Band of Gold (Freda Payne song)

Infobox Single
Name = Band of Gold
Artist = Freda Payne
Released = 1970
Label = Invictus Records
Length = 2:53
Writer = Ron Dunbar and Edyth Wayne [ [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=17:120277 "Band of Gold"] at allmusic] .
Producer = Brian Holland
Edward Holland, Jr.
Lamont Dozier
Last single = "Unhooked Generation"
(1970)
This single = "Band of Gold"
(1970)
Next single = "Deeper and Deeper"
(1970)Infobox Single
Name = Band of Gold


Artist = Charly McClain
from Album = The Woman in Me
A-side =
B-side =
Released = April 1984
Format = 7"
Recorded = 1983
Genre = Country
Length = 2:51
Label = Epic Records
Writer = Ron Dunbar and Edyth Wayne
Producer =
Chart position =
Last single = "Candy Man"
(with Mickey Gilley)
(1984)
This single = "Band of Gold"
(1984)
Next single = "The Right Stuff"
(with Mickey Gilley)
(1984)Infobox Single
Name = Band of Gold
Artist = Belinda Carlisle
from Album = Belinda
Released = 1986
Genre = Pop
Label = I.R.S. Records
Length =
Writer = Ron Dunbar and Edyth Wayne
Producer = Michael Lloyd
Last single = "I Feel the Magic"
(1986)
This single = "Band of Gold"
(1986)
Next single = "Since You've Gone"
(1986)Infobox Single
Name = Band of Gold
Artist = Bonnie Tyler
from Album = Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire
Released = 1986
Format = 7" single, 12" single
Label = CBS Records / Columbia Records
Length =
Writer =
Producer = Jim Steinman
Last single = "If You Were A Woman (And I Was A Man)"
(1986)
This single = "Band of Gold"
(1986)
Next single = "Rebel Without A Clue"
(1986)Infobox Single
Name = Band of Gold
Artist = Kimberley Locke


Released = Aug. 13, 2007 (radio)
Oct. 23, 2007 (remixes)
Format = Digital, radio
from Album = Based on a True Story
Label = Curb Records
Length = 3:01
Producer = Michael Lloyd
Mike Curb
Last single = "Change'
(2007)
This single = "Band of Gold"
(2007)
Next single = "Frosty the Snowman"
(2007)

"Band of Gold" is a popular song written by Holland/Dozier/Holland, under the pseudonym Edith Wayne and Ron Dunbar, and first recorded by Freda Payne. A smash hit for Payne in 1970, the song has been covered by numerous artists, notably dueling 1986 versions by contrasting pop divas Belinda Carlisle and Bonnie Tyler, and a 2007 version by Kimberley Locke.

The legendary songwriting team of Holland/Dozier/Holland used the names Edith Wayne because of a lawsuit they had with Motown. Ron Dunbar was a staff employee and producer for Invictus. According to Freda Payne [Freda Payne Interview, liner notes for Freda Payne, Unhooked Generation - The Complete Invictus Recordings, Castle Music, 2001] , Dunbar actually contributed to the song. However, Edith Wayne was never seen or heard and is most likely an alias for HDH. When they first offered the song to Freda Payne, she balked at the idea of recording it, finding the material more appropriate for a teenager or very young woman. Payne reluctantly gave in after much persuasion by Dunbar. [http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2575 "Band of Gold" at songfacts.com] ] Almost immediately following its release the Payne record became an instant pop smash, reaching #3 in the US and hitting #1 on the UK singles chart and remaining there for six weeks in September 1970, giving Payne her first gold record.

After Holland/Dozier/Holland left Motown in 1967, they were still in contact with Motown's house band, The Funk Brothers. Holland/Dozier/Holland started their own label, with the intention of self-producing the songs they would write, and they asked The Funk Brothers to play the instrumentals on those songs. The Funk Brothers who played on the Freda Payne recording of "Band of Gold" include:
*Bass: Bob Babbitt
*Guitarists: Dennis Coffey, Eddie Willis, and Ray Monette
*Keyboards: Johnny Griffth
*Drums: Uriel Jones
*Percussion: Jack Ashford

The distinctive electric sitar part is played by New York studio musician Vinnie Bell. Lead guitar on the track is by Ray Parker, Jr.

