After Ocean Rain, Echo sat silent for a spell. This single signals the end of the show. It would be two more years until they released another album, then three, then seven. So fans were left to trot out Horses to keep their bunnycandle lit. The murky B side, “Over Your Shoulder,” wasn’t going to keep the flame alive. But “Bring on the Dancing Horses” sparkled. It was a different chapter than Ocean Rain, with a sunnier disposition, at least in the music. Lyrically, I couldn’t tell you what Ian is on about; could be a broken promise, a broken life, a broken heart. If there’s nothing deeper under the surface, there needn’t be. Of interest, “Bring on the Dancing Horses” appeared in the film Pretty In Pink and was later covered by Simple Minds on 2002’s Neon Lights.
7-inch Single Version
A1. Bring on the Dancing Horses 3:57
B1. Over Your Shoulder 4:03
Tracks 1-2 written by Will Sergeant/Ian McCulloch/Les Pattinson/Pete de Freitas.
7-inch Single (US version)
A1. Bring on the Dancing Horses
B1. Read It In Books
12-inch single
1. Bring on the Dancing Horses (Extended Mix)
2. Bedbugs and Ballyhoo
3. Over Your Shoulder
12-inch single (US promo version)
A1. Bring on the Dancing Horses
B1. Bring on the Dancing Horses (Extended Mix)
The Players
Pete de Freitas, Ian McCulloch, Les Pattinson and Will Sergeant. “Bring on the Dancing Horses” was produced by Laurie Latham, the man behind the glass for Squeeze’s disappointing comeback, Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti.
The Plastic
The single was released on October 1985 as a 7-inch and 12-inch single in the UK (Korova, KOW43/KOW43T), in the US (Sire, 7-28791/PRO-A-2398), in Australia/Canada/Germany (Korova, 24 89337/248 932-0), and in Japan (WEA, P-2043). The UK, US and Japanese singles are avalable with picture sleeves.
