Story Behind The Song
Released in 1986, “Calling All The Heroes” became the biggest hit for British progressive pop-rock band It Bites. Taken from their debut album, The Big Lad in the Windmill, the single showcased the group’s exceptional musicianship while delivering a catchy, radio-friendly sound that appealed to a wider audience. It remains the band’s only UK Top 10 hit and introduced many listeners to their distinctive blend of pop melodies and progressive rock influences.
Written by the band, the song is built around an infectious chorus, intricate instrumental passages and the soaring vocals of frontman Francis Dunnery. Despite its commercial appeal, “Calling All The Heroes” retains the musical complexity that defined It Bites, featuring shifting rhythms and inventive arrangements without sacrificing accessibility. The lyrics encourage unity and perseverance, presenting an uplifting message about ordinary people rising to meet extraordinary challenges.
The success of “Calling All The Heroes” helped establish It Bites as one of the UK’s most accomplished rock acts of the mid-1980s. While the band continued to earn critical acclaim for their ambitious albums and live performances, they never repeated the chart success of this standout single. Today, the song remains a favourite among both progressive rock enthusiasts and 1980s pop fans, celebrated for its memorable hooks, impressive musicianship and enduring sense of optimism.
The song peaked at No. 06 in the UK charts on 23rd August 1986.
Eighties Archive Song Number
Highest Chart Position
Date Released
Genre
Date Of UK Top 40 Entry
Record Label
Catalogue Number
ALL information on this page was obtained from numerous sources. These include The Official Charts website, Discogs, 45Cat, Polyhex, and many other sites.
Some images have been cleaned up using CHATGPT.
A-SIDE & B-SIDE COVERS
TRACK LISTING
| A-Side | Calling All The Heroes (4:02) (Francis Dunnery, John Beck, Richard Nolan, Robert Dalton) Produced By Alan Shacklock |
| B-Side | Strange But True (3:59) (Francis Dunnery, John Beck, Richard Nolan, Robert Dalton) Produced By Alan Shacklock, It Bites |
CHART PERFORMANCE
| UK Top 40 Chart Run [7 Weeks] – 2nd August 1986 – 13th September 1986 |
OFFICIALLY RELEASED VERSIONS
Calling All The Heroes (Single Version) (4:02)
Calling All The Heroes (Full Length Version) (5:33)
OFFICIAL VIDEO
LYRICS
We left you in pastures rarely seen
(Holding out the fortress for a while)
Everyone knew why the calm had been
(Keeping friends among you saves a fight)
In the dead of the night there was movement and shadows
Attacking the women and taking the gold
The men were away and no one could hear them
They still cry today when the story is told
High on a mountain, out searching for gold
Men have had warning of scriptures foretold
Turn around and fight for freedom
You can hear the people screaming
Calling all the heroes
Shooting up the town boys
Call all the heroes
Calling all the heroes
They’re burning up the town boys
Calling you
Men returned to find their home destroyed
(People rushing round with scars of war)
Babies crying… the aged wounded mourned
(Calling out for someone to hear their prayers)
Five miles away were the thieves and the bandits
Laughing and joking and sickly and crude
They didn’t know that the men had come back home
They didn’t know they were being pursued
High on a mountain the men looked below
Cooked up a plan that would outwit their foe
They scrambled down the mountain shooting
Reclaimed all the bandits looted
Calling all the heroes
Shooting up the town boys
Call all the heroes
Calling all the heroes
They’re burning up the town boys
Calling you
Da!
Calling all the heroes
Shooting up the town boys
Call all the heroes
Calling all the heroes
Shooting up the town boys
Call all the heroes
Calling all the heroes
They’re burning up the town boys
Calling all the heroes
Calling all the heroes
Shooting up the town boys
Call all the heroes
Calling all the heroes
They’re burning up the town boys
Call all the heroes
Written By Francis Dunnery / John Robert Beck / Richard Nolan / Robert Dalton
PROMO ADVERT
1 Comment
Hello All
Have we made any mistakes in this posting? Feel free to let us know (we’d appreciate it!)
Regards
Admin