A 1970
heart-breaking classic, which sounds like Motown. Not surprising really as it was written by Ron
Dunbar and the famed Motown writers / producers Holland / Dozier /
Holland. Following an acrimonious
departure from Motown to form their own label, Invictus Records, HDH resorted to a pseudonym of Edythe Wayne to
avoid any legal complications.
Freda Payne had
actually been in the same school class as Lamont Dozier in Detroit, and
released two jazz albums, before she was one of the first Invictus signings
.
"Band of
Gold" is an agonizing tale of a young woman abandoned on her wedding night
("We stayed in separate rooms"),
desolate in" my lonely room"
and desperately hoping for his return and to rekindle "memories of what
love could be". Motown never got as
sad as this. We can only speculate on
the train of events, but "love
me like you tried before" suggests an argument, impotence or
homosexuality.
Curiously, the
original version casts a very different light with "the night I turned you away"
hinting at her frigidity or nerves. But the song was reduced by 50 seconds to come
in under three minutes, thus increasing the possibility of radio play and commercial
success.
Payne was initially reluctant too, as she felt
too old at 30 to sing about these issues. She was persuaded and contributed a mesmerising
performance of pain and angst.
HDH also
borrowed some of the Funk Brothers backing musicians that had played on so many Motown classics (the hidden stars of the
sound). So they provided the rapid constant
beat of the drums, pounding bass, and twangy guitar. There was also the exotic
twist of an electric sitar guitar, and beautiful backing vocals. Even with their saddest moment, HDH could
still couple it with a bouncy and irresistible beat.
"Band Of
Gold" was a massive hit, with six weeks at number 1 in the UK, and remains
a timeless classic. A perfect combination of superlative lyrics and killer Funk
Brothers beat.
Hear Now - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daxiMb0rITA
Hear Next - The Vietnam anthem "Bring the
Boys Home" is the other classic Freda Payne hit.
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