Move Any Mountain Explained

Move Any Mountain
Cover:Move_any_mountain.jpg
Type:single
Artist:The Shamen
Album:En-Tact
Length:3:28
Label:One Little Indian
Producer:
  • Paul Carter
  • Richard Searle
Prev Title:Hyperreal
Prev Year:1991
Next Title:LSI (Love Sex Intelligence)
Next Year:1992

"Move Any Mountain" is a song by Scottish electronic music group the Shamen, first released under the title "Pro›gen". With an official remix by the Beatmasters, the song was re-released in the UK in summer 1991 and was their first top-10 single, reaching number four in the UK Singles Chart. It was included on the band's second album, En-Tact (1990), and is also their only top-40 hit in the US, where the song peaked at number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1992.

Release

In response to demand for remixes from fans,[1] the band released the entire sample list and a number of remixes on the album Progeny, which at the time meant the single and album release of the track made it the only record to chart on both UK Singles and Album Charts at the same time.[2]

The track was used for the entrance of Team Scotland during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games at Celtic Park in Glasgow. The lyrics of the first verse also appeared as Super Hans' wedding vows in the second episode of the ninth series of Peep Show.

The cover includes the kanji 山 (yama, meaning mountain).

Critical reception

AllMusic editor John Bush viewed the song as an "infectious techno-pop anthem".[3] Upon the release of "Progen", Bill Coleman from Billboard described it as "an aggressive track that makes no bones about blurring the lines between industrial and house music."[4] Another editor, Larry Flick, felt that the track "may be best remembered as the most remixed record in history", adding that "at last count, there are 35 versions of this song circulating throughout Europe, seven of which are on this U.S. pressing. Beneath abundant studio tricks, which alter song's stance from techno to house and then hi-NRG, lies a simplistic and memorable modern-pop tune."[5] Andy Kastanas from The Charlotte Observer deemed it "a bright uptempo dance trip that will have your hiney shakin' before you can say "rave"."[6]

Dave Jennings from Melody Maker wrote, "'Pro›gen' starts brightly — the Shamen set up a spun-sugar dance sequence, croon 'move any mountain', and you begin to believe that they could. Then in crashes guest rapper Mr C, rambling feebly and implausibly about his supernatural abilities, and the record descends to the depths of mediocre rap-ego-stroking. Shame!"[7] David Giles from Music Week stated that the Shamen "are at their pulsating, electrobeat best; a couple of rapping inserts from DJ Mr C rather detracts from the hypnotic overall feel, but it should enhance the record's credibility yet further in clubland."[8] James Hamilton from Record Mirror viewed the track as an "catchy chanting I can move, move, move any mountain UK oldie".[9] William Shaw from Smash Hits complimented its "humping great tower block of a hugely infectious dance chorus."[10]

Music video

The promotional video for "Move Any Mountain" was filmed on the slopes of Mount Teide, Tenerife. Shortly afterwards, Will Sinnott drowned off the coast of the neighbouring island La Gomera.

