I Hear Talk
Encyclopedia
I Hear Talk is an album by pop group Bucks Fizz
. Released in 1984, this was the group's fourth studio album and featured the singles "Talking in Your Sleep", "Golden Days
" and "I Hear Talk
".
. During this time recording sessions were held for their fourth album as well as the group embarking on a 40-date UK tour.
The group made a comeback in August with the single "Talking In Your Sleep" - a cover of a song by US band The Romantics
. The single revitalised the group's career with its harder-edged rock sound and became a top twenty hit in the UK. Another single "Golden Days
" (a reworking of a recent Cliff Richard
song) was released in October, but failed to chart as highly. The album followed soon after and also received a tepid response, peaking at #66 - their lowest charting album to this point. A third and final single (the title track
) was released in December, but coincided with a coach crash that the group suffered while on tour. Promotion for the single was limited due to this and although performed better in the charts than the previous single, it didn't restore them to their former glory.
During recording sessions for this album in early 1984, the group recorded the song "What's Love Got To Do With It" for possible inclusion. Around the same time the song was also recorded by US star, Tina Turner
, who went on to have an International hit with it. The Bucks Fizz version went unreleased until 2000, when it was included as a bonus track on a CD re-release of their album, Are You Ready. The group recorded many of the tracks in Zurich
. According to member Cheryl Baker
, Jay Aston
didn't attend these sessions, with her vocals being recorded later in the UK.
The album's sleeve featured a sepia-toned photograph of the group on the beach at Camber Sands
, surrounded by a wide black border. The inside sleeve featured more shots taken at the same location. This was the group's final album both with their original record company, RCA
and member Jay Aston, who quit the line-up the following year. It would be two years before the next album release.
I Hear Talk was re-released on Compact Disc
in 2004 with additional bonus tracks. In 2006, alternate versions of tracks "Indebted to You", "Tears On the Ballroom Floor", "Cold War", "Breaking Me Up", "She Cries" and "Thief In the Night" were released on The Lost Masters - a collection of unreleased Bucks Fizz tracks. Two years later, a follow-up compilation gave further alternate versions of "Indebted to You", "Tears On the Ballroom Floor", "Golden Days", "Talking in Your Sleep" and "Breaking Me Up". More importantly however, the first of these albums produced an entirely new song taken from the I Hear Talk sessions - "Every Dream Has Broken". It is unknown why this song was never released, but fans of the group rate it as one of Bucks Fizz's best ever songs.
criticized the album by being too "safe" and claimed that Bucks Fizz were "not trying anything new here". The same magazine however said that alongside new albums by Wham!
, Culture Club
, Duran Duran
and Frankie Goes to Hollywood
it was a contender for the top 10. Reviewing their single "I Hear Talk", pop group Bananarama
said that the song was their best in a long time, stating "it has something the last few singles didn't". In a Smash Hits
review, Morrissey
said that the song "Golden Days" was "inexcusably dim". While Number One
credited "Talking in Your Sleep" as being "raunchy".
Musicians
Production
Bucks Fizz (band)
Bucks Fizz are an English pop group who achieved success in the 1980s, most notably for winning the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Making Your Mind Up". The group was formed in January 1981 specifically for the contest and comprised four vocalists: Bobby G, Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and...
. Released in 1984, this was the group's fourth studio album and featured the singles "Talking in Your Sleep", "Golden Days
Golden Days
"Golden Days" is a 1984 single by the UK pop group Bucks Fizz. It was originally recorded by Cliff Richard.- Background :Released in October 1984, this was the thirteenth single by the group but failed to achieve the success of the group's previous hits and stalled at No. 42 in the UK Charts...
" and "I Hear Talk
I Hear Talk (Bucks Fizz single)
"I Hear Talk" is a 1984 single by UK pop group Bucks Fizz. It was written by Andy Hill and Peter Sinfield - the team responsible for the group's biggest hit in the UK, "The Land of Make Believe". It was also produced by Hill.- Background :...
