A Trick of the Night
Encyclopedia
"A Trick Of The Night" is a ballad
recorded by English girl group
Bananarama
. It was written and produced by Steve Jolley and Tony Swain
and released as the final single from Bananarama's album True Confessions
.
The song was remix
ed slightly for its single version, adding extra synthesizer
lines and vocal harmony layering. It was also given a more "upbeat" remix by the Stock Aitken Waterman
(SAW) production trio, at the request of London Records
.
The cautionary message in the lyrics are directed towards a friend who has gone to seek his fortune in the big city and ended up a rentboy.
The 12 inch single's B-side, "Set On You
", was the first in a series of club-oriented songs recorded specifically for Bananarama's single B-sides that demonstrated the group's shift towards the club market.
"A Trick Of The Night" was a top-forty hit in the UK, peaking at number thirty-two (the SAW-remixed version received the most airplay in their home country), while the ballad version stalled at number seventy-six on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
. The single made a very brief appearance on the Australian singles chart, where it peaked at number ninety-nine.
The song was included on the CD version of Greatest Hits Collection
as a bonus track, it was not included on the vinyl version nor their 2001 compilation The Very Best of Bananarama
.
It was included on the soundtrack to the 1986 American film Jumpin' Jack Flash
.
television show called In at the Deep End
. Each week Chris Serle
or Paul Heiney
would have to master a new skill - in this case, Paul Heiney had to master the art of directing a pop music video
(the episode was similar to MTV's Making the Video
program) for this song. Group members Sara Dallin
, Siobhan Fahey
and Keren Woodward
hated the final product.
UK 7" EP single NANEP12
UK 7" picture disc NANPD12
UK 12" single NANX12
UK promo 12-inch single NANDJ 12
US 12" single 886 119-1
Other versions
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
recorded by English girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
Bananarama
Bananarama
Bananarama are an English female pop duo who have had success on the pop and dance charts since 1982. Rather than relying on a two part harmony, the duo generally sings in unison, as do their background vocalists. Although there have been line-up changes, the group enjoyed their most popular...
. It was written and produced by Steve Jolley and Tony Swain
Jolley & Swain
Steve Jolley and Tony Swain were a successful pop musician, songwriting and record production duo in the United Kingdom in the early to mid-1980s, producing some of the top artists and songs of the era....
and released as the final single from Bananarama's album True Confessions
True Confessions (album)
True Confessions is the third album by the British girl group Bananarama. Released in 1986, the album was not a commercial success in the UK, but achieved their biggest sales and chart success in the U.S., where the first single "Venus" hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 .A majority of the...
.
The song was remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ed slightly for its single version, adding extra synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
lines and vocal harmony layering. It was also given a more "upbeat" remix by the Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman, sometimes known as SAW, were a UK songwriting and record producing trio consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. They had great success during the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s...
(SAW) production trio, at the request of London Records
London Records
London Records, referred to as London Recordings in logo, is a record label headquartered in the United Kingdom, originally marketing records in the United States, Canada and Latin America from 1947 to 1979, then becoming a semi-independent label....
.
The cautionary message in the lyrics are directed towards a friend who has gone to seek his fortune in the big city and ended up a rentboy.
The 12 inch single's B-side, "Set On You
Set on You
"Set on You" is a song recorded by English girl group Bananarama. The song is a non-album track that was released as the B-side to the group's previous single "A Trick of the Night". It is an early version of what ultimately became the album version of "More Than Physical"...
", was the first in a series of club-oriented songs recorded specifically for Bananarama's single B-sides that demonstrated the group's shift towards the club market.
"A Trick Of The Night" was a top-forty hit in the UK, peaking at number thirty-two (the SAW-remixed version received the most airplay in their home country), while the ballad version stalled at number seventy-six on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. The single made a very brief appearance on the Australian singles chart, where it peaked at number ninety-nine.
The song was included on the CD version of Greatest Hits Collection
Greatest Hits Collection (Bananarama album)
The Greatest Hits Collection is a compilation album released by Bananarama which features their single releases and greatest hits. It was issued by London Records in 1988, shortly after the departure of group member Siobhan Fahey...
as a bonus track, it was not included on the vinyl version nor their 2001 compilation The Very Best of Bananarama
The Very Best of Bananarama
The Very Best of Bananarama is one of several greatest hits collections by English girl group Bananarama.Released by Warner Music Group, parent company of Bananarama's label London Records, this set is the "official" hits package released to celebrate the group's twentieth anniversary...
.
It was included on the soundtrack to the 1986 American film Jumpin' Jack Flash
Jumpin' Jack Flash (film)
Jumpin' Jack Flash is a 1986 spy comedy film starring Whoopi Goldberg, Stephen Collins, Carol Kane, John Wood, Annie Potts, and Jonathan Pryce...
.
Music video
Two videos were filmed for the song. The North American version was directed by Andy Morahan featured the girls singing the song in a house at night, with their images projected on movie screens. The release of the single in the UK was delayed until February 1987, so that Bananarama could participate in a BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television show called In at the Deep End
In At The Deep End
In at the Deep End is the debut album of London-based grime collective Roll Deep. It went silver in the United Kingdom, selling more than 85,000 copies...
