From mike Sent Fri, Jun 18th 1999, 04:01
From mike Sent Fri, Jun 18th 1999, 04:01
So I've finally tracked down that A Guy Called Gerald produced version of
It's a Fine Day, and numerous others along the way...
The original version of "It's a Fine Day" is a capella. Written by Edward
Barton, performed by Jane (no last name, apparently). This version was
released in 1983 on this EP that I now have in my hands (near mint, too):
Jane and Barton
1983 UK LP: Cherry Red M RED 53
?:?? There Is a Man
2:49 It's a Fine Day
?:?? You Are Over There
?:?? mmmm
3:45 I Want To Be With You
And it was also released on a 7" single:
Jane
1983 UK 7": Cherry Red CHERRY 65
2:49 It's a Fine Day
1:21 Of All - Leaves Were Falling
The original really sounds like something someone would sing to themselves
while gardening or cleaning. Not a very typical sounding song at all.
In 1992 the Opus III version came out and went to #5 in the UK charts.
Cherry Red founder Iain McNay shares a related anecdote at
http://cherryred.co.uk/cherryred/cred-story.htm :
"Late one extremely wet and cold Monday evening I was driving home from
having dinner with our German licensee, when I suddenly found I had two
flat tyres. I called the AA rescue service and sat somewhat dejectedly as
I waited for them to come. I switched on the John Peel show and the first
record I heard was the haunting song by Jane, 'It's a fine day.' I loved
the record, and even more, loved the song. Next morning I rang Peel's
producer to find out more about the record. I tracked down Edward Barton
the owner, bought the rights to the record and the song, and three weeks
later 'It's a fine day' was out on Cherry Red and sitting in the lower
reaches of the National charts. It wasn't until nearly 10 years later that
the true significance of my flat tyres became apparent. In January 1992 I
was having dinner at MIDEM in Cannes again when Pete Waterman from PWL
came over to me enthusiastically pronouncing, "Iain, we're going to have a
No 1 hit with your song.' I didn't even know which song he was referring
to until he explained that he was putting out a new version of 'Fine Day'
by a group called OPUS 3. It didn't actually get to No 1 but was a big hit
all over the Continent and has now become one of Complete Music's biggest
copyrights." [Cherry Red Music changed it's name to Complete Music in
1984]
When I compare the two side by side, I swear that the Opus III version
uses the original a capella, heavily compressed, excited, reverbed, and
rearranged with samplers. However, Opus III supposedly featured the voice
of Kirsty Hawkshaw. I never heard the album, so I can't say if it's her,
or if she's Jane, or if it's just a really big coincidence.
Opus III's membership is not easy for me to determine. One of the members
was named Simon Gotel, and he later ended up contributing to a track on
Global Communication's 76 14. And not only that, but Hawkshaw is married
to (or at least was engaged to) Mark Pritchard! Amazing what info you find
through a web search. Also, Mark Pritchard records with Danny Breaks under
the name Vertigo. Nothing to do with Opus III, really.
Here's the US Opus III info I have available. I'm sure there was a
commercial CD5 as well, and various other releases worldwide:
Opus III - It's a Fine Day
1992 US CD5: EastWest PRCD 4498-2 [promo]
3:30 It's a Fine Day (edit)
5:29 It's a Fine Day
Opus III - It's a Fine Day
1992 US 12": EastWest 0-96187
5:29 It's a Fine Day
3:40 It's a Fine Day (a capella) [not the original]
4:12 Evolution Rush
Cherry Red reissued the original on 12" and CD5, along with remixes by A
Guy Called Gerald, in 1992/93:
Jane - It's a Fine Day (produced by a Guy Called Gerald)
1992 UK 12": Cherry Red 12 CHERRY 124
?:?? It's a Fine Day [remix]
3:49 It's a Fine Day (7" edit) [remix]
2:49 It's a Fine Day (original a capella version)
Jane - It's a Fine Day
1993 UK CD5: Cherry Red CD CHERRY 65
2:49 It's a Fine Day [original]
1:21 Of All - Leaves Were Falling
3:45 I Want To Be With You
3:49 It's a Fine Day (A Guy Called Gerald Remix)
I was able to obtain the CD5 through http://www.cduniverse.com/, Where
they have this Jane mixed in with the obscure prog rock band of the same
name.
In 1993, Orbital made the entirely new songs "Halcyon" and its counterpart
"Halcyon+On+On" from rearranged bits of the Opus III a capella (with
permission).
Then in 1998, Italian producers Davide Carlotti and Carmine Sorrentino
used the Opus III a capella in their Eurodance version of the song,
released under the name Miss Jane. A woman named Luisa Gard provides the
"on stage" image for the band, but did not contribute to the recording in
any way.
Their version first came out on the Hitland label (Italy), with remixes by
ATB (André Tanneberger). It was released more widely on the Kontor label
(Germany).
Miss Jane - It's a Fine Day
1998 GE CD5: Kontor K047 / 563 283-2
6:12 It's a Fine Day (ATB Club Mix)
4:35 It's a Fine Day (Original Mix)
3:31 It's a Fine Day (ATB Radio Mix)
6:25 It's a Fine Day (CJ Stone's Pleasure Mix)
3:00 Angel's Song
Miss Jane - It's a Fine Day
1999 GE CD5: Kontor K061 / 563 747-2
3:31 It's a Fine Day (ATB Radio Mix)
3:30 It's a Fine Day (Catania Radio Edit)
6:12 It's a Fine Day (ATB Club Mix)
4:35 It's a Fine Day (Original Mix)
3:00 Angel's Song
I was able to obtain the second CD5 via CD Universe.
Both the Opus III version and the Miss Jane version appear on numerous
dance compilations.
Is that enough info for ya? :)