The Road was one of the few “brand new” songs written for Raw, the version that appears on the remaster of Raw released in 2000 as part of the Alarm 2000 collection, is the original unreleased album session mix as conceived by The Alarm. When Miles Copeland (President of IRS Records), heard the demo tape that Eddie Macdonald and I had recorded in my house in Wales at the time of writing, he wanted the Alarm to record it immediately so he could release it as part of the 1990 Standards compilation. When he heard this new Alarm version, he wasn’t convinced it was as good as the demo, so he had the track re-mixed by Mick Glossop (who had produced The Stand way back in 1983). Mick Glossop had Dave Sharp add a couple of extra guitar lines and I did some more backing vocals at the Townhouse Studios, London. Miles Copeland liked the remix and subsequently used The Road to open Standards and IRS also released the songs as a radio single in America. As a result, we decided to leave the track off Raw even though it was central to the overall concept, feel and musical direction of the album – Mike Peters – Alarm 2000 Collection sleeve notes
The version of The Road first appeared on the Standards album released in November 1990.
Recording details of the 1990 Standards release version.
Running length 3:14
Written by Macdonald / Peters
Musicians
Mike Peters – Lead vocals, acoustic guitar & harmonica
Dave Sharp – Electric guitar & backing vocals
Eddie Macdonald – Bass guitar & backing vocals
Nigel Twist – Drums & backing vocals
Recorded 28th July 1990 at Amazon Studios, Liverpool, England.
Produced & by The Alarm. Engineered by Mark Pythian and Rob Storm.
Fan Comments/Memories ………..
It’s certainly more ‘traditional Alarm’ song than most of RAW – Shaun Finnie
One of my all time faves and a tune I always had in my running playlist. My “wheels” burned up plenty of miles listening to this – Scott Jackson
I think many of us had been waiting for the band to make a song like this since Strength. This gave me high hopes for Raw, which, it was planned for – Jeff Fulton
Alternative studio recording releases – acoustic, remaster
1997 – Mike Peters – Acoustic Works 1987-1991
Running length: 1:44
Musicians
Mike Peters – Vocals & acoustic guitar
Recorded in 1997 by Gethyn Evans at Mountain & Sea Studios, Wales
Produced by Michael Peters
2000 – The Alarm – The Alarm 2000 Collection Box Set : Raw 1990-1991 [Remastered]
Running length: 3:46
Musicians
Mike Peters – Lead vocals, acoustic guitar & harmonica
Dave Sharp – Electric guitar & backing vocals
Eddie Macdonald – Bass guitar & backing vocals
Nigel Twist – Drums & backing vocals
Band Mix, remastered from the 1989 original recording by Mike Peters
Remastering Engineered by Gary Butler @ RTS Liverpool in 2000
Album appearances and discography for studio versions
All the following are Worldwide releases except where stated
13th November 1990 – The Alarm – Standards – IRS Records vinyl EIRSA1043, cassette EIRSC1043, CD EIRSCD1043 (UK Release) Original 1990 recording
Standards was also released on vinyl, cassette and CD in Europe. Vinyl and CD in Australia. Vinyl and cassette Italy. CD and cassette USA, Canada. Vinyl only South Korea. CD only Japan.
1997 – Mike Peters – Acoustic Works 1987-1991 – Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number No. 21C005. (CD) 1997 Mountain & Sea, Wales Acoustic Recording.
2000 – The Alarm – Raw (1990-1991) – Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C016 (CD). Appearing as part of the Alarm 2000 collection box set and then later as an individual disc. 1990 Band mix recording remastered.
2002 – Mike Peters – Acoustic Alarm Standards – CD (Conspiracy Music – Catalogue Number CM0014) (USA only release) 1997 Mountain & Sea, Wales Acoustic Recording.
Single appearances and discography for studio versions
October 1990 – The Alarm – The Road – IRS Records Promotional CD single. Also released as a cassette single. Original 1990 recording
.
Officially Released Live Recordings – Audio
All the following are Worldwide releases on Twenty First Century Recording Company
(Except where stated)
24th May 1991. Recorded live at Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles, California, USA
Running length 3:30
Band Line up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald and Nigel Twist
Released on CD in 2003 as The Alarm The Sound & The Fury Live 1981 to 1991 (UK, Export) Shakedown Records, catalogue number SHAKEBX112Z
Released on CD in 2014 as The Alarm When The Storm Broke (UK) Secret Records, catalogue number SECDD098
24th August 2003. Recorded at William Aston Hall, NEWI, Wrexham, Wales
Running Length 3:50 Mike Peters Solo acoustic.
Released in 2003 on Alarmstock Volume 5 – The Dirt And The Glory
Lyrics
Come On
Every day I get up from off the floor
I keep on coming back for more and more
So many times I get it in the face
I keep on running until my dying day
Rain on the roadway, thunder in the sky
The light of day disappears from sight
As the road opens up in front of my eyes
These wheels are burning up the miles
The road opens up in front of my eyes
The only limitation is in my mind
I drive awake my eyes are on full beam
The wind is screaming into my slipstream
Something keeps pulling me back from sleep
Whatever it is I want to see
These wheels are burning up the road tonight
The fuel is pumping into my mind
As the road opens up in front of my eyes
These wheels are burning up the miles
The road opens up in front of my eyes
The only limitation is in my mind
I’ll be there when it all comes down
I’ll be there
I’ll be there when it all comes down
I’ll be there
When it all comes down
Come on, come on
As the road opens up in front of my eyes
These wheels are burning up the miles
The road opens up in front of my eyes
The only limitation is in my mind
The Road
Fuel pumping gasoline in my mind
From the engine to my body
This wheels on fire
Yeah yeah
As the road opens up in front of my eyes
The only limitation is in my mind
The Road
Audio & Visual Sources
Audio Track – Standards release version from The Alarm official youtube channel.
Video Track – AOR (Alarm Orientated Rock) Featuring Dave Sharp live at Glasgow Rockers via 18th April 2008. Uploaded to youtube by geordiemanc68.
Images