. Each week Chris Serle
Chris Serle
Christopher "Chris" Richard Serle is a former BBC TV presenter, reporter and actor. Serle was educated at Clifton College and Trinity College, Dublin, where he studied modern languages...
or Paul Heiney
Paul Heiney
Paul Heiney has been a radio broadcaster or television reporter in the United Kingdom for over thirty years.-Early life:...
would have to master a new skill - in this case, Paul Heiney had to master the art of directing a pop music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
(the episode was similar to MTV's Making the Video
Making the Video
Making the Video is an MTV show, consisting of half-hour episodes, which chronicles the process of filming various music videos. Usually the director outlines the concept of the video and the show often includes light-hearted and humorous moments. It always concludes with a premiere of the...
program) for this song. Group members Sara Dallin
Sara Dallin
Sara Elizabeth Dallin is an English musician mostly noted for her membership of the group Bananarama, which she co-founded with her childhood friend Keren Woodward.Dallin was born in Bristol, England...
, Siobhan Fahey
Siobhan Fahey
Siobhan Fahey is an Irish musician and founding member of the 1980s British girl group Bananarama, and later formed the BRIT Award and Ivor Novello award winning musical outfit Shakespears Sister.-Career:Fahey was born the eldest of three daughters to Helen and...
and Keren Woodward
Keren Woodward
Keren Woodward is an English pop singer and songwriter of British girl group Bananarama, co-founded by her long time school friend Sara Dallin and Siobhan Fahey....
hated the final product.
Track Listings
UK 7" single NANA12- "A Trick Of The Night" (Single Version) 4:17
- Available on the CD album The Greatest Hits CollectionThe Greatest Hits CollectionThe Greatest Hits Collection is the title of several greatest hits music albums:*The Greatest Hits Collection *The Greatest Hits Collection *The Greatest Hits Collection...
- Available on the CD album The Greatest Hits Collection
- "A Trick Of The Night" (Tricky Mix - Edit)
UK 7" EP single NANEP12
- "A Trick Of The Night" (Single Version) 4:17
- "A Cut Above The Rest" 3:40
- S. Jolley/T. Swain/S. Dallin/S. Fahey/K. Woodward
- "A Trick Of The Night" (Alternative 7" Number One Edit) 4:27
- "Set On YouSet on You"Set on You" is a song recorded by English girl group Bananarama. The song is a non-album track that was released as the B-side to the group's previous single "A Trick of the Night". It is an early version of what ultimately became the album version of "More Than Physical"...
" 3:56- M. Stock/M. Aitken/P. Waterman/S. Dallin/S. Fahey/K. Woodward
UK 7" picture disc NANPD12
- "A Trick Of The Night" (Single Version) 4:17
- "A Trick Of The Night" (Tricky Mix - Edit)
UK 12" single NANX12
- "A Trick Of The Night" (The Number One Mix) 8:14 #:Remixed by Stock/Aitken/Waterman
- "A Trick Of The Night" (Tricky Mix) 7:15 #:Remixed by Jolley & Swain
- "Set On You" 3:56
UK promo 12-inch single NANDJ 12
- "A Trick Of The Night" (Dub Mix) 4:31 #:Remixed by Stock/Aitken/Waterman
- "A Trick Of The Night" (Instrumental) 4:13 #:Remixed by Stock/Aitken/Waterman
US 12" single 886 119-1
- "A Trick of the Night" (The Number One Mix) - (8:13)
- Available on the CD album The Twelve Inches of BananaramaThe Twelve Inches of BananaramaThe Twelve Inches of Bananarama is a compilation album by English girl group Bananarama, released on October 2, 2006 by Warner Bros. Records. The collection contains twelve remixes of Bananarama songs, spanning the years 1982 to 1991, many of which are appearing on compact disc for the first time...
- Available on the CD album The Twelve Inches of Bananarama
- "A Trick of the Night" (Tricky Mix) - (7:15)
- "A Trick of the Night" (Dub Mix) - (4:31)
Other versions
- "A Trick of the Night" (Album Version) - (4:38)
- Taken from the album True Confessions
- "A Trick of the Night" (UK Video Version)
- Available on the remastered 2007 True Confessions but mistakenly listed as (Single Version)
- "A Trick of the Night" (U.S. Video Version)
Personnel
Bananarama- Sara DallinSara DallinSara Elizabeth Dallin is an English musician mostly noted for her membership of the group Bananarama, which she co-founded with her childhood friend Keren Woodward.Dallin was born in Bristol, England...
- Vocals - Siobhan FaheySiobhan FaheySiobhan Fahey is an Irish musician and founding member of the 1980s British girl group Bananarama, and later formed the BRIT Award and Ivor Novello award winning musical outfit Shakespears Sister.-Career:Fahey was born the eldest of three daughters to Helen and...
- Vocals - Keren WoodwardKeren WoodwardKeren Woodward is an English pop singer and songwriter of British girl group Bananarama, co-founded by her long time school friend Sara Dallin and Siobhan Fahey....
- Vocals
Charts
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 32 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 76 |
| U.S. Hot Dance Club Play | 39 |
| Australia ARIA singles | 99 |