Band of Gold

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"Band of Gold"
Single by Belinda Carlisle featuring Freda Payne
from the album Belinda
Released	1986
Genre	Pop
Length	3:42
Label	I.R.S. Records
Writer(s)	Ron Dunbar and Edyth Wayne
Producer	Michael Lloyd
Belinda Carlisle singles chronology
"I Feel the Magic" (1986) "Band of Gold" (1986) "Since You've Gone" (1986)

"Band of Gold" is a popular song written by Holland–Dozier–Holland under the pseudonym Edythe Wayne, and Ron Dunbar, and first recorded by Freda Payne. A 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 name Edythe 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, Edythe 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.^[2] Almost immediately following its release the Payne record became an instant pop smash, reaching number three in the US and hitting number one 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

Golden World/Motown session singers Pamela Wilson, Joyce Vincent Wilson, and Telma Hopkins provided the background vocals. Joyce and Telma would later go on to form the group, Tony Orlando & Dawn. Also singing in the background is Freda Payne's sister and future member of the Supremes, Scherrie Payne.

The distinctive electric sitar part is played by New York studio musician Vinnie Bell. Lead guitar on the track is by Ray Parker, Jr.^[2]

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.

Topic

The song tells a story of a recently married woman whose husband is incapable of loving her (even though he tried), resulting in the couple sleeping in separate rooms on their honeymoon, to her dismay. It would appear that the marriage ended in the husband's abandoning his bride, leaving her with no more than the titular 'band of gold' (and the dreams she holds in it).

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 Meat Loaf, 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 1970, Anne Renée (a popular Quebec singer) recorded a French cover of "Band of Gold" (Le Jonc d'amitié).

In 1983, "Band of Gold" was recorded by Disco/Hi-NRG singer Sylvester on Megatone Records and released as a 12" single. Sylvester's version reached number 18 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart^[3] and number 67 on the UK Singles Chart.^[4]

The song was a covered in 1980 by the Australian group The Reels on their hit EP Five Great Gift Ideas.

UK Salsa group Modern Romance covered "Band of Gold" on their compilation album, Party Tonight (1983).

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 number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart and her seventh to go top 10 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. In December 2009, Billboard included Kimberley's version of the song at number 45 on their list of the top 50 Dance Club Play songs of the decade.^[5] 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." ^[6]

Track listings and formats (Locke version)

• 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 Locke's next single, "Fall".

In 2012 U.K. band Bucky ^[7]recorded a version for a fund raising cd titled "Super Hits Of The Seventies" for radio station WFMU.^[8]

Charts

See also

• List of number-one singles of 1970 (UK)
• Number-one dance hits of 2008 (USA)

References

v t e Freda Payne Studio albums After the Lights Go Down Low and Much More!!! (1964) How Do You Say I Don't Love You Anymore (1966) Band of Gold (1970) Contact (1971) Reaching Out (1973) Payne & Pleasure (1974) Out of Payne Comes Love (1975) Stares and Whispers (1977) Supernatural High (1978) Hot (1979) Freda Payne Sings the (Unauthorized) I Hate Barney Songbook: A Parody (1995) Christmas With Freda and Friends (1996) Come See About Me (2001) On the Inside (2007) Live albums An Evening with Freda Payne: Live in Concert (1996) Live in Concert (1999) Compilation albums The Best of Freda Payne (1972) Greatest Hits (1991) Lost in Love (2000) Band of Gold: The Best of Freda Payne (2000) Unhooked Generation: The Complete Invictus Recordings (2001) The Best of Freda Payne: Ten Best Series (2002) Singles "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" (1966) "Band of Gold" (1970) "Happy Days Are Here Again/Happy Music (Dance the Night Away)" (1978) Related topics Scherrie Payne Gregory Abbott Book:Freda Payne