Holding Back the River is the second studio album released by Scottish pop rock quartet Wet Wet Wet . Released on 30 October 1989, the album, intentionally written as a lyrical follow-up to the band's debut album Popped In Souled Out , spawned the singles "Sweet Surrender ", "Broke Away ", "Hold Back the River " and "Stay With Me Heartache " and peaked at #2 on the UK Albums Chart .
Aside from the nine tracks found on the standard album, "How the Hell Did They Get There" appears as a hidden track on the CD and digital download versions, having previously been released as a B-side to the album's lead single, "Sweet Surrender". Outside of the UK, the album saw particular success in Australia , where it was certified Gold and re-released in the form of a limited edition coloured vinyl.[ 8]
All tracks are written by Clark/Cunningham/Mitchell/Pellow, except "Maggie May", by Martin Quittenton & Rod Stewart . All tracks produced by Wet Wet Wet.
Title 1. "Sweet Surrender " 6:00 2. "Stay with Me Heartache (Can't Stand the Night)" 4:10 3. "Blue for You" 4:51 4. "Broke Away " 4:45 5. "You've Had It" 5:12 6. "I Wish" 5:04 7. "Keys to Your Heart" 4:23 8. "Maggie May " 6:02 9. "Hold Back the River " 4:45 10. "How the Hell Did That Get There" (hidden track) 3:38
Holding Back the River – B-Sides Title 1. "This Time" (live version) 4:59 2. "Sweet Surrender" (extended version) 6:50 3. "You've Had It" (Louis Silas club mix) 7:02 4. "Sweet Surrender" (Ben Liebrand club mix) 6:51 5. "And Now for Something Completely Different" 2:43 6. "Keys to Your Heart" (original demo) 4:15 7. "With a Little Help from My Friends" (live, Wembley Arena, 14/12/89) 5:11 8. "I Can Give You Everything" (live, Wembley Arena, 14/12/89) 5:25 9. "Party City" 5:05 10. "I Feel Fine" 5:02 11. "Hold Back the River" (acoustic) 4:15 12. "Stay With Me Heartache" (Young T.C. & T mix) 5:58 13. "Stay With Me Heartache" (Stay Where You Are mix) 4:35 14. "Stoned Me" (Tonight Live with Steve Vizard) 4:07
^ "Wet Wet Wet: "We're all coming up to 50 now and no-one's died!" " . Cambridge News . 31 July 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2014 .
^ "Wet Wet Wet tweet their thanks to Carlisle" . ITV News . 5 August 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2014 .
^ Larkin, Colin , ed. (2006). "Wet Wet Wet". Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press . ISBN 978-0-19-531373-4 .
^ Mawer, Sharon. "Wet Wet Wet – Popped in Souled Out" . AllMusic . All Media Network . Retrieved 27 April 2016 .
^ Lewis, Jonathan. "Wet Wet Wet — Holding Back the River " . AllMusic .
^ Panos, Andrew (1 November 1989). "Review: Wet Wet Wet — Holding Back the River (Phonogram)" . Number One . No. 332. London: IPC Magazines Ltd. p. 43. ISSN 0266-5328 . Retrieved 6 November 2022 – via Flickr .
^ Soutar, Mike (1–14 November 1989). "Wet Wet Wet: Holding Back the River " . Smash Hits . Vol. 11, no. 21. Peterborough: EMAP Metro. p. 72. ISSN 0260-3004 . Retrieved 2 November 2022 – via Flickr .
^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 . Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
^ "Australiancharts.com – Wet Wet Wet – Holding Back The River" . Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Wet Wet Wet – Holding Back The River" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
^ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH . Retrieved 6 March 2022.
^ "Wet Wet Wet | Artist | Official Charts" . UK Albums Chart . Retrieved 6 March 2022.
^ Bakker, Machgiel (22 December 1990). "1990 REVIEW: Music & Media Year - End Awards . European Top 100 Albums 1990" (PDF) . Music & Media . Vol. 7, no. 51. pp. 29, 38. Retrieved 20 May 2021 .