".
Overview
Bucks Fizz had been consistently in the public eye for three years by the end of 1983 and so decided to keep a low profile for the first half of 1984 following the low-charting performance of their last singleRules of the Game (Bucks Fizz single)
- Overview :The song was written by Warren Harry , who had written their top 10 hit "When We Were Young" a few months earlier. It was produced by Brian Tench with co-production by Andy Hill....
. During this time recording sessions were held for their fourth album as well as the group embarking on a 40-date UK tour.
The group made a comeback in August with the single "Talking In Your Sleep" - a cover of a song by US band The Romantics
The Romantics
The Romantics is an American New Wave band from Detroit, Michigan, formed in 1977. The band adopted the name "The Romantics" because they formed on Valentine's Day, 1977. The Romantics achieved popularity in the United Kingdom, The U.S...
. The single revitalised the group's career with its harder-edged rock sound and became a top twenty hit in the UK. Another single "Golden Days
Golden Days
"Golden Days" is a 1984 single by the UK pop group Bucks Fizz. It was originally recorded by Cliff Richard.- Background :Released in October 1984, this was the thirteenth single by the group but failed to achieve the success of the group's previous hits and stalled at No. 42 in the UK Charts...
" (a reworking of a recent Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
song) was released in October, but failed to chart as highly. The album followed soon after and also received a tepid response, peaking at #66 - their lowest charting album to this point. A third and final single (the title track
I Hear Talk (Bucks Fizz single)
"I Hear Talk" is a 1984 single by UK pop group Bucks Fizz. It was written by Andy Hill and Peter Sinfield - the team responsible for the group's biggest hit in the UK, "The Land of Make Believe". It was also produced by Hill.- Background :...
) was released in December, but coincided with a coach crash that the group suffered while on tour. Promotion for the single was limited due to this and although performed better in the charts than the previous single, it didn't restore them to their former glory.
During recording sessions for this album in early 1984, the group recorded the song "What's Love Got To Do With It" for possible inclusion. Around the same time the song was also recorded by US star, Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
, who went on to have an International hit with it. The Bucks Fizz version went unreleased until 2000, when it was included as a bonus track on a CD re-release of their album, Are You Ready. The group recorded many of the tracks in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
. According to member Cheryl Baker
Cheryl Baker
Cheryl Baker is an English television presenter and singer. She is most famous for being a member of 1980s pop group Bucks Fizz, and has performed for the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest twice, winning it the second time.-Early career:After leaving school and a series of secretarial jobs, Cheryl...
, Jay Aston
Jay Aston
Jay Hilda Aston is a singer, dancer, and occasional songwriter who was formerly with the British pop group, Bucks Fizz. She was the youngest member of the group's original line-up, being just 19 at the Eurovision Song Contest....
didn't attend these sessions, with her vocals being recorded later in the UK.
The album's sleeve featured a sepia-toned photograph of the group on the beach at Camber Sands
Camber Sands
For historical information on the area, see Camber articleCamber Sands is a beach at the village of Camber , East Sussex, England...
, surrounded by a wide black border. The inside sleeve featured more shots taken at the same location. This was the group's final album both with their original record company, RCA
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
and member Jay Aston, who quit the line-up the following year. It would be two years before the next album release.
I Hear Talk was re-released on Compact Disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
in 2004 with additional bonus tracks. In 2006, alternate versions of tracks "Indebted to You", "Tears On the Ballroom Floor", "Cold War", "Breaking Me Up", "She Cries" and "Thief In the Night" were released on The Lost Masters - a collection of unreleased Bucks Fizz tracks. Two years later, a follow-up compilation gave further alternate versions of "Indebted to You", "Tears On the Ballroom Floor", "Golden Days", "Talking in Your Sleep" and "Breaking Me Up". More importantly however, the first of these albums produced an entirely new song taken from the I Hear Talk sessions - "Every Dream Has Broken". It is unknown why this song was never released, but fans of the group rate it as one of Bucks Fizz's best ever songs.
