The record was first released in 1966 on the Penthouse label.[2] It did not go anywhere and after being re-mastered and re-edited, it was released a second time in May 1967, this time on the Mira label. Nothing happened the second time. Then Decca got hold of the master. The record then started to make some progress in the UK, which got the attention of a DJ in Seattle. He started playing it and it started attracting attention in Seattle. By July 1967, the record was at no. 88 in the Billboard charts.[2] It finally got to no. 45.[3]
By May 1968, Bobby Rydell had a version of the single out on the Reprise label. It was produced by Dave Hassinger. The B side, "Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder", was arranged by Artie Butler.[4]
It became a hit for American rock band the Grass Roots. In April 1969, their version of "The River Is Wide" entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart at no. 87,[5] and by May, it had reached its peak position at no. 31.[6] The song appeared on their studio album Lovin' Things, which was released the same year. It later appeared on the band's compilation albums More Golden Grass and Their 16 Greatest Hits, which were released in 1970 and 1971 respectively.[7] The song has also been included on multiple subsequent compilations by the group. The single version does not contain the thunder present at the beginning of the LP version, and is also in a different key.