In 1986, the band signed with EMI, and they subsequently recorded their first album, White Fields. which was released in 1987. Later in 1987, the group moved to Atlantic Records, frustrated with their energetic mix of hook-filled pop rock with dance music failing to break into the mainstream. Their next album, Wild Wild West, was released by Atlantic Records in the summer of 1988.
The first single, "Wild Wild West" (also known as "Wild,Wild West"), climbed to the number one slot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song's distinctive video also received a lot of MTV airplay. According to the Wild Wild West Songfacts, the song distinguished the Escape Club as being the only British group to have charted number one in the U.S. while never charting at all in the U.K.
In 1989, the group released two further singles from Wild Wild West: "Shake For The Sheik", which climbed to number 28, and "Walking Through Walls", which peaked at number 81. Hitting their stride, the Escape Club also had a cover single of The Doors' hard rock track "20th Century Fox" on the multi-artist collection 'The Wonder Years: Music From the Emmy Award-Winning Show & Its Era', which, in addition, meant long airplay on MTV. The band's official website reports that the song was produced by former Doors member Ray Manzarek.
In 1990, the band returned to the studio to record their what would be their final album, Dollars & Sex, which saw a March 1991 release. The first single, "Call It Poison", failed to crack the U.S. Top 40, which did not bode well for the quartet. Just when it seemed they would be considered a one-hit-wonder, Atlantic Records next released the slow ballad "I'll Be There". The group said the song was heavily influenced by the 1990 box office hit movie Ghost. "I'll Be There" reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100. The group then called it quits in 1992. Frontman Trevor Steel has since worked as a solo singer-songwriter as well as a producer and television commentator.
Wild Wild West
The Escape Club Lyrics
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North east west south all in the same house
Sitting in a back room waiting for the big boom
I'm in a bedroom waiting for my baby
She's so mean but I don't care
I love her eyes and her wild wild hair
Dance to the beat that we love best
Living in the wild wild west
The wild wild west
Wild west
Well, Mandy's in the backroom handing out Valium
Sheriff's on the airwaves talking to the D.J.'s
Forty-seven heartbeats beating like a drum
Got to live it up live it up
Ronnie's got a new gun
She's so mean but I don't care
I love her eyes and her wild wild hair
Dance to the beat that we love best
Heading for the nineties
Living in the wild wild west
The wild wild west
Wild west
Now put your flags in the air and march them up and down
You can live it up live it up all over the town
And turn to the left, turn to the right
I don't care as long as she comes tonight
She's so mean but I don't care
I love her eyes and her wild wild hair
Dance to the beat that we love best
Heading for the nineties
Living in the wild wild west
The wild wild west
The wild wild west
Auw, wild west
Living in the wild wild west
The wild wild west
Wild west
Heading for the nineties living in the eighties
Screaming in a back room waiting for the big boom
Give me give me wild west
Give me give me safe sex
Give me love give me love
Give me time to live it up
She's so mean but I don't care
I love her eyes and her wild wild hair
Dance to the beat that we love best
Heading for the nineties
Living in the wild wild west
The wild wild west
The wild wild west
Auw, wild west
The Escape Club's song "Wild Wild West" is an energetic anthem about living on the edge in a chaotic world. The song speaks of the lives of 47 deadbeats who reside in the same cramped house. They are waiting for the big boom and live on the edge in a wild world. Ronnie, one of the deadbeats, has a new gun, and the sheriff is on the airwaves addressing the chaos in the town. The lyrics ultimately speak about living life to the fullest, regardless of the circumstances. The lyrics command the listener to put their flags in the air and march them up and down as they live and enjoy their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Forty-seven dead beats living in the back street
47 people with no direction in life living in a poor area
North east west south all in the same house
People from all directions living together due to poor circumstances
Sitting in a back room waiting for the big boom
Passing time, waiting for something exciting to happen
I'm in a bedroom waiting for my baby
The singer is waiting for his lover
She's so mean but I don't care
Despite her negative qualities, I still love her
I love her eyes and her wild wild hair
I find her physical appearance attractive
Dance to the beat that we love best
Moving to music that we enjoy
Heading for the nineties
Looking towards the future and changes that may come
Living in the wild wild west
Living in a chaotic and unpredictable environment
Well, Mandy's in the backroom handing out Valium
A woman named Mandy is distributing drugs
Sheriff's on the airwaves talking to the D.J.'s
The sheriff is communicating with radio DJs
Forty-seven heartbeats beating like a drum
47 people's hearts pounding with excitement
Got to live it up live it up
We have to enjoy life to the fullest
Ronnie's got a new gun
Someone named Ronnie has acquired a new weapon
Now put your flags in the air and march them up and down
Wave your flags and march in celebration
You can live it up live it up all over the town
Celebrate and have fun in all parts of the city
And turn to the left, turn to the right
Dance and move in all directions
I don't care as long as she comes tonight
Singer is primarily focused on his lover coming tonight
Heading for the nineties living in the eighties
Looking towards the future while currently living in the present
Screaming in a back room waiting for the big boom
Shouting and excitedly waiting for something exciting to happen
Give me give me wild west
The singer wants the chaotic, unpredictable lifestyle of the 'wild west'
Give me give me safe sex
The singer wants to engage in sexual activity without worry of disease or pregnancy
Give me love give me love
The singer wants to receive love
Give me time to live it up
The singer wants to enjoy life without limitations
Auw, wild west
An exclamation of excitement regarding the 'wild west'
Living in the wild wild west
Continuing to live in the unpredictable environment
Wild west
Reference to the 'wild west'
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN CHRISTOFOROU, JOHN HOLLIDAY, AMOS PIZZEY-SHAPIRO, TREVOR STEEL, MILAN ZEKAVICA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind