Now Those Days Are Gone

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"Now Those Days Are Gone"
Bucks Fizz
singles chronology
"My Camera Never Lies"
(1982) 		"Now Those Days Are Gone"
(1982) 		"If You Can't Stand the Heat"
(1982)

"Now Those Days Are Gone" is a single by UK pop group

Ivor Novello award
the following year.

Overview

Background

Written by Andy Hill and Nichola Martin and produced by Hill, this was the group's only single to feature member Mike Nolan on lead vocals, it was also the last to be co-written by Martin, who founded the group. The song was a stark contrast to the group's singles up to this point, which had all featured very full pop productions, this time, the song was partly an a cappella piece with soft harmonies and a gentle orchestral build towards the end. Years later, Nolan commented on the recording of the song saying that he favoured another ballad from the album called "Love Dies Hard" but it had already been given to other male member Bobby G. The vocal harmonies were very intricate and took many takes to get right in the studio. When the album was finished, Hill invited record company executives to listen to the tracks and at the close of this song there was a round of applause where they instantly decided this would be the next single, much to Nolan's delight.[1] One reviewer remarked that the impressive vocal structure would give Bucks Fizz some much-needed credibility.[2]

The song centres around the narrator who looks back on younger days and recalls how innocent he was then, and reflects on the love he once felt for his partner. The promotional video for the song saw the group in a

Serpentine lake, Bobby G was attacked by a group of swans and had to be rescued.[1]
The single sleeve's cover shot was taken at the group's publicist, Jenny Halsall's manor house in Cambridge.

Release and reception

Released in June 1982, this single followed up two No.1 hits, "

Come on Eileen', but with its long a cappella sections, aching string part and Mike Nolan’s androgynous, weeping lead, it was home counties, potting-shed balladry of the highest order".[9]

In Australia and many European countries, this single went unreleased, with tracks, "Are You Ready" or "Easy Love" being released in its place.

You and Your Heart so Blue
" - a 1985 single by the group. The B-side to "Now Those Days Are Gone", "Takin' Me Higher" was a first, in that it was written and produced by the group themselves. The group continued to write and produce songs for their B-sides over the next few years.

A newly recorded version of "Now Those Days Are Gone" was released in 2006 on the Bucks Fizz album,

Parental advisory
sticker.

Track listing

  1. "Now Those Days Are Gone" (Andy Hill / Nichola Martin) (3.33)
  2. "Takin' Me Higher" (Bucks Fizz) (3.46)

Chart positions

Country Peak
position
UK 8
Ireland 5

References

  1. ^ a b The Bucks Fizz Story, DVD, 2010. Glassbeach Productions Ltd.
  2. ^ Daily Express Review, May 1982
  3. ^ yahoo.com - song lyrics
  4. ^ bucksfizzearlyyears.co.uk - video shots
  5. ^ Official Charts Company - Chart information
  6. ^ BPI - award certification - search Bucks Fizz
  7. ^ Irishcharts.ie - Irish Chart details
  8. ^ Bucks Fizz early years - Up Until Now additional sleeve notes Archived 2009-02-12 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Guardian, Bob Stanley. "Bucks Fizz: more than just a Kwik Save Abba" 1 July 2015
  10. ^ raffem.com -1982 Archived 2003-10-04 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Raffem.com - Album review
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