=29 November 2024}}</ref> Horn originally wrote the melody of "Riding into Blue" around 1975, but it was not used at the time.<ref name="West Lancashire Evening Gazette">{{cite news |last=George |first=Iestyn |title=Inga thing a hit |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005252/19900630/139/0027 |newspaper=[[West Lancashire Evening Gazette]] |date=30 June 1990 |page=26 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=29 November 2024}}</ref>
==Release==
"Riding into Blue" was released as a single in the UK on 18 June 1990.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=New Singles |magazine=[[Music Week]] |date=16 June 1990 |page=31 |issn=0265-1548}}</ref> It was originally scheduled for a UK and European release during May 1990. A release in the United States was also planned through [[Atlantic Records]], but did not come to fruition.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Spotlight on Germany: What's New |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=14 July 1990 |publisher=Billboard Publications, Inc. |volume=102 |issue=28 |page=G-2 |issn=0006-2510}}</ref> In the UK, the song achieved some radio play, but reached no higher than number 93 in the UK charts and remained in the top 100 for three weeks.<ref>{{cite news |last=Jerome |first=Helen M |title=Inga's lament |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/718089761/ |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=14 February 1991 |page=12 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=29 November 2024}}</ref>
==Music video==
The song's music video was directed by Mike Owen.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.zttaat.com/video.php?title=1167 |title=Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song) - Videography |publisher=zttaat.com |access-date=29 November 2024}}</ref>
==Critical reception==
Upon its release, pan-European magazine ''[[Music & Media]]'' wrote, "With a bassline stolen from [[the Who]]'s '[[A Quick One, While He's Away]]' and layered with synthesizer patterns and spaghetti-western tunes, this is an interesting number."<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Previews: Singles |magazine=[[Music & Media]] |date=9 June 1990 |volume=7 |issue=23 |page=18 |oclc=29800226}}</ref> Tim Nicholson of ''[[Record Mirror]]'' remarked that Inga "trots through an ambling tune that conjures up images of tumbleweed towns and chaps in chaps". He encouraged readers to "look to the 12-inch for the complete wild west story".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Nicholson |first=Tim |title=Singles |magazine=[[Record Mirror]] |date=23 June 1990 |page=12 |issn=0144-5804}}</ref> John Morgan of the ''[[Derby Telegraph|Derby Evening Telegraph]]'' noted, "The song opens with a nifty, swinging rhythm and Inga's sweet vocal harmony parts adding an air of intrigue to what sounds at first to be a countryish number. But the piece offers much more than that, and develops an almost surreal aura."<ref>{{cite news |last=Morgan |first=John |title=Rock 'n' Pops: Magic moments as Dusty bridges gap |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000521/19900616/148/0016 |newspaper=[[Derby Telegraph|Derby Evening Telegraph]] |date=16 June 1990 |page=16 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=29 November 2024}}</ref> [[Iestyn George]], writing for the ''[[Blackpool Gazette]]'', called it the "latest in a line of ambient dance tracks, calming the nerves while still managing to provoke considerable movement on the dance floor".<ref name="West Lancashire Evening Gazette"/>
==Track listing==
'''7–inch single (UK and Europe)'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song) |others=[[Inga Humpe|Inga]] |year=1990 |type=UK 7-inch single sleeve |publisher=[[East West Records]] |id=YZ444, 9031-71659-7}}</ref>
#"Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song)" – 3:42
#"I Get Along" – 3:43
'''12–inch single (UK and Europe)'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song) |others=[[Inga Humpe|Inga]] |year=1990 |type=UK and European 12-inch single sleeve |publisher=[[East West Records]] |id=YZ444TX, 9031 71661-0}}</ref>
#"Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song)" (Kiss My Horse Mix) – 5:15
#"Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song)" – 3:43
#"I Get Along" – 3:43
'''12–inch single (UK and Europe)'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song) |others=[[Inga Humpe|Inga]] |year=1990 |type=UK and European 12-inch single sleeve |publisher=[[East West Records]] |id=YZ444T, 9031-71660-0, 9031-71466-0}}</ref>
#"Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song)" (Sun Electric Mix) – 8:30
#"Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song)" (Destry Rides Again) – 7:42
#"I Get Along" – 3:43
'''CD single (UK and Europe)'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song) |others=[[Inga Humpe|Inga]] |year=1990 |type=UK and European CD single sleeve |publisher=[[East West Records]] |id=YZ444CD, 9031-71662-2}}</ref>
#"Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song)" – 3:43
#"Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song)" (Sun Electric Mix) – 4:45
#"Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song)" (Destry Rides Again) – 7:25
#"I Get Along" – 3:42
'''CD single (Europe)'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song) |others=[[Inga Humpe|Inga]] |year=1990 |type=European CD single sleeve |publisher=[[East West Records]] |id=9031-71466-2}}</ref>
#"Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song)" (Sun Electric Mix) – 8:34
#"Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song)" (Destry Rides Again) – 7:25
#"I Get Along" – 3:45
==Personnel==
'''"Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song)"'''
* [[Inga Humpe]] – vocals
* George De Angelis – keyboards, drum programming
* Billy Liesegang – guitars
* [[Lol Creme]] – rhythm guitar, 'who's the loner' vocals
* [[Geoff Dugmore]] – drum programming
* [[Pete Glenister]] – end guitar riff
* [[Trevor Horn]] – 'some little inconsequential knick knacks'
'''Production'''
* Trevor Horn – production ("Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song)")
* Pete Schwier – engineering and mixing ("Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song)")
* [[Tim Weidner]] – additional engineering ("Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song)")
* Steve Fitzmaurice – assistant engineering ("Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song)")
* Richard Edwards – assistant engineering ("Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song)")
* Peter Frith – assistant engineering ("Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song)")
* Danton Supple – assistant engineering ("Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song)")
* Fischerman's Friend – production ("I Get Along"), remixing ("Kiss My Horse Mix", "Sun Electric Mix")
* [[Thomas Fehlmann]] – production ("I Get Along"), remixing ("Kiss My Horse Mix", "Sun Electric Mix")
==Charts==
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Chart (1990)
!Peak<br />position
|-
{{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|93|artist=Inga|song=Riding into Blue (Cowboy Song)|artistid=26364|rowheader=true|access-date=29 November 2024}}
|}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:1990 songs]]
[[Category:1990 singles]]
[[Category:East West Records singles]]
[[Category:Songs written by Trevor Horn]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Trevor Horn]]