''Band of Gold'' is the third studio album by

Freda Payne Freda Charcilia Payne (born September 19, 1942Some sources give a birth year of 1945, but this appears to be an error as all sources agree that she is older than her sister Scherrie, born 1944.) is an American singer and actress. Payne is best ...

. Her first for

Invictus Records Invictus Records was an American record label based in Detroit, Michigan. It was created by former top Motown producers Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Edward Holland, Jr. (known collectively as Holland–Dozier–Holland). It was the sister l ...

, it was released in 1970. The

title track A title track is a song that has the same name as the album or film in which it appears. In the Korean music industry, the term is used to describe a promoted song on an album, akin to a single, regardless of the song's title. Title track may al ...

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 Scherrie Ann Payne (born November 4, 1944) is an American singer. Payne is best known as a member of the R&B/Soul vocal group The Supremes from 1973 until 1977. Because of her powerful voice and petite stature (5'2"), Payne is sometimes referred ...

. Cover versions include

Gary Puckett and the Union Gap Gary Puckett & The Union Gap (initially credited as The Union Gap featuring Gary Puckett) was an American pop rock group active in the late 1960s. The group, formed by Gary Puckett, Gary "Mutha" Withem, Dwight Bement, Kerry Chater and Paul Whea ...

's hit "

This Girl Is a Woman Now "This Girl Is a Woman Now" is a song written by Victor Millrose and Alan Bernstein and was recorded by Gary Puckett & The Union Gap for their 1969 album ''The New Gary Puckett and the Union Gap Album''. The song reached No. 2 on the US Easy List ...

" and

Andy Williams Howard Andrew Williams (December 3, 1927 – September 25, 2012) was an American singer. He recorded 43 albums in his career, of which 15 have been gold certified and three platinum certified. He was also nominated for six Grammy Awards. He hos ...

' hit "

Happy Heart "Happy Heart" is a song written by James Last and Jackie Rae. Versions of the song by Petula Clark and Andy Williams charted simultaneously in 1969 and had their best showings on ''Billboard'' magazine's Easy Listening chart, where Clark peaked ...

". The album peaked at No. 60 on the ''Billboard'' 200. "Band of Gold" reached No. 1 on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

. It, and "Deeper and Deeper", have sold more than a million copies worldwide.

Critical reception

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

called the album "a masterpiece of epic proportions," writing that "the overall sonic tone of ''Band of Gold'' reflects ayne'sproducers' Motown history."

Track listing

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

Singles

References

{{Authority control 1970 albums Freda Payne albums Albums produced by Brian Holland Albums produced by Lamont Dozier Invictus Records albums Albums produced by Eddie Holland