Reception and reviews
While Bucks Fizz were generally criticised in the media for producing lightweight pop music, their albums usually received favourable reviews. However, of their five studio albums, I Hear Talk seemed to gain the least recommendations. Record MirrorRecord Mirror
Record Mirror was a British weekly pop music newspaper, founded by Isadore Green and featured, news articles, interviews, record charts, record reviews, concert reviews, letters from readers and photographs. The paper became respected by both mainstream pop music fans and serious record collectors...
criticized the album by being too "safe" and claimed that Bucks Fizz were "not trying anything new here". The same magazine however said that alongside new albums by Wham!
WHAM!
Wham! were a short-lived British musical duo formed by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley in the early 1980s. They were briefly known in the United States as Wham! UK due to a naming conflict with an American band....
, Culture Club
Culture Club
Culture Club are a British rock band who were part of the 1980s New Romantic movement. The original band consisted of Boy George , Mikey Craig , Roy Hay and Jon Moss...
, Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
and Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Frankie Goes to Hollywood were a British dance-pop band popular in the mid-1980s. The group was fronted by Holly Johnson , with Paul Rutherford , Peter Gill , Mark O'Toole , and Brian Nash .The group's debut single "Relax" was banned by the BBC in 1984 while at number six in the charts and...
it was a contender for the top 10. Reviewing their single "I Hear Talk", pop group 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...
said that the song was their best in a long time, stating "it has something the last few singles didn't". In a Smash Hits
Smash Hits
Smash Hits was a pop music based magazine, aimed at teenagers and young adults and originally published in the United Kingdom by EMAP. It ran from 1978 to 2006 and was issued fortnightly for most of that time...
review, Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
said that the song "Golden Days" was "inexcusably dim". While Number One
Number One (magazine)
Number One was a British magazine dealing with pop music. It ran for nine years, mostly during the 1980s and was aimed at a mainly teenage market.- Overview :...
credited "Talking in Your Sleep" as being "raunchy".
Original album
| # | |Side One | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Hear Talk I Hear Talk (Bucks Fizz single) "I Hear Talk" is a 1984 single by UK pop group Bucks Fizz. It was written by Andy Hill and Peter Sinfield - the team responsible for the group's biggest hit in the UK, "The Land of Make Believe". It was also produced by Hill.- Background :... " Writers: Andy Hill Andy Hill (composer) Andy Hill is a British music producer and songwriter who scored many hits during the 1980s and 90s... / Pete Sinfield Producer: Andy Hill |
4:36 |
| 2. | "Indebted to You" Writers: Andy Hill / Warren Bacall Producer: Andy Hill |
4:31 |
| 3. | "Tears on the Ballroom Floor" Writers: Anthony Phillips Anthony Phillips Anthony Edwin "Ant" Phillips is an English multi instrumentalist, best known as a founding member of the band Genesis. He played guitar and sang backing vocals until leaving in 1970, following the recording of their second album, Trespass... / Roy Hill Producer: Brian Tench |
4:04 |
| 4. | "Cold War" Writer: Dominic Bugatti Producer: Brian Tench and Bobby G Bobby G Bobby G is a member of pop group Bucks Fizz. He was the only remaining original member in the group... |
3:40 |
