Band of Gold (Freda Payne song)

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"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^[1], 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 the producers and songwriters.^{[citation needed]} 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

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.

[edit] 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, which 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.

[edit] Kimberley Locke version (2007)

Kimberley Locke released her version of Band of Gold as the second single from her album Based on a True Story to radio on August 13, 2007. It went on to become Kimberley'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.

[edit] Billboard review

"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." ^[2]

[edit] Track listings and formats

• US Remixes Maxi-Single - CURBD-2062

1. Band Of Gold (Dave Audé Radio Edit) 3:12
2. Band Of Gold (Bimbo Jones Radio Edit) 3:22
3. Band Of Gold (Almighty Radio Edit) 2:57
4. Band Of Gold (Scotty K Radio Edit) 3:49
5. Band Of Gold (Dave Audé Mixshow Edit) 6:06
6. Band Of Gold (Bimbo Jones Mix) 7:17
7. Band Of Gold (Almighty Extended Mix) 6:51
8. Band Of Gold (Scotty K Extended Klub Mix) 6:45
9. Band Of Gold (Dave Audé Club Mix) 8:25
10. Band Of Gold (Dave Audé Dub) 7:08

• UK Promotional Remixes Maxi-Single - Almighty remixes

1. Band Of Gold (Almighty Radio Mix) 2:55
2. Band Of Gold (Almighty 12" Club Mix) 6:49
3. Band Of Gold (Almighty 12" Dub) 6:38
4. 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.

[edit] Charts

[edit] See also

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

[edit] References