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Band of Gold
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 1970 [1]
StudioHDH Sound Studios, Detroit, Michigan
Genre R&B
Label Invictus
Producer William Weatherspoon
Freda Payne chronology
How Do You Say I Don't Love You Anymore
(1966)
Band of Gold
(1970)
Contact
(1971)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic [2]
Christgau's Record GuideC+ [3]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music [4]

Band of Gold is the third studio album by Freda Payne. [5] Her first for Invictus Records, it was released in 1970. [4] The title track became an instant smash on the Pop charts in the US and the UK. Other hits included "Unhooked Generation" (released before "Band of Gold") and "Deeper and Deeper". The tenth track was written by Payne's younger sister, Scherrie Payne. Cover versions include Gary Puckett and the Union Gap's hit " This Girl Is a Woman Now" and Andy Williams' hit " Happy Heart".

The album peaked at No. 60 on the Billboard 200. [6] "Band of Gold" reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart. [7] It, and "Deeper and Deeper", have sold more than a million copies worldwide. [8]

Critical reception

AllMusic called the album "a masterpiece of epic proportions," writing that "the overall sonic tone of Band of Gold reflects [Payne's] producers' Motown history." [2]

Track listing

Side 1
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1." Band of Gold" Ron Dunbar, Edythe Wayne2:53
2."I Left Some Dreams Back There"Norma Toney, Ron Dunbar3:17
3."Deeper and Deeper"Norma Toney, Ron Dunbar, Edythe Wayne2:52
4."Rock Me in the Cradle"Ron Dunbar, General Johnson, Gregg Perry3:03
5."Unhooked Generation"Ron Dunbar, Edythe Wayne2:29
6."Love on Borrowed Time" William Weatherspoon2:58
Side 2
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Through the Memory of My Mind"William Weatherspoon2:40
2." This Girl Is a Woman Now" Alan Bernstein, Vic Millrose2:59
3."The World Don't Owe You a Thing" Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier2:58
4."Now Is the Time to Say Goodbye" Scherrie Payne3:09
5." Happy Heart"Wayne P. Walker2:49
6."The Easiest Way to Fall"Ron Dunbar, Edythe Wayne, Scheerie Lavette2:36

Personnel

  • Recorded at: Holland-Dozier-Holland Sound Studios, Inc.
  • L.T. Horn – recording engineer
  • Processed by: Syntrex
  • William Weatherspoon – production supervision
  • Bob Wortham – cover photography

Charts

Album

Chart (1970) Peak
position
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM) [9] 40
US Billboard 200 [10] 60
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums ( Billboard) [11] 17

Singles

Year Single Chart Position
1970 "Unhooked Generation" Black Singles 43
1970 "Band of Gold" Pop Singles 3
1970 "Band of Gold" Black Singles 20
1970 "Band of Gold" UK Singles Chart 1
1970 "Deeper and Deeper" Pop Singles 24
1970 "Deeper and Deeper" Black Singles 9
1970 "Deeper and Deeper" UK Singles Chart 33

References

  1. ^ "Billboard Album Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 1 August 1970. p. 64. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Band of Gold - Freda Payne | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  3. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: P". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN  089919026X. Retrieved March 10, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  4. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6. MUZE. p. 455.
  5. ^ "Freda Payne | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  6. ^ "Freda Payne". Billboard.
  7. ^ "band of gold | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
  8. ^ "Headlines Celebration". Oakland Post. No. 34. 26 Dec 1973. p. 12.
  9. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4477". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  10. ^ "Billboard 200 — Billboard". Billboard. October 10, 1970. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  11. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums — Billboard". Billboard. October 10, 1970. Retrieved August 21, 2022 – via 12ft.io.