Spanish Steps (song)

Spanish Steps is a song by the Norwegian singer Morten Harket, which was released in 1995 as the second single from his debut solo album Wild Seed. It was written by Torstein Flakne (music, lyrics), Håvard Rem (lyrics) and Harket (lyrics), and produced by Christopher Neil.[1] "Spanish Steps" reached No. 14 on the Norwegian VG-lista chart.[2]

"Spanish Steps"
Single by Morten Harket
from the album Wild Seed
B-side"Girl"
Released1995 (Norway)
1996 (UK)
Length4:08
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)Torstein Flakne
Håvard Rem
Morten Harket
Producer(s)Christopher Neil
Morten Harket singles chronology
"A Kind of Christmas Card"
(1995)		 "Spanish Steps"
(1995)		 "Los Angeles"
(1996)

Background

"Spanish Steps" originated as "5,000 Miles", a track written by Torstein Flakne and intended for his band Stage Dolls. When Norwegian producer Bjørn Nessjø heard the song in 1991, he convinced Flakne to allow Ole Edvard Antonsen to record an instrumental version for the Norwegian trumpeter's album Tour De Force, which was produced by Nessjø and released in 1992. When Nessjø became involved in engineering Harket's debut solo album, he suggested Harket record the song. The lyrics for "Spanish Steps" were contributed by Harket, Håvard Rem and Flakne.[3][4]

The song received a single release in Norway in November 1995,[5] followed by a UK release in February 1996.[6] It was a commercial success in Norway, reaching No. 14 on the VG-lista chart, but failed to chart in the UK.[2] The song's music video was shot at NRK Studios in Oslo in January 1996 and features Norwegian-Swedish-Turkish model Vendela Kirsebom.[6]

Critical reception

In a 2017 retrospective on Harket's solo career, Barry Page of The Electricity Club noted the song "drifts along in a pleasing 'Streets of Philadelphia' kind of way".[4]

Track listing
Cassette single
  1. "Spanish Steps" – 4:08
  2. "Girl" – 3:37
CD single
  1. "Spanish Steps" – 4:08
  2. "Girl" – 3:37
  3. "Lord" – 3:52
CD single (UK promo)
  1. "Spanish Steps" – 4:08

Personnel

Production

  • Christopher Neil – producer
  • Bjørn Nessjø – engineer
  • Kjetil Bjerkestrand – arranger on "Spanish Steps"
  • Simon Hurrell – mixing on "Spanish Steps"
  • Lasse Hafreager – arranger on "Lord"
  • Truls Birkeland – mixing on "Lord"

Charts
Chart (1995) Peak
position
Norway (VG-lista)[7] 14

References
  1. "Wild Seed - Morten Harket | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  2. "Morten Harket - Spanish Steps". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  3. Hoel, Ole Jacob (6 May 2010). "50-årsdag blir låtparade". adressa.no. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  4. Page, Barry (14 September 2017). "Lifelines: Morten Harket". The Electricity Club. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  5. "a-ha diary 1984". a-hadiary.co.uk. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  6. "a-ha diary 1996". a-hadiary.co.uk. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  7. "Morten Harket – Spanish Steps". VG-lista. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
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