| 5. | "Golden Days Golden Days "Golden Days" is a 1984 single by the UK pop group Bucks Fizz. It was originally recorded by Cliff Richard.- Background :Released in October 1984, this was the thirteenth single by the group but failed to achieve the success of the group's previous hits and stalled at No. 42 in the UK Charts... " Writers: Terry Britten Terry Britten Terry Britten is a prolific English singer-songwriter, who has written songs for Tina Turner and Sir Cliff Richard, Olivia Newton-John, Status Quo, Michael Jackson and many others.-Career:... / Sue Shifrin Producer: Terry Britten |
4:12 |
| # | |Side Two | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Talking in Your Sleep" Writers: Marinos / Palmar / Skill / Canler / Solley Pete Solley Peter "Pete" Solley is a Hammond organ player, pianist and a Grammy-nominated record producer. He has recorded with Eric Clapton, Al Stewart and Whitesnake as well as producing records for Ted Nugent, Oingo Boingo, Motörhead, The Romantics, Peter Frampton, The Sports, Wreckless Eric and many... Producer: Andy Hill |
4:17 |
| 7. | "Breaking Me Up" Writers: Andy Hill / Frank Musker Frank Musker Frank Musker is a songwriter and composer. Especially in the 80s and 90s he worked with artists like Sheena Easton, The Babys, Robert Miles, Jennifer Rush, Bucks Fizz , Air Supply, Zucchero and Brian May... Producer: Andy Hill |
4:07 |
| 8. | "January's Gone" Writers: Andy Hill / Ian Bairnson Ian Bairnson Ian Bairnson is a Scottish musician, famous for being one of the core members of The Alan Parsons Project. He is a multi-instrumentalist, who has played saxophone and keyboards, although he is best known as a guitarist... Producer: Andy Hill |
4:40 |
| 9. | "She Cries" Writer: Nik Kershaw Nik Kershaw Nik Kershaw is an English singer-songwriter. The one time jazz-funk guitarist was a mid-1980s teen idol. His 50 weeks on the UK Singles Chart in 1984 beat all other soloists... Producer: Pip Williams Pip Williams Pip Williams, is a record producer, arranger and guitarist, best known for producing albums for Status Quo and The Moody Blues.-Career:... |
3:35 |
| 10. | "Thief in the Night" Writers: Andy Hill / Warren Bacall Producer: Brian Tench |
3:44 |
Re-issue (2004)
Bonus tracks:| # | |Side One | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Don't Think You're Fooling Me" Writer: Bobby G Producer: Bobby G |
3:53 |
| 12. | "Where Do I Go Now" Writer: Cheryl Baker Cheryl Baker Cheryl Baker is an English television presenter and singer. She is most famous for being a member of 1980s pop group Bucks Fizz, and has performed for the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest twice, winning it the second time.-Early career:After leaving school and a series of secretarial jobs, Cheryl... Producer: Cheryl Baker / Adrian Sheppard / Richard Cottle |
4:26 |
| 13. | "One Touch Too Much" Writers: Andy Hill / Sue Shifrin Producer: Big Note |
3:46 |
| 14. | "Pulling Me Under" Writer: Bobby G Producer: Bobby G |
4:04 |
| 15. | "Invisible" Writers: Andy Hill / Mike Batt Mike Batt Michael Philip "Mike" Batt is a British songwriter, musician, producer and Deputy Chairman of the British Phonographic Industry... Producer: Big Note |
4:36 |
| 16. | "Evil Man" Writer: Jay Aston Jay Aston Jay Hilda Aston is a singer, dancer, and occasional songwriter who was formerly with the British pop group, Bucks Fizz. She was the youngest member of the group's original line-up, being just 19 at the Eurovision Song Contest.... Producer: Big Note |
3:49 |
| 17. | "Here's Looking at You" Writers: Andy Hill / Pete Sinfield Producer: Big Note |
5:50 |
| 18. | "Young Hearts" Writer: Andy Hill Producer: Nick Tauber Nick Tauber Nick Tauber is a British record producer best known for his work with Thin Lizzy, Toyah and Marillion in the 1970s and 1980s.Nick Tauber continues to manage, produce, and consult with acts/artists/and producers. In the late 1990s, Tauber was involved with British pop/punk act Kowloon, guiding them... |
4:05 |
Personnel
- Bobby GBobby GBobby G is a member of pop group Bucks Fizz. He was the only remaining original member in the group...
