It's a Long Way There

"It's a Long Way There" is a song by Australian band Little River Band, released in August 1976 as the band's debut international single and in October 1976 as the third single from the group's self-titled studio album. The song peaked at number 35 on the Australian Kent Music Report singles chart, and peaked at #28 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming the band's first top 40 hit in the United States.

"It's a Long Way There"
Dutch 7" picture sleeve
Single by Little River Band
from the album Little River Band
B-side	"Time to Fly" / "Meanwhile"
Released	August 1976
Recorded	1975
Genre	Soft rock
Length	4:16 (single version) 8:39 (album version)
Label	EMI Music / Harvest
Songwriter	Graham Goble
Producers	Glenn Wheatley, Little River Band
Little River Band singles chronology
"Everyday of My Life" (1976) "It's a Long Way There" (1976) "I'll Always Call Your Name" (1977)

Written by Graeham Goble in 1972,^[1] the song was inspired by his regular trips from Melbourne to visit his family in Adelaide.^[2] The song was initially performed by Goble's earlier band Mississippi, which included three subsequent members of Little River band: Goble, Beeb Birtles and Derek Pellicci.^[3] Ric Formosa played lead guitar, Glenn Shorrock sang lead vocals, with Goble and Birtles providing harmonies.^[4]

Reception

Cash Box magazine said "A haunting string introduction gives way to some funky rock and roll in this fully realised single from the Little River Band. A trifle long for AM play, this should definitely break through on the progressive FM side. The harmonies are deep and rich."^[5]

Billboard (magazine) said "There's a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young feel as it shifts from a symphonic, airy opening to guitar-dominated mid-rock base. Carefully honed folk rock vocals throughout."^[6]

Writing in Something Else, S.Victor Aaron said that more often than not, they ended up sounding like Crosby, Stills & Nash. "It wasn’t the match of Crosby, Stills & Nash at their best, but darn close enough. In fact, "It’s a Long Way There" might be the best CSN song that CSN never did."^[4]

Track listings

Australian 7" (EMI 11292)

Side A. "It's a Long Way There" - 4:16

Side B. "Time to Fly" - 3:00

US 7" (Harvest 4318)

Side A. "It's a Long Way There" - 4:16

Side B. "Meanwhile" - 3:53

Charts

Chart (1976/77)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[7]	35
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[8]	72
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[9]	32
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10]	14
US Billboard Hot 100[11]	28