"Say a Prayer (One Departed)" is the debut single from Tasmanian band, Devils in Heaven. The single was released in April 1992 and reached the low 80s in the

ARIA Charts The ARIA Charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA became the offici ...

but disappeared after a few weeks.

Background

Say a Prayer was originally written in

Launceston, Tasmania Launceston () or () is a city in the north of Tasmania, Australia, at the confluence of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River (kanamaluka). As of 2021, Launceston has a population of 87,645. Material was copied ...

by lead singer Dave Whitney in 1988. When Devils in Heaven first learnt the song, they all agreed that the quality of song exceeded their earlier originals. This gave them a boost and enthusiasm towards the band's future and it was not long after when they left

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

to tour mainland Australia. Before they left, Say a Prayer was included on a locally made vinyl compilation LP called "1 Out of the Bag". Later in 1989, the song changed the possible trajectory of the band's career. While they were playing in

Rockhampton Rockhampton is a city in the Rockhampton Region of Central Queensland, Australia. The population of Rockhampton in June 2021 was 79,967, Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018. making it the fourth-largest city in the state outside of the ...

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

, a band manager from

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

, Harry Slee, heard them play this song. He saw the potential of the band and helped them establish themselves on the Sydney music scene. At the end of the next year, they made their first professional recording of the song as a demo at Powerhouse Recording Studios in

Alexandria Alexandria ( or ; ar, ٱلْإِسْكَنْدَرِيَّةُ ; grc-gre, Αλεξάνδρεια, Alexándria) is the second largest city in Egypt, and the largest city on the Mediterranean coast. Founded in by Alexander the Great, Alexandria ...

. When the band performed on Channel 10's ''Star Search'' the next year in 1991, it was the song Say a Prayer they chose to use as their entry in the Grand Final. Their performance was a success and as a result they were awarded a recording contract by

Denis Handlin Denis Anthony Handlin AO (born 1951) is an Australian former entrepreneur and business executive who served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sony Music Entertainment Australia and New Zealand and President of Sony Music Entertainmen ...

from

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...

, Sony Entertainment. After winning the Grand Final with this song it became their debut single released the next year in 1992. The band recorded Say a Prayer at Festival Studios in Pyrmont and ATA Studios in

Glebe Glebe (; also known as church furlong, rectory manor or parson's close(s))McGurk 1970, p. 17 is an area of land within an ecclesiastical parish used to support a parish priest. The land may be owned by the church, or its profits may be reserved ...

during February of 1992. Garry Frost, ex-member of

1927 Events January * January 1 – The British Broadcasting ''Company'' becomes the British Broadcasting ''Corporation'', when its Royal Charter of incorporation takes effect. John Reith becomes the first Director-General. * January 7 * ...

and Moving Pictures produced the single and it was mixed at

INXS INXS (a word play, phonetic play on "in excess") were an Australian Rock music, rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. The band's founding members were bassist Garry Gary Beers, main composer and keyboar ...

' recording studios in

Darlinghurst Darlinghurst is an inner-city, eastern suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Darlinghurst is located immediately east of the Sydney central business district (CBD) and Hyde Park, within the local government area of the City of Sydney. I ...

, Rhinoceros Studios. The performance part of the music video was shot in a warehouse in

Surry Hills Surry Hills is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Surry Hills is immediately south-east of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Sydney. Surry Hills is surroun ...

and most of the outdoor scenes were filmed around

Millers Point Millers Point is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is on the north-western edge of the Sydney central business district, adjacent to The Rocks and is part of the local government area of the C ...

. The single was released in April of 1992 but failed to make an impact on the charts. The momentum the band had built up from appearing on Star Search was slowly subsiding and the band split up the following year. In the years following the band's break up, their singles have been highly sought after by collectors. There weren't many copies printed and interest in the band has increased since music lovers discovered the band over the internet. Their CD's have been known to be sold for almost $200 and have been listed for sale for as much as $500.

Track listing

# "Say a Prayer (One Departed)" (David Whitney) – 3:44 # "The Night is Over" (David Whitney, Nelson Tabe) – 4:07

Charts

References

{{Reflist 1992 singles Australian rock songs Columbia Records singles