"Everyday Is a Winding Road" is the second single from American singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow's 1996 eponymous album. Neil Finn, lead singer of rock band Crowded House, provides backing vocals, while Paul Hester, another member of the band, was the inspiration for the song. The song was issued in the United Kingdom in November 1996 and was released in the United States the following year.
The single was well-received on the radio and peaked at number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also reached number 12 on the UK Singles Chart and became Crow's fourth and final number-one single in Canada. The song received a nomination for Record of the Year at the 1998 Grammy Awards, losing to "Sunny Came Home" by Shawn Colvin. Billboard and The Guardian both named it as Crow's second-best song.
A music video for this song was directed by Peggy Sirota and filmed in New York City in sepia tone. It features a toy airplane flying from person to person throughout the city.
Composition The song is composed in the key of D-flat mixolydian with a tempo of 100 beats per minute. Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune said the song "blatantly swipes" from the Rolling Stones' song "Sympathy for the Devil".
Track listings US 7-inch single A. "Everyday Is a Winding Road" (LP version) – 4:16 B. "Sad Sad World" – 4:05
US CD single "Everyday Is a Winding Road" (LP version) – 4:16 "Sad Sad World" – 4:05 "In Need" – 5:53 "On the Outside" (live from Shepherd's Bush Empire) – 7:40
European and Japanese CD single "Everyday Is a Winding Road" – 4:16 "Free Man" – 3:20 "Run Baby Run" (live at Woodstock) – 5:28 "Ordinary Morning" – 3:55
UK CD1 (includes four postcards) "Everyday Is a Winding Road" (LP version) – 4:16 "Strong Enough" (LP version) – 3:10 "Can't Cry Anymore" (LP version) – 3:41 "What I Can Do for You" (LP version) – 4:15
UK CD2 "Everyday Is a Winding Road" (LP version) – 4:16 "If It Makes You Happy" (Live BBC Simon Mayo Session) – 5:06 "All I Wanna Do" (Live BBC Simon Mayo Session) – 4:30 "Run Baby Run" (Live BBC Simon Mayo Session) – 5:53
Credits and personnel Credits are lifted from the UK CD1 liner notes and the Sheryl Crow album booklet.
Studios Recorded at Kingsway Studios (New Orleans) Mastered at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine, US)
Personnel
Sheryl Crow – writing, bass, Hammond organ, Harmonium, production Jeff Trott – writing, guitars Brian MacLeod – writing, loop Neil Finn – vocals Steve Donnelly – guitars Mitchell Froom – dueling Harmonium Michael Urbano – drums Trina Shoemaker – recording Tchad Blake – mixing Bob Ludwig – mastering
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1996–1997) PeakpositionAustralia (ARIA)67Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)51European Hit Radio (Music & Media)18Europe (Music & Media)10Finland (Suomen virallinen singlelista)32Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)14Quebec (ADISQ)3
Year-end charts Chart (1997)PositionCanada Top Singles (RPM)10Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)60US Billboard Hot 10060US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)16US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)64US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard)30US Triple-A (Billboard)11
Certifications
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United KingdomNovember 18, 1996A&MUnited StatesJanuary 14, 1997Contemporary hit radioJapanJanuary 25, 1997CD
References