First Under the Wire

First Under the Wire
First Under the Wire
Studio album by Little River Band
Released	July 9, 1979
Genre	Rock; pop rock; hard rock; soft rock;
Length	46:09
Label	Capitol
Producer	John Boylan & Little River Band
Little River Band chronology
Singles from First Under the Wire
	"Lonesome Loser"; Released: July 1979; "Cool Change"; Released: August 1979 (North America only); "It's Not a Wonder"; Released: October 1979;

First Under the Wire is the fifth studio album by Australian group Little River Band, released in July 1979 by Capitol Records. The album peaked at No. 2 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart^[2] and at No. 10 on the Billboard 200, becoming the group's highest-charting album in that territory.^[3] The album included two top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hits in "Lonesome Loser" and "Cool Change".^[4]

Reception

Cash Box magazine said "Ringing harmonies are the Little River Band's forte, and its resonant vocal arrangements are in full bloom on First Under the Wire. John Boylan's sterling production adds lustre to the songs, and David Briggs brilliant guitar work continues to be the group's musical focal point." calling the album "A must for AOR, MOR and pop programmers."^[5]

Mark Allan from Allmusic gave the album four stars.^[6]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link

Track listing

Side A

"Lonesome Loser" (David Briggs) - 3:58
"The Rumour" (Glenn Shorrock) - 4:18
"By My Side" (Beeb Birtles, Graham Goble) - 4:25
"Cool Change" (Glenn Shorrock) - 5:14
"It's Not a Wonder" (Graham Goble) - 3:56

Side B

"Hard Life" (Prelude) (David Briggs) - 2:42
"Hard Life" (Graham Goble) - 4:46
"Middle Man" (Beeb Birtles, Graham Goble) - 4:24
"Man on the Run" (Beeb Birtles, Graham Goble) - 4:16
"Mistress of Mine" (Graham Goble) - 5:32

Personnel

Glenn Shorrock - lead vocals (except as noted)
David Briggs - lead guitars, Roland synthesizer guitars, Electric Sitar on track 10
Beeb Birtles - electric and acoustic guitars, vocals, lead vocals on tracks 3 and 9, co-lead vocals on track 8
Graham Goble - electric and acoustic guitars, backing vocals, vocal arrangements
Derek Pellicci - Sonor and Syndrums drums, percussion
Clive Harrison - bass guitar (tracks 1, 2, 5, 9 and 10)
Mike Clarke - bass (tracks 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10)
Peter Sullivan - piano (tracks 1, 2, 5, 9)
Peter Jones - piano and keyboards (tracks 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10) and orchestrations
Bill Harrower - saxophones on tracks 4 and 8
John Boylan - acoustic guitar on track 2

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1979)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[2]	2
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)^[7]	7
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[8]	19
US Billboard 200^[9]	10

Year-end charts

Chart (1979)	Position
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)^[10]	30
Chart (1980)	Position
US Billboard 200^[11]	98

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)^[12]	Platinum	1,000,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ Graeham Goble (2008). "All releases by Little River Band". graehamgoble.com. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
^ ^a ^b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book Ltd. p. 179. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1974 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.
^ - First Under the Wire – Little River Band Awards, Allmusic
^ Whitburn, Joel (2000). Top Pop Singles 1955-1999. Menomonee Falls, WI: Record Research, Inc. p. 382. ISBN 0-89820-140-3.
^ "Album Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 28 July 1979. p. 11. Retrieved 1 December 2021 – via World Radio History.
^ Allan, Mark (n.d.). "First Under the Wire - Little River Band". Allmusic. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6838a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
^ "Charts.nz – Little River Band – First Under the Wire". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
^ "Album / Little River Band / First Under The Wire". Billboard Database. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6920". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
^ "Top US Billboard 200 Albums - Year-end 1980". BestSellingAlbums.org. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
^ "American album certifications – Little River Band – First Under the Wire". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 17 July 2021.

[graeham_goble-1] Graeham Goble (2008). "All releases by Little River Band". graehamgoble.com. Retrieved 15 July 2011.

[Kent-2] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book Ltd. p. 179. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1974 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.

[3] - First Under the Wire – Little River Band Awards, Allmusic

[4] Whitburn, Joel (2000). Top Pop Singles 1955-1999. Menomonee Falls, WI: Record Research, Inc. p. 382. ISBN 0-89820-140-3.

[5] "Album Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 28 July 1979. p. 11. Retrieved 1 December 2021 – via World Radio History.

[6] Allan, Mark (n.d.). "First Under the Wire - Little River Band". Allmusic. Retrieved 12 May 2017.

[group=-7] "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6838a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 19 December 2024.

[newzealand-8] "Charts.nz – Little River Band – First Under the Wire". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 July 2021.

[9] "Album / Little River Band / First Under The Wire". Billboard Database. Retrieved 19 December 2024.

[CA_YE-10] "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6920". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 19 December 2024.

[11] "Top US Billboard 200 Albums - Year-end 1980". BestSellingAlbums.org. Retrieved 25 February 2025.

[United_StatesLittle_River_BandFirst_Under_the_WirealbumCertRef-12] "American album certifications – Little River Band – First Under the Wire". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 17 July 2021.

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v t e Little River Band
Wayne Nelson Chris Marion Ryan Ricks Colin Whinnery Bruce Wallace Graeham Goble Beeb Birtles Derek Pellicci Glenn Shorrock Roger McLachlan Graham Davidge Dave Orams Ric Formosa David Briggs George McArdle Geoff Cox Stephen Housden John Farnham David Hirschfelder Steve Prestwich Peter Beckett Tony Sciuto Steve Wade Paul Gildea
Studio albums	Little River Band After Hours Diamantina Cocktail Sleeper Catcher First Under the Wire Time Exposure The Net Playing to Win No Reins Monsoon Get Lucky
Live albums	Backstage Pass Live in America Live Classics
Compilation albums	It's a Long Way There (Greatest Hits) Greatest Hits Too Late to Load Worldwide Love The Classic Collection The Definitive Collection Ultimate Hits Masterpieces
Videos & DVDs	Live Exposure
Singles	"Curiosity (Killed the Cat)" "Emma" "Everyday of My Life" "It's a Long Way There" "I'll Always Call Your Name" "Help Is on Its Way" "Witchery" "Home on Monday" "Happy Anniversary" "Shut Down Turn Off" "Reminiscing" "Lady" "Lonesome Loser" "Cool Change" "The Night Owls" "Man on Your Mind" "Take It Easy on Me" "Down on the Border" "St. Louis" "The Other Guy" "When the War Is Over" "Love Is a Bridge" "When Will I Be Loved" "Forever Blue"
Related articles	Members Discography Awards Birtles Shorrock Goble Birtles & Goble Mississippi We Two Pty Ltd v Shorrock (2002)
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