UK releases

  1. "Pro›gen ('Land of Oz' Mix)" – 5:42
  2. "Light›span" – 5:41
  3. "Pre›gen" – 5:48
  1. "Pro›gen (C-mix F+)" – 7:01
  2. "Pro›gen (7b)" – 3:50
  3. "Light›span (Soundwave)" – 7:43
  1. "Pro›gen (C-mix F-)"
  2. "Pro›gen ('Land of Oz')"
  3. "Light›span"
  4. "Pro›gen (7a)"
  1. "Move Any Mountain (Beat Edit)" (remixed by the Beatmasters) – 3:30
  2. "Move Any Mountain (Landslide Edit)" (remixed by the Kid & John) – 3:48
  3. "Move Any Mountain (F2 Mello) – 6:12
  4. "Move Any Mountain (Mountains in the Sky)" (remixed by Caspar Pound) – 6:03
  1. "Move Any Mountain (Landslide)" (remixed by the Kid & John) – 4:51
  2. "Move Any Mountain (Devil)" (remixed by 'Evil' Eddie Richards) – 4:40
  3. "Move Any Mountain (Rude)" (remixed by the Goat) – 5:03
  4. "Move Any Mountain (I.R.P. in the Land of Oz)" (remixed by Paul Oakenfold) – 5:02
  1. "Move Any Mountain (Bang to the Beat of the Drum)" (remixed by Bryan 'Chuck' New & 'Evil' Eddie Richards) – 5:45
  2. "Move Any Mountain (Beltram Dub)" (remixed by Joey Beltram) – 5:30
  3. "Move Any Mountain (Rising High Dub)" (remixed by Caspar Pound) – 7:25
  4. "Move Any Mountain (Alta Vista)" (remixed by F Troop) – 6:16
  5. "Move Any Mountain (The Prelude to Paradise)" (remixed by Frankie Bones) – 5:12
  6. "Move Any Mountain (666 Edit)" (remixed by 'Evil' Eddie Richards) – 4:49
  7. "Move Any Mountain (Land of Oz)" (remixed by Paul Oakenfold) – 5:44
  8. "Move Any Mountain (Beatmasters Dub)" (remixed by The Beatmasters) – 3:56
  9. "Move Any Mountain (The Bones Break Mastermix)" (remixed by Frankie Bones) – 6:11
  10. "Move Any Mountain (Beltram Vox)" (remixed by Joey Beltram) – 5:20
  11. "Move Any Mountain (Landslide Vox)" (remixed by the Kid and John) – 5:27
  12. "Move Any Mountain (Rude)" (remixed by the Goat) – 5:40
  13. "Move Any Mountain (C. mix)" (remixed by Colin Angus and Mr. C) – 6:47
  14. "Move Any Mountain (Beat Edit)" (remixed by the Beatmasters) – 3:30
  15. "Move Any Mountain (Rude Edit)" (remixed by the Goat) – 3:44
  16. "Move Any Mountain (Landslide Edit)" (remixed by the Kid and John) – 3:48
  17. "Move Any Mountain (F Troop Edit)" (remixed by F Troop) – 3:27
  18. "Move Any Mountain (Oz Edit)" (remixed by Paul Oakenfold) – 3:39
  19. "Move Any Mountain (Bang Edit)" (remixed by Bryan 'Chuck' New & 'Evil' Eddie Richards) – 3:32
  20. 16 samples & beats – 5:39

Note: The CD version of Progeny only contains 15 tracks, it omits tracks 8–12.The "Alta Vista" mix is the same as the "F2 Mello" mix. The "Beltram Dub" mix, as published on Progeny, is the same as the "Beltram Vox" mix. "Move Any Mountain (Land of Oz)" on Progeny is the same as the original "Pro›gen ('Land of Oz' Mix)" (1990), slightly different from "Move Any Mountain (I.R.P. in the Land of Oz)" on the 1991 12", and from "Progen 91 (I.R.P. in the Land of Oz)" on En-Tact.

Versions

Versions published by One Little Indian Records in the UK! Title !! Remixer !! Length !! Format !! Year !! !! !! !!
Pro›gen
Pro›gen (7a)
Move Any Mountain (Beat Edit) 		The Beatmasters 3:30 7"
Cass
7", 12", CD, Cass 		1990 p
p
m

E 		 
 
P
Pro›gen (Dub Mix)
Pro›gen (7b)
Move Any Mountain (Beatmasters Dub) 		The Beatmasters 3:52 7"
12", CD
12", CD, Cass 		1990 p
p
  		 
 
P
Pro›gen (C-mix F+) Colin Angus, Mr. C 7:01 12" 1990 p
Pre›gen Steve Osborne 5:48 12", CD 1990 p
Pro›gen ('Land of Oz' Mix)
Move Any Mountain (Land of Oz) 		Paul Oakenfold 5:42 12", CD, Cass
12", CD, Cass 		1990 p
  		 
