'Long Way To Go' Appreciation Thread!

[Blackrosebattle]

Thought I'd start a thread just for this awesome awesome track from "The Other Side Of The Mirror"
I feel it's missing out on some serious recognition, every time I play it (& I play it alot!) I think to myself how did this song not become a hit? It wipes the floor with 'Rooms On Fire' and is easily my favourite from the album; It's so upbeat and has one of the strongest hooks, if not THE strongest hook from a Stevie song in the chorus, and as for Stevie's vocals.... WOW! She was rockin' this!
It's so infectious and a perfect play for the car :nod:

Am I alone in this opinion? :shrug:

[Spoinny]

Thought I'd start a thread just for this awesome awesome track from "The Other Side Of The Mirror"
I feel it's missing out on some serious recognition, every time I play it (& I play it alot!) I think to myself how did this song not become a hit? It wipes the floor with 'Rooms On Fire' and is easily my favourite from the album; It's so upbeat and has one of the strongest hooks, if not THE strongest hook from a Stevie song in the chorus, and as for Stevie's vocals.... WOW! She was rockin' this!
It's so infectious and a perfect play for the car :nod:

Am I alone in this opinion? :shrug:

nope, I have ALWAYS been a fan of this song. I think it rocks! I remember buying the 12" version when it came out. I love her vocals in this too! I may have listen to it now!:lol:

[mikebise]

Not alone! I've loved "Long Way To Go" since the first I heard it 22 years ago!

It actually was a Top Ten Rock Radio hit in 1989, which makes Atlantic not releasing it as a single in the US very surprising. I'm not sure how it performed in the UK, but The Other Side Of The Mirror did very well there. The 12" gatefold UK release is one of my most treasured Stevie collectibles!

Aside from Stevie's passionate vocals on "Long Way To Go", her lyrics are favourites of mine. She's obviously very pissed off, and I love hearing Stevie's sarcastic, bitchy side: "Have fun, tell the world!"

[Spoinny]

Not alone! I've loved "Long Way To Go" since the first I heard it 22 years ago!

It actually was a Top Ten Rock Radio hit in 1989, which makes Atlantic not releasing it as a single in the US very surprising. I'm not sure how it performed in the UK, but The Other Side Of The Mirror did very well there. The 12" gatefold UK release is one of my most treasured Stevie collectibles!

Aside from Stevie's passionate vocals on "Long Way To Go", her lyrics are favourites of mine. She's obviously very pissed off, and I love hearing Stevie's sarcastic, bitchy side: "Have fun, tell the world!"


I remember 1st hearing the lyrics "She says help me, help her, help him too" thinking "what the?" LOL

[Artemis]

Lovelovelovelovelove this song. Best vocals on that album, that's for sure. If the rest of the album was more like this and Rooms On Fire...

[kak125]

this is one of my favorite songs!! love it!!! does anybody have a good live video or mp3 of this song?

[Annabell Lee]

Yep, count me in ! :wavey: The whole song is about her break-up with Joe Walsh . I don't know if that was mentioned yet :confused:. Maybe i should read ALL of the thread ! Lol Anyway i have always loved this song. Yet another time Stevie took a personal experience and made a great little song from it ! No you are most def. not alone in your love for this song ! the " have fun tell the world " part is my favorite part. It was like go ahead a**hole, tell everyone you know about me , go ahead , fu**-off and by the way , YOUR total loss not mine !! LOVE IT LOVE IT the lyrics are great !

[bombaysaffires]

She's told the story about going out with someone, breaking up, then finishing an album, him calling her and wanting to see her, her getting in a car (limo, no doubt!) and driving like 3 hours to where this guy was, sharing a copy of her new album with him --like one of the first pressings which are collectible for reasons I can't quite remember anymore-- and him kinda blowing her off after their meeting AND keeping the album...and her being so pissed it became a great song!

[Annabell Lee]

She's told the story about going out with someone, breaking up, then finishing an album, him calling her and wanting to see her, her getting in a car (limo, no doubt!) and driving like 3 hours to where this guy was, sharing a copy of her new album with him --like one of the first pressings which are collectible for reasons I can't quite remember anymore-- and him kinda blowing her off after their meeting AND keeping the album...and her being so pissed it became a great song!

Yes, it was Joe Walsh! Her friends told her that " it was a real long way to go ( meaning a long drive ) to tell someone good-bye that you had already said good-bye to ! I think she was like, oh well i have to do this to see if there is anything left ( between them ). Good story, fugly guy ! LOL

[SapphireSister]

The only version that exists to me of this song is the 12" extended. I can't even listen to the album version because this one is so much better. So for the extended version, hell YES!! A real rocker with a great vocal and a catchy riff with the synth. If you haven't heard it, download it NOW! I don't have it on my computer b/c I am at work but if someone else would post it I'd appreciate it. If not I'll post tonight when I get home.