- lead vocals on "I Hear Talk", "Indebted to You", "Cold War", "Talking in Your Sleep", "Breaking Me Up", "She Cries", "Don't Think You're Fooling Me", "Pulling Me Under" - Jay AstonJay AstonJay Hilda Aston is a singer, dancer, and occasional songwriter who was formerly with the British pop group, Bucks Fizz. She was the youngest member of the group's original line-up, being just 19 at the Eurovision Song Contest....
- lead vocals on "Thief in the Night", "Invisible", "Evil Man" - Cheryl BakerCheryl BakerCheryl Baker is an English television presenter and singer. She is most famous for being a member of 1980s pop group Bucks Fizz, and has performed for the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest twice, winning it the second time.-Early career:After leaving school and a series of secretarial jobs, Cheryl...
- lead vocals on "Tears on the Ballroom Floor", "Where Do I Go Now", "Young Hearts" - Mike NolanMike Nolan (singer)Mike Nolan is a singer and was one of the four original members of the British pop group, Bucks Fizz. He was born in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, but raised in the UK, where he still resides.- Early career :...
- lead vocals on "January's Gone"
Musicians
- Andy HillAndy Hill (composer)Andy Hill is a British music producer and songwriter who scored many hits during the 1980s and 90s...
- Keyboards, Guitar, Bass - Simon Darlow - Keyboards
- Billy Livesey - Keyboards
- Richard Cottle - Keyboards
- Tobias Boshell - Keyboards
- Ian BairnsonIan BairnsonIan Bairnson is a Scottish musician, famous for being one of the core members of The Alan Parsons Project. He is a multi-instrumentalist, who has played saxophone and keyboards, although he is best known as a guitarist...
- Guitar - Terry BrittenTerry BrittenTerry Britten is a prolific English singer-songwriter, who has written songs for Tina Turner and Sir Cliff Richard, Olivia Newton-John, Status Quo, Michael Jackson and many others.-Career:...
- Keyboards - Pip WilliamsPip WilliamsPip Williams, is a record producer, arranger and guitarist, best known for producing albums for Status Quo and The Moody Blues.-Career:...
- Guitar - John Read - Bass
- Gary Twigg - Bass
- Graham BroadGraham BroadGraham Broad is an English drummer who has been playing professionally since the age of fifteen, after attending the Royal College of Music in 1970....
- Drums and Percussion - Charles Morgan - Drums and Percussion
- Bob Jenkins - Drums and Percussion
- Pete Toms - Trombone
- Luke Tunney - Trumpet
- Martin Dobson - Saxophone
- Peter Woodroffe - Fairlight programmer
- Shelley PrestonShelley PrestonShelley Preston , is a singer who is most famous for being the new girl when she joined pop group Bucks Fizz in June 1985.- Career :...
- Vocals on "Here's Looking at You" and "Young Hearts" (bonus tracks)
Production
- Recorded at Power Play Studios, ZurichZürichZurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
; Comforts Place Studios, Mayfair Studios, RAK StudiosRAK studiosRAK Studios are located near Regents Park in central London. The Studios were created by Mickie Most in late 1976 and they have been host to the recording of a number of artists for over three decades.- Artists recorded at RAK :All info from artist list....
, LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... - John Hudson, Martin Webster, Trevor Vallis, Brian Tench, Simon Sullivan, G. Jackman - Engineers
- Dean Murphy - Executive Producer of CD re-issue
- Simon Fowler - Photography
- Shoot that Tiger! - Art direction and design
Chart performance
| Release date | Single title | UK Chart position |
|---|---|---|
| August 1984 | "Talking in Your Sleep" | 15 |
| October 1984 | "Golden Days" | 42 |
| December 1984 | "I Hear Talk" | 34 |
| Release date | Album title | UK Chart position |
|---|---|---|
| November 1984 | I Hear Talk | 66 |
| June 2004 | I Hear Talk (CD re-issue) | - |