Bananarama – A Trick Of The Night (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986

NEW 2019 Transfer!
Meticulously Remastered!

Originally posted February 28, 2013

“A Trick of the Night” is a mid-tempo 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 re-recorded for UK single release, with new synthesizer tracks and vocal arrangement by the Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) production trio, at the request of London Records for the UK release.

The cautionary message in the lyrics is directed towards a friend who has gone to seek his fortune in the big city and ended up a rentboy.

“A Trick of the Night” was a top-40 hit in the UK, peaking at number 32. The SAW-remixed version received the most airplay in their home country, while the ballad version stalled at number 76 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The single spent one week in the Australian Kent Music Report top 100 singles chart, where it peaked at number 99. “A Trick of the Night” peaked at number 24 in Ireland.

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.

Lyrics from the Number One Mix were sampled on Bananarama’s “I Heard a Rumour” B-side song “Clean-Cut Boy”.

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 BBC 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.

SIDE A:
A Trick Of The Night (The Number One Mix) 8:15
Producer – Stock/Aitken/Waterman*

SIDE B:
A Trick Of The Night (Tricky Mix) 7:17
Producer – Jolley and Swain*

A Trick Of The Night (Dub Mix) 4:31
Producer – Pete Waterman

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1986 A Trick Of The Night U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #76
1986 A Trick Of The Night U.S. Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play #39

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: London Records ‎– 886 119-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Design [Sleeve Design, Assistant] – Andrew Biscomb
Design [Sleeve Design] – Peter Barrett (3)
Written-By – Jolley/Swain*

NOTES:
Tracks A & B2 produced for P.W.L. Productions.

Original version on the London album “True Confesssions”
Printed in U.S.A.

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
DAC/Phono Pre-amp:
Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning:
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans:
Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

Username: btg
Password: burningtheground

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Muff Diver
Muff Diver
September 26, 2020 5:54 pm

Thanks again, Paul.

Jermajesty
Jermajesty
November 1, 2019 9:15 am

A belated thank you, Paul. x
Where would we be without The Nanas?

Jeff
Jeff
October 28, 2019 12:58 pm

Even the title sounds like it’s perfect for this time of year. Thank you Paul for giving it another chance to shine from your stellar ripping skills and new equipment. I’m always in such awe of you and your work. And your personality is incredibly special to me!

Jeff

Marcus
Marcus
October 27, 2019 4:05 pm

I’m glad you’re revisiting some of the older posts. This is something i heard a few days ago and just had to look it up on BTG, and here it is.

Cheers Paul 🙂

Musicfan
Musicfan
October 26, 2019 10:49 am

Classic Bananarama song. ☺

PABLO BENZ
PABLO BENZ
October 25, 2019 11:26 pm

Hi DJPaulT, Greetings from Toronto, it is always a pleasure to know about your effort, to make your works arrive, in every house of an Audofilo in the World … that demands perfection … I know that this fame … for many of we have earned it …. as you say trial and error …. I send you the best of wishes that you are in good health and I know that there is a lot of music that is no longer posted … when you can GO WEST .. more HALL & OATES … & HUEY LEWIS … pending… Read more »

Gilbert Gonzales
Gilbert Gonzales
October 25, 2019 2:57 pm

Yes another PWL released! Was a rare treat until the SAW box set came out. Still love this single. Thank you and stay well.

Dean
Dean
October 25, 2019 12:47 pm

I’ve always thought this was one of their best singles. Thank you!