Vanity Fare live Feb 5,1970 - Hitchin' A Ride (HD Stereo Mixed from this Mono Recording)
"Hitchin' a Ride" is a song written by Mitch Murray and Peter Callander issued as a single by the English pop/rock band Vanity Fare in late 1969. It reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart in February 1970 but was a bigger hit in the United States, reaching number 5 on the Hot 100 on June 27, 1970. Billboard ranked the record as the number 14 song of 1970.In Chicago, the record achieved even greater heights, topping the WCFL Big 10 Countdown on 18–25 May 1970,ranking #4 for all of 1970 and ranking #12 on rival WLS Radio 89 Hit Parade on 6 July 1970,ranking #10 for all of 1970. "Hitchin' a Ride" sold a million copies in the United States alone, and it became a gold record.
The song is about a young man who is attempting to hitchhike since he has no money. The song is noted for its two recorders first heard in the introduction as well as in the sections between the choruses and the verses.
The song is also noted for its instrumental section, featuring an electric piano, that plays a bass line in repetition, which is accompanied by the piano's upper register, bass, drums, and guitar, which is later heard before the song's fade. The U.S. single edit shortens the ending by eliminating the final repeated lines of "ride, ride" before the song fades out.
Weekly charts
Chart (1969–1970) Peak Position
Australia (Kent Music Report) 24
Canada RPM Top Singles 3
New Zealand 16
South Africa (Springbok) 2
UK 16
US Billboard Hot 100 5
US Billboard Easy Listening 22
US Cash Box Top 100 4
Year-end charts
Chart (1970) Rank
Canada 49
US Billboard Hot 100 14