P
Pro›gen (C-mix F-) Colin Angus, Mr. C Cass 1990 p
Pro›gen (C-mix Dub) Colin Angus, Mr. C 6:35 12" promo 1990 p
Progen (Land of Oz) Paul Oakenfold 4:07 12", CD, Cass 1990 e
Move Any Mountain (Rude Edit) The Goat 3:44 7", 12", CD, Cass 1991 m P
Move Any Mountain (Landslide) The Kid & John 4:51 12" 1991 m
Move Any Mountain (Devil) 'Evil' Eddie Richards 4:40 12" 1991 m
Move Any Mountain (Rude) The Goat 5:03 12" 1991 m
Move Any Mountain (I.R.P. in the Land of Oz) Paul Oakenfold 5:02 12" 1991 m
Move Any Mountain (Landslide Edit) The Kid & John 3:48 12", CD, Cass 1991 m P
Move Any Mountain (F2 Mello)
Move Any Mountain (Alta Vista) 		F. Troop 6:12 CD
12", CD, Cass 		1991 m
  		 
P
Move Any Mountain (Mountains in the Sky) Caspar Pound 6:03 CD 1991 m
Move Any Mountain (Bang to the Beat Dub) 'Evil' Eddie Richards, Bryan 'Chuck' New 12" promo 1991 m
Move Any Mountain (Caspars First Dub) Caspar Pound 12" promo 1991 m
Move Any Mountain (C-mix D.E.) Colin Angus, Mr. C, Ian Tregoning 12" promo 1991 m
Move Any Mountain (F2 Faster) F. Troop 12" promo 1991 m
Move Any Mountain (Whizz) 'Evil' Eddie Richards 12" promo 1991 m
Move Any Mountain (The Sound of Pro-gen) Ian Tregoning, Mads Bjerke, Steve Osborne 12" promo 1991 m
Move Any Mountain (666 Edit) 'Evil' Eddie Richards 4:49 12", CD, Cass 1991 E P
Progen 91 (I.R.P. in the Land of Oz) Paul Oakenfold 5:21 12", CD, Cass 1991 E
Move Any Mountain (Bang to the Beat of the Drum) 'Evil' Eddie Richards, Bryan 'Chuck' New 5:45 12", CD, Cass 1991 P M
Move Any Mountain (Beltram Vox) Joey Beltram 5:25 12", CD, Cass 1991 P
Move Any Mountain (Rising High Dub) Caspar Pound 7:25 12", CD, Cass 1991 P
Move Any Mountain (The Prelude to Paradise Beat Mix) Frankie Bones 5:12 12", CD, Cass 1991 P
Move Any Mountain (The Bones Break Mastermix) Frankie Bones 6:11 12", Cass 1991 P
Move Any Mountain (Landslide Vox) The Kid & John 5:27 12", Cass 1991 P
Move Any Mountain (Rude) The Goat 5:40 12", Cass 1991 P
Move Any Mountain (C mix) Colin Angus, Mr. C 6:47 12", CD, Cass 1991 P
Move Any Mountain (F. Troop Edit) F. Troop 3:27 12", CD, Cass 1991 P
Move Any Mountain (Oz Edit) Paul Oakenfold 3:39 12", CD, Cass 1991 P M
Move Any Mountain (Bang Edit) 'Evil' Eddie Richards, Bryan 'Chuck' New 3:32 12", CD, Cass 1991 P
16 samples & beats 5:39 12", CD, Cass 1991 P
Move Any Mountain '96 (Loaded Dub) Andy Ling 11:37 12" 1996 M
Move Any Mountain '96 (Unknown Pleasure Dub) Axis Shift 11:39 12" 1996 M
Move Any Mountain '96 (Tomka Mix) Rhythm Masters 7:30 12", CD 1996 M
Move Any Mountain '96 (Tomka Dub) Rhythm Masters 12" 1996 M
Move Any Mountain '96 (Tony De Vit Mix) Tony De Vit 7:32 12", CD 1996 M
Move Any Mountain '96 (Tony De Vit 7" Edit) Tony De Vit 4:10 12", CD, Cass 1996 M
Move Any Mountain '96 (Bush Flange Mix) Bush Flange 12" 1996 M
Move Any Mountain '96 (Sneaker Pimps Mix) Sneaker Pimps, Line of Flight 7:29 12", CD 1996 M
Move Any Mountain '96 (Forces of Nature Mix) Forces of Nature 12" 1996 M
Move Any Mountain '96 (Forces of Nature Dub) Forces of Nature 12" 1996 M
Move Any Mountain '96 (Beatmasters Radio Mix) The Beatmasters 4:02 CD, Cass 1996 M
Move Any Mountain '96 (Beatmasters 12" Mix) The Beatmasters 7:22 CD 1996 M
Legend: p = "Pro›gen", m = "Move Any Mountain – Progen 91", e = En-tact (1990), E = En-tact (1991), P = Progeny, M = "Move Any Mountain '96"

