It's a Fine Day

"It's a Fine Day" is a song written by English poet and musician Edward Barton. It was originally recorded in 1983 by Jane, and later by Opus III for whom it was a major international hit in 1992.

Original recording by Jane

Infobox Single
Name = It's a Fine Day


Cover size =
Caption =
Artist = Jane
from Album =
A-side =
B-side =
Released = 1983
Format =
Recorded =
Genre =
Length = 2:44
Label = Cherry Red Records
Writer = Edward Barton
Producer =
Certification =
Chart position =
Last single =
This single =
Next single =
Misc =

Barton wrote the lyrics as a poem when living in the Hulme area of Manchester [http://www.djhistory.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-7551.html] . It was originally sung unaccompanied by, and credited to, Jane - that is, Jane Lancaster, Barton's girlfriend ["Mojo magazine", March 2008, p.76] [http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/jane_and_barton] . They recorded and released it independently, and it was played by radio DJ John Peel. It was then heard by Iain McNay of Cherry Red Records, who obtained the rights to the record and released it more widely on his label in 1983. [ [http://homepages.force9.net/king1/Barton/Jane-ItsAFineDayGeraldMix.htm Jane - It's A Fine Day (A Guy Called Gerald Remix) ] ] It reached # 5 on the UK Indie Chart, and later appeared, credited to Jane and Barton, on their eponymous mini-album "Jane And Barton".

Jane's version of the song was remixed by A Guy Called Gerald in 1992.

Opus III version

Infobox Single
Name = It's a Fine Day


Cover size =
Caption =
Artist = Opus III
from Album = Mind Fruit
A-side =
B-side =
Released = 1992
Format = CD single
7", 12"
Recorded =
Genre = Dance
Length = 5:29
Label =
Writer = Edward Barton
Producer =
Certification =
Last single =
This single =
Next single =
Misc =Also in 1992, the song was covered by Opus III, with vocals by Kirsty Hawkshaw. This version reached # 5 in the UK charts, and # 1 in the US Hot Dance Club Play Chart.

Track listings

; CD single
# "It's a Fine Day" (edit) — 3:36
# "It's a Fine Day" (accapella version) — 5:30
# "Evolution Rush" — 6:11

; 7" single
# "It's a Fine Day" (edit) — 3:40
# "Evolution Rush" (edit) — 4:21

; 12" maxi
# "It's a Fine Day" (club remix) — 6:45
# "It's a Fine Day" (club remix) — 6:45

Charts

Later versions

The song was also the basis of Orbital's 1993 track, "Halcyon + On + On", on their second eponymous album - the "la la la" section of the chorus was backmasked and sampled throughout the song.

A further version was released in 1998, credited to Miss Jane. This was produced by Italian producers David Carlotti and Carmine Sorrentino. The remake was based on samples of Kirsty Hawkshaw's vocals from the Opus III version, and does not feature vocals from the original Jane version. Luisa Gard provided the on-stage image for the touring version of Miss Jane, but did not contribute to the recordings. [ [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Miss+Jane Miss Jane ] ] Various remixes of this version were issued, including one by ATB.

Other versions have been recorded by Dallas Superstars and the Barcode Brothers. Norwegian artist Erlend Øye also covered the song on his album that was part of the "DJ-Kicks" series.

References