In 2004, Freda Payne's "Band of Gold" was voted number 391 in "Rolling Stone" magazine's listing of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Cover versions

Despite both coming off major hits and working with noted musicians, neither the Belinda Carlisle nor the Bonnie Tyler versions were major hits. Tyler's was produced by Jim Steinman, the man behind earlier hits by Tyler and Meatloaf, and later hits by Celine Dion, and the track was given a slew of Hi-NRG remixes. The song was the third single off her "Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire", which also features the hit "Holding Out for a Hero". Carlisle's version was also given dance remixes featuring vocals by Freda Payne herself, that appear on a 2003 CD re-issue of the album "Belinda", which features the hit "Mad About You".

In 1983, "Band of Gold" was recorded by Disco/Hi-NRG Star Sylvester on Megatone records (UK chart #67). It was released as a 12" single. The song was also covered in 1980 by the Australian group The Reels on their hit EP "Five Great Gift Ideas", and by Modern Romance on the 1982 "Party Party" soundtrack.

Also in 1983, country singer Charly McClain recorded a cover version of "Band of Gold" for her album "The Woman in Me". McClain's version reached No. 22 on the "Billboard" Hot Country Singles chart in June 1984.

Kimberley Locke released her version of Band of Gold to radio on August 13, 2007 as the second single from her album "Based on a True Story". It became Locke's second single to hit #1 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart and her seventh to go top 10 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.

Locke had previously performed the song alongside Frenchie Davis during "Hollywood week" on the second season of "American Idol", and later performed it again during her final performance week on the show. "Billboard"' said of her version: :"Freda Payne's 1970 No. 3 hit "Band of Gold" may have been done to death, but a refresher course with ignition control of Kimberley Locke turns "Gold" green again. As with every song she has delivered, the "American Idol" alumnus—who earned high marks with her performance of this track on season two of the series—has commanded an enduring love affair at AC radio, with six hits and two No. 1s, including previous No. 6 "Change" from current CD "Based on a True Story." With a firm base in the gay community, the Bimbo Jones remix will only extend Locke's reach. So many seasons into the show, fewer original victors maintain relevance. (That's the way of the pop world.) But Locke has drop-kicked Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken as the season's real winner." Taylor Chuck [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/singles/e3iac3834f34d131f6cedd9ae096ba8e292 "Band Of Gold"] Billboard Magazine, August 2007]

Track listings and formats (Locke version)

*US Remixes Maxi-Single - CURBD-2062
# Band Of Gold (Dave Audé Radio Edit) 3:12
# Band Of Gold (Bimbo Jones Radio Edit) 3:22
# Band Of Gold (Almighty Radio Edit) 2:57
# Band Of Gold (Scotty K Radio Edit) 3:49
# Band Of Gold (Dave Audé Mixshow Edit) 6:06
# Band Of Gold (Bimbo Jones Mix) 7:17
# Band Of Gold (Almighty Extended Mix) 6:51
# Band Of Gold (Scotty K Extended Klub Mix) 6:45
# Band Of Gold (Dave Audé Club Mix) 8:25
# Band Of Gold (Dave Audé Dub) 7:08

*UK Promotional Remixes Maxi-Single - Almighty remixes
# Band Of Gold (Almighty Radio Mix) 2:55
# Band Of Gold (Almighty 12" Club Mix) 6:49
# Band Of Gold (Almighty 12" Dub) 6:38
# Band Of Gold (Almighty 12" Instrumental) 6:47

An additional remix by Piper was later released in the digital remix package for Kimberley's next single, "Fall".

Charts

ee also

* UK No.1 Hits of 1970
* Number-one dance hits of 2008 (USA)

References