[Artemis]

The only version that exists to me of this song is the 12" extended. I can't even listen to the album version because this one is so much better. So for the extended version, hell YES!! A real rocker with a great vocal and a catchy riff with the synth. If you haven't heard it, download it NOW! I don't have it on my computer b/c I am at work but if someone else would post it I'd appreciate it. If not I'll post tonight when I get home.

I think this is iiiit.

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?ucvv5d0ds1nkxwl

[Christopher]

Yes, it was Joe Walsh! Her friends told her that " it was a real long way to go ( meaning a long drive ) to tell someone good-bye that you had already said good-bye to ! I think she was like, oh well i have to do this to see if there is anything left ( between them ). Good story, fugly guy ! LOL
:laugh::laugh: or more like Great song, Fugly guy! :cool:

LWTG was my favorite song off OSOTM when it was released in 89', and it is among my favorites of Stevie's peeved rockers, in the vein of No Spoken Word! I like the OSOTM for the most part, but I do have to be in the mood. And LWTG seemed at the time of release, to be the only song with a pulse on the whole record. Stevie's intensity and anger were palpable:shocked:. The chorus is gorgeous with the back and forth with Sharon & Lori. The verses feel like friction building, like shaking a soda can crazily....then the chorus kicks in and all that pressure is released!!! And with Lyrics like "High in my life...Obsessive was my love" & "Have FUN, tell the world!!!" how can you not love love love. I'm sure many of us have sung along to this song, when we were absolutely at are wits end with something or someone. :nod:

[SorcererJP]

You re not alone on this.

I loved this song then, haven't played in a long time. Will do so tonite.

I had a mansized promo-poster for the single and 12inch on my wall back in 1990.Had it up to 1999 whe I moved. It did not survive the moval :-(

Have fun tell the world!

[mikebise]

I had a mansized promo-poster for the single and 12inch on my wall back in 1990.Had it up to 1999 whe I moved. It did not survive the moval :-(

Have fun tell the world!

Ooh! That's sounds awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dreamer78]

I remember getting the cassette of OSOTM because i didnt have a cd player yet
on the day it came out - i was 11 yrs old and i remember LOVING this song the first time i heard it !! played it over and over -Its a shame she didnt perform it on tour or put it on Enchanted
it really should have been a great follow up to Rooms on Fire - one of my favorites forever !! Id love to hear her talk about these songs that she has forgotten -
I remember her saying her songs were like her children -well kind kind of child is this to her ! lol she locked this one in the closet !!!! lol :p

[louielouie2000]

I love this song! But then again I am primarily a fan of "Rocker Chick Stevie" vs "sappy ballad Stevie" :). The sassy attitude of the lyrics are fantastic... I adore fed up Stevie :laugh:. I also love how OSOTM starts out with the dreamy Rooms On Fire then abruptly snaps you back to reality with this rocking little song :nod:. It's also kinda interesting to me how Long Way To Go basically has no bass at all. It's almost wholly treble. Great little song though, I am absolutely a fan! :D

[Dodfather]

Oh it's a great song - by far one of the best on The Other Side Of The Mirror. It was apparently released as a single in the UK but I've never seen it. Was it a double A side with Two Kinds Of Love? I'm being too lazy to go check...

I think it would have made a much better major single, with video, than Whole Lotta Trouble. I do like that song but Long Way To Go is better.

[mikebise]

It was an actual UK single both 7" and 12", as well as CD~single. (And cassette?)

The b~side is "Real Tears", an outtake from The Other Side Of The Mirror. The 12" came in a beautiful gatefold package, with amazing images of Stevie inside.

The 12" and CD~single contain:

"Long Way To Go" ~ Extended Remix

"Long Way To Go" ~ 7" Remix

"Real Tears"

"No Spoken Word" ~ Live At Red Rocks, CO 1986

I bought my import 12" and CD~single one night in July 1989 at Waterloo ~ screamed when I saw both!

[starshine]

One of my most favorite songs off Mirror. I'll always love this song. Especially when I was angry too. I'd sing it at the top of my lungs---LOVE it. Stevie should've sang it live for Mirror and so on. What a mistake. Great song!!:D

[tbaker3]

I've never had the impression that LWTG was underappreciated. I've rarely heard a fan speak of the song negativly. If not the best from TOSOTM, at LEAST top 2 or 3. LOVE!

[Johnny Stew]

I made this a while back and thought I'd share it here. I always felt the ending to the 12" remix (which I love overall) was a little anti-climactic, without Stevie's great ad-libs, etc, so I edited it together with the ending of the album version. I was never 100% satisfied with how it turned out, but hopefully someone here will like it.

"Long Way To Go" [12" Remix w/Extended Ending] (7:10) 320kbps (http://www.sendspace.com/file/efho5z)

[Silylily]

I think most would agree the best part of TOSOTM is the first two tracks, and almost ends there! But thankfully, side B had Juliet, which rocks.

