Cannonball (Supertramp song)

"Cannonball"
Single by Supertramp
from the album Brother Where You Bound
B-side	"Ever Open Door"
Released	29 April 1985[1]
Genre	Progressive rock, jazz rock[2]
Length	4:59(single version) 7:38 (album version) 7:42 (12-inch Direct-To-Disc"Audiophile"Version) 10:00 (12-inch Instrumental version)
Label	A&M
Songwriter(s)	Rick Davies
Producer(s)	Supertramp, David Kershenbaum
Supertramp singles chronology
"Still in Love" (1985) "Cannonball" (1985) "Better Days" (1985)
Music video
"Cannonball" on YouTube

"Cannonball" is the opening track from Supertramp's 1985 album Brother Where You Bound.

Overview

"Cannonball" was written and sung by keyboardist Rick Davies entirely in the chord of G minor. Davies stated in an interview "I did it simply to see if it could be done".

When “Cannonball” was released, the song’s lyrics (like “I’m washing my hands on you / How could you be so untrue”) were, contrary to belief, not about Roger Hodgson, but instead (according to a French radio interview) a “less than perfect” concert promoter Rick Davies wouldn’t name.^[3]

The track became Supertramp's last US Top 40 single to date, peaking at number 28 on the Billboard singles charts in July 1985. It also crossed over to the dance charts, peaking at number nine. On the B-side of the 12-inch release is a 10-minute instrumental version. ^[4][5]

Near the LP version's fade-out, the brass play a citation of the Jazz tune Topsy.

The promo video was directed by Steve Barron and depicted a caveman who goes after his wayward cavewoman, who left his home to travel to modern day Grand Junction, Colorado, to see the band rehearsing the song on stage. When he sees her, he bellows...and wakes up to see the cavewoman there in the cave, realizing he had dreamed it all.

Personnel

• Rick Davies: piano, synthesizer, vocals
• John Helliwell: saxophones
• Bob Siebenberg: drums
• Dougie Thomson: bass
• Marty Walsh: guitar
• Doug Wintz: trombone

Chart performance

Chart (1985)	Peak position
Australia (KMR)[6]	63
Canada (RPM)[7]	24
Dutch Top 40[8]	35
German Singles Chart[9]	60
Swiss Singles Chart[10]	25
US Billboard Hot 100[11]	28
US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks[11]	4
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[11]	9

References

1. "Music Week" (PDF). p. 14.
2. Adams, Bret. Brother Where You Bound at AllMusic. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
3. "Song of the day". Billboard.
4. "Supertramp – Cannonball (1985, Vinyl)". Discogs. 1985.
5. "The Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.
6. Australian Chart Book (1970–1992) – David Kent pp. 301
7. "RPM Top 100 Singles - July 13, 1985" (PDF).
8. "De Nederlandse Top 40, week 26, 1985". Archived from the original on 18 May 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
9. "Chartverfolgung / Supertramp / Single". Music Line (in German). Germany: Media Control Charts. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
10. "hitparade.ch". Retrieved 19 November 2008.
11. "billboard.com Supertramp chart history". Retrieved 19 November 2008.