THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
553-Freda Payne-Band of Gold.
1970-Number 1 single.
Best Bit-At 1.38. It might sound like Motown, it may look like Motown, and it even smells like Motown, but in fact the only thing that’s not Motown, is the record label it was recorded on.
In 1968 the legendary songwriting team of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, (1941-2022) and Eddie Holland (see also best songs 969-823-650-411-212 and 148) left Motown records over a dispute with the labels owner Berry Gordy Jr. over profit sharing, and royalties. The trio set up two new record labels in their own names, one being ‘Invictus,’ the label where this song was recorded, and the other being ‘Hot Wax,’ records. As a result of an ongoing court case between ‘H-D-H’ and Berry Gordy, no songs written by the trio could appear on the song writing credits in their own name, something which continued until 1970. Instead the name ‘Edyth Wayne’ who was an acquaintance, was used alongside that of Ronald Dunbar, (1939-2018) who had worked with the trio at Motown, and had joined them in the new venture.
Freda Charcilia Payne was born on September 19th, 1942, in Detroit, Michigan, United States, she is the older sister of Scherrie Payne, who was the lead singer of the ‘Supremes’ (see also best songs 1001-411-212 and 148) between 1973-1977. During her career Freda Payne has been a TV talk show host, and an actress in musicals, and films. The discography of Freda Payne includes 16 studio Albums released between 1964-2021, and 29 singles released between 1962-1986, three of which are as a featured artist, there are also six official compilation Albums, and three live Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, three of her singles have made the top 40, with ‘Band of Gold’ peaking the highest at Number 3 in 1970, while in the UK, she has charted twice within the top 40, with ‘Deeper and Deeper,’ providing her other hit, when reaching Number 33 in 1970, as the follow up to ‘Band of Gold.’
‘Band of Gold’ was the second of three singles released from Freda Payne’s third studio Album of the same name, from August 1970. The song was written by the legendary songwriting team of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland, using the pseudonym ‘Edythe Wayne, also given song writing credit was Ronald Dunbar, the track was produced by Brian Holland, and Lamont Dozier. When first offered ‘Band of Gold’ Freda Payne was reluctant, stating that the songs subject was more suitable for a young innocent girl. According to Ronald Dunbar, it was he who encouraged Payne to record the song, saying, ‘You don’t have to like it, just sing it.’ The songs subject is open to interpretation, some think it is about a bride not being able to consummate her marriage because this is her first time, and some think it is the groom who is impotent, perhaps through being gay. Lamont Dozier who co-wrote ‘Band of Gold’ has said,’The story was, the girl found out this guy was not all there. He had his own feelings about giving his all. He wanted to love this girl, he married the girl, but he couldn’t perform on his wedding night because he had other issues about his sexuality. I’ll put it that way. It was about this guy that was basically gay, and he couldn’t perform. He loved her, but he couldn’t do what he was supposed to do as a groom, as her new husband.’
Lamont Herbert Dozier was born on June 16th, 1941, in Detroit, Michigan, United States, he died on August 8th, 2022, at the age of 81. As part of ‘H-D-H’ Lamont Dozier, along with Brian Holland served as the trio’s musical arranger and producer, while Eddie Holland concentrated mainly on the lyrics and vocal production. As a performer and writer/producer away from ‘H-D-H’, Lamont Dozier released 12 Albums between 1973-2018, and 23 singles as a solo artist, or with others between 1957-1991. Significant songs written or co-written by Lamont Dozier without the Holland brothers include ‘Going Back to My Roots,’ (see also best songs 414) and the 1988 American Billboard Number 1 & UK Number 6 single ‘Two Hearts,’ with Phil Collins. In total Lamont Dozier has co-written and produced 14 American Billboard Number 1 singles, and four UK Number 1 singles.
‘Band of Gold’ has a number of well known artists performing on the track. The instrumentation was provided by members of the ‘Funk Brothers,’ (see also best songs 948-650-414-382-212-148 and 28) whom ‘H-D-H’ had worked with at Motown records. The tracks backing vocals were performed by Scherrie Payne, Thelma Hopkins, Joyce Vincent Wilson, and Pamela Vincent, both Thelma and Joyce would go on to form ‘Dawn’ with Tony Orlando (see also best songs 886.) The Electric Sitar part was played by Dennis Coffey, and the lead guitar was played by Ray Parker Jr. (see also best songs 560.)
‘You took me from the shelter of my mother I had never known, or loved any other. We kissed after taking vows, but that night on our honeymoon we stayed in separate rooms.’