Breakaway (Big Pig song)

"I Can't Break Away"
Song by Chuck Jackson
from the album Through All Times
B-side"Just a Little Tear"
Released1973
Length3:36
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Steve Barri
Chuck Jackson singles chronology
"I Only Get This Feeling"
(1973)
"I Can't Break Away"
(1973)
"Maybe This Will Be the Morning"
(1974)
"Breakaway"
Single by Big Pig
from the album Bonk
B-side
  • "Hellbent Heaven"
  • "The Bald Dwarf"
ReleasedNovember 2, 1987 (1987-11-02)
Length3:38
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Nick Launay[1]
Big Pig singles chronology
"Boy Wonder"
(1987)
"Breakaway"
(1987)
"Big Hotel"
(1988)
Audio
"Breakaway" on YouTube

"Breakaway", by Australian band Big Pig, is a cover of American R&B singer Chuck Jackson's song "I Can't Break Away". Originally released on November 2, 1987, in the United Kingdom, it was released on February 15, 1988, in Australia as the third single from their debut album Bonk. The song, written by Mitchell Bottler and Gary Zekley, is about freedom and fighting against destiny.[2] Like many other Big Pig songs, "Breakaway" features plentiful drums and percussion but no guitars.

The song became the band's most successful single, reaching number one in New Zealand in May 1988. It also reached number eight in their native Australia and managed to chart in North America, reaching number 60 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 10 on Canada's RPM Top Singles chart. Its earlier UK release saw the song peak at number 89 on the UK Singles Chart.

In 1989, the song appeared on the soundtrack to the science-fiction comedy film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure,[3] also appearing in the film's opening credits.

  1. ^ "I Can't Break Away". Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  2. ^ Kerr, Jack (December 2014). "Breakaway by Big Pig – fighting fate and longing for freedom". The Guardian. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  3. ^ "Original Soundtrack – Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure". AllMusic. Retrieved May 15, 2018.