I l - o - v - e the LWTG remixes/extended versions posted here! Very cool.:cool:

[Silylily]

I love this song! But then again I am primarily a fan of "Rocker Chick Stevie" vs "sappy ballad Stevie" :). The sassy attitude of the lyrics are fantastic... I adore fed up Stevie :laugh:. I also love how OSOTM starts out with the dreamy Rooms On Fire then abruptly snaps you back to reality with this rocking little song :nod:. It's also kinda interesting to me how Long Way To Go basically has no bass at all. It's almost wholly treble. Great little song though, I am absolutely a fan! :D

I completely agree. Stevie has a way of touching us, but sometimes she can come across as sappy on those ballads. I loved it when she just cut loose and went crazy during her druggie day vocal sessions/performances! I miss that spontaneity and passion. That's probably why I love a lot of those RAL vocals.

[mikebise]

I made this a while back and thought I'd share it here. I always felt the ending to the 12" remix (which I love overall) was a little anti-climactic, without Stevie's great ad-libs, etc, so I edited it together with the ending of the album version. I was never 100% satisfied with how it turned out, but hopefully someone here will like it.

"Long Way To Go" [12" Remix w/Extended Ending] (7:10) 320kbps (http://www.sendspace.com/file/efho5z)

Great job! I know where you edited it, because I know the versions so well, and your melding is flawless!!! Thank you for bringing Stevie back into the song! That was my only reservation about the remix ~ Stevie just disappears!

You have done a fantastic job. It's nice to hear the extra guitars and instruments, and know that Stevie will be coming back to the song! :]

Download this, guys! You won't be disappointed!

[Johnny Stew]

Thanks for the very kind compliments, Mike! :wavey: I'm really glad you enjoyed it.

I like the little breakdown Stephen W. Tayler did with just Sharon & Lori's vocals, but I've often wondered why he didn't then kick back in with Stevie's vocals. Seems like a missed opportunity.

[TheWILDheart]

this is one of my favorite songs!! love it!!! does anybody have a good live video or mp3 of this song?

It's never been done live, sadly. Wish she would. she could really nail this one on stage

[mikebise]

Yeah, the tour book for The Other Side Of The Mirror has a taped up sheet of rehearsal songs, which included:
"Juliet" (done a few times on the tour)
"Long Way To Go"
"Ooh My Love"

[-Lillith-]

Long way too go is one the songs that got me into her music!
I love it.

[kak125]

It's never been done live, sadly. Wish she would. she could really nail this one on stage

aww thats too bad. she easily could have killed it!!

[Silylily]

[QUOTE=mikebise;966394]Great job! I know where you edited it, because I know the versions so well, and your melding is flawless!!! Thank you for bringing Stevie back into the song! That was my only reservation about the remix ~ Stevie just disappears!

You have done a fantastic job. It's nice to hear the extra guitars and instruments, and know that Stevie will be coming back to the song! :]

Download this, guys! You won't be disappointed![/QUOTE

Thank you!!!

We listened to it last night about 5 times! L - O - V - E it!!!

[StandbackStevie]

Love this song too its a song you just have to crank it up its a song to listen to when you on a long stretch highway and just crank it up and floor it...lol. One of my favorites off of OSOTM.

[markolas]

Can someone tell me what the difference is between the album version and the 7" remix? They sound exactly the same to me. :shrug:

[Spoinny]

Can someone tell me what the difference is between the album version and the 7" remix? They sound exactly the same to me. :shrug:

I believe Mike Bise said they are the same version. Not sure why it would be called a remix.

[mikebise]

I thought they were the same, but then I didn't. I thought I heard some remixing, but later reconsidered that.

Maybe different speakers confused me, but I think they sound exactly the same. :shrug:

[markolas]

lol I'm glad it's not just me, then. I downloaded it from one of the demo/live threads here and wondered if maybe somebody just uploaded the album version and labeled it "7" remix." It's weird b/c the 12" remix of The Nightmare is very different from the version on RAL.

[Spoinny]

lol I'm glad it's not just me, then. I downloaded it from one of the demo/live threads here and wondered if maybe somebody just uploaded the album version and labeled it "7" remix." It's weird b/c the 12" remix of The Nightmare is very different from the version on RAL.

have you heard the single 7" mix of the Nightmare? I prefer it to the 12" and the album version.

[Supernaut]

12-inch version is an AWESOME track for running.

[UndoingTheLaces]

Love this song too its a song you just have to crank it up its a song to listen to when you on a long stretch highway and just crank it up and floor it...

You mean like when you go down the sea coast... like a blackbird? :lol:

[UndoingTheLaces]

have you heard the single 7" mix of the Nightmare? I prefer it to the 12" and the album version.

I just went looking for that. I didn't realize it was different. They re-edited it so that it has a chorus where it really didn't before. They did that with the single of Dazzle by Siouxsie & The Banshees too. It's really jarring if you're used to the way the song usually goes. I have been listening to the Nightmare 12" for so long I couldn't tell if the 7" was mixed differently than the album track or just re-edited. I still like the 12" version best of all.

[mikebise]

That's not really a 7" remix/edit. It's an outtake from the Mater Reels that someone/a fan shortened. But that "chorus" is on there, on the Master Reel. The full 6-minute version is in the Rock A Little Outtakes Demos & Alternates thread.