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1991–1992)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[11] 104
Denmark (IFPI)[12] 8
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[13] 13
Europe (European Dance Radio)[14] 20
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[15] 5
UK Dance (Music Week)[16] 10
US Billboard Hot 100[17] 38
US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard)[18] 1
US Dance Club Play (Billboard)[19] 1
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[20] 4
Chart (1996)Peak
position
Scotland (OCC)[21] 26
UK Singles (OCC)35
UK Club Chart (Music Week)[22] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1991)Position
Belgium (Ultratop)[23] 81
UK Singles (OCC)[24] 39

Release history

RegionVersionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United KingdomOriginal15 July 1991One Little Indian[26]
United States26 September 199112-inch vinylFokus[27]
United Kingdom"Move Any Mountain '96"9 December 1996One Little Indian[28]
16 December 199612-inch vinyl[29]

Notes and References

  1. Progeny sleeve notes.
  2. http://www.shamendiscog.com/#tplp32 The Shamen discography
  3. Web site: John. Bush. The Shamen – En-Tact. AllMusic. 18 February 2020.
  4. Bill . Coleman . Dance Trax: U.S.-U.K. Buzz On Candy Flip, K Collective . . 28 April 1990 . 28 . 14 October 2020 .
  5. Larry. Flick. New & Noteworthy. . 5 October 1991. 93. 25 January 2018. Larry Flick.
  6. Kastanas, Andy (26 February 1992). "Sounds of Progress". p. 16. The Charlotte Observer.
  7. Dave. Jennings. Melody Maker. Singles. 31 March 1990. 24 February 2023.
  8. David . Giles . Singles . . 31 March 1990 . 23 . 29 October 2020 .
  9. James. Hamilton. Hot Vinyl. Record Mirror. 6 April 1991. 35. 11 December 2022. James Hamilton (DJ and journalist).
  10. William. Shaw. Reviews: Singles. Smash Hits. 330. 43. 24 July 1991. 8 March 2020.
  11. Web site: Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 12 September 2016. Imgur. 16 September 2016.
  12. Top 10 Sales in Europe. Music & Media. 8. 42. 39. 19 October 1991. 22 March 2018.
  13. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 8. 33. 21. 17 August 1991. 14 July 2020.
  14. European Dance Radio. Music & Media. 28 September 1991. 13. 25 October 2021.
  15. Book: Pennanen, Timo. 2006. Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972. 1st. Tammi. 978-951-1-21053-5. Helsinki. fi.
  16. Top 60 Dance Singles. Music Week. 20. 27 July 1991. 28 September 2020.
  17. Billboard Hot 100. Billboard. 29 February 1992. 26 July 2023.
  18. Dance Singles Sales. Billboard. 18 January 1992. 26 July 2023.
  19. Dance Club Songs. Billboard. 16 November 1991. 26 July 2023.
  20. Alternative Airplay. Billboard. 14 December 1991. subscription. 26 July 2023.
  21. Web site: Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 15 December 1996 - 21 December 1996. Official Charts Company. 13 October 2021.
  22. The RM Club Chart . Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) . 30 November 1996 . 6 . 5 October 2021.
  23. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1991. Ultratop. nl. 14 July 2020.
  24. 1991 Top 100 Singles. Music Week. Spotlight Publications. London, England. 20. 11 January 1992.
  25. The RM Club Chart of the Year 96. Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 11 January 1997. 8. 4 May 2022.
  26. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 19. 13 July 1991.
  27. Web site: Shamen – Move Any Mountain [Vinyl] ]. 21 April 2022.
  28. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 41. 7 December 1996.
  29. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 43. 14 December 1996.

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