The Magic of Boney M. - 20 Golden Hits
Encyclopedia
The Magic of Boney M. – 20 Golden Hits is a greatest hits album by Boney M. issued in May 1980 which contained all their biggest hits up until that point, including non-album singles "Mary's Boy Child/Oh My Lord" and "Hooray! Hooray! It's A Holi-Holiday", key album tracks from Take The Heat Off Me
, Love for Sale
, Nightflight to Venus
and Oceans of Fantasy
as well as their most recent double A-side single release "I See A Boat On The River"/ "My Friend Jack" (Germany #5). The album was packaged in a glittery golden gimmick cover, with the four strokes in the band's characteristic 'M' being cut out so that each showed one of the four members. The innersleeve featured two different photos and could be inserted either way to that effect. The Magic Of Boney M. - 20 Golden Hits was another major commercial success for the band, topping most of the European charts and becoming their third consecutive UK number one album. The cover version of The Smoke's 1967 hit "My Friend Jack" however proved to be less successful in the UK, peaking no higher than #57, at the time making it their lowest charting single since debut "Baby Do You Wanna Bump" in 1975.
Since most of the singles released by Boney M. between the years 1976 and 1980 had been double A-sides there was certainly enough material to make the first greatest hits compilation a double album. Nineteen of the twenty tracks on The Magic Of Boney M. had in fact been singles, the only exception being "Oceans of Fantasy". Instead producer Frank Farian went for a one disc release, which subsequently meant that due to the time limitations of the vinyl album format and the number of tracks included, most of the songs appeared in slightly edited form. These abbreviated versions would re-surface on a large number of hits compilations in the future while most of the original 7" mixes twenty five years later remain unreleased on CD.
A German Club Edition LP, entitled Greatest Hits Of Boney M. appeared in the same gimmick cover but featured only 16 songs - the same mixes as used on the commercial LP but in a different running order. The remaining 4 songs would be included on Children of Paradise - The Greatest Hits of Boney M. - Vol. 2
in June '81.
Side B:
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'Greatest Hits Of Boney M.'
(German Club Edition LP)
Side A:
Side B:
(track denotations refer to original Hansa issue)
7"
Germany
7"
12"
Single
Take the Heat Off Me
Take The Heat Off Me is the debut album by Boney M.. The album became a major seller outside of the United States, where the album just missed making the chart. Includes the hits "Daddy Cool" , "Sunny" and "Baby Do You Wanna Bump"...
, Love for Sale
Love for Sale (Boney M. album)
Love for Sale is the second album by Boney M. The album includes the hits "Ma Baker" , and "Belfast"...
, Nightflight to Venus
Nightflight to Venus
Nightflight to Venus is the third album by the band Boney M, and was released in July 1978.The album became a major success in continental Europe, Scandinavia, and Canada, topping most of the album charts during the second half of 1978 and also became their first UK number one album...
and Oceans of Fantasy
Oceans of Fantasy
Oceans of Fantasy is the fourth studio album by Boney M. Released in September 1979, Oceans Of Fantasy became the second Boney M. album to top the UK charts and features hits "El Lute" based on Eleuterio Sánchez life, "I'm Born Again", "Bahama Mama" and "Gotta Go Home"...
as well as their most recent double A-side single release "I See A Boat On The River"/ "My Friend Jack" (Germany #5). The album was packaged in a glittery golden gimmick cover, with the four strokes in the band's characteristic 'M' being cut out so that each showed one of the four members. The innersleeve featured two different photos and could be inserted either way to that effect. The Magic Of Boney M. - 20 Golden Hits was another major commercial success for the band, topping most of the European charts and becoming their third consecutive UK number one album. The cover version of The Smoke's 1967 hit "My Friend Jack" however proved to be less successful in the UK, peaking no higher than #57, at the time making it their lowest charting single since debut "Baby Do You Wanna Bump" in 1975.
Since most of the singles released by Boney M. between the years 1976 and 1980 had been double A-sides there was certainly enough material to make the first greatest hits compilation a double album. Nineteen of the twenty tracks on The Magic Of Boney M. had in fact been singles, the only exception being "Oceans of Fantasy". Instead producer Frank Farian went for a one disc release, which subsequently meant that due to the time limitations of the vinyl album format and the number of tracks included, most of the songs appeared in slightly edited form. These abbreviated versions would re-surface on a large number of hits compilations in the future while most of the original 7" mixes twenty five years later remain unreleased on CD.
A German Club Edition LP, entitled Greatest Hits Of Boney M. appeared in the same gimmick cover but featured only 16 songs - the same mixes as used on the commercial LP but in a different running order. The remaining 4 songs would be included on Children of Paradise - The Greatest Hits of Boney M. - Vol. 2
Children of Paradise - The Greatest Hits of Boney M. - Vol. 2
-Personnel:* Liz Mitchell - lead vocals backing vocals* Marcia Barrett - lead vocals, backing vocals* Frank Farian - lead vocals , backing vocals...
in June '81.
Track listing
Side A:- "Rivers of BabylonRivers of Babylon"Rivers of Babylon" is a rastafarian song written and recorded by Brent Dowe and Trevor McNaughton of the Jamaican reggae group The Melodians in 1970. The Melodians' original versions of the song appeared in the sound track to the 1972 movie The Harder They Come and the 1999 Nicolas Cage movie...
" (Dowe, McNaughton) - 3:59- Edited version
- "Daddy Cool" (Farian, Reyam) - 3:25
- Original album version
- "SunnySunny (song)"Sunny" is the name of a song written by Bobby Hebb. It is one of the most covered popular songs, with hundreds of versions released. BMI rates "Sunny" number 25 in its "Top 100 songs of the century."...
" (Bobby HebbBobby HebbBobby Hebb was an American singer and songwriter, best known for his writing and recording of "Sunny".-Biography:...
) - 3:14- Edited version
- "Belfast" (Billsbury, Deutscher, Menke) - 2:25
- Edited version
- "El Lute" (Farian, Jay, Blum) - 4:24
- Edited version
- "No Woman, No CryNo Woman, No Cry"No Woman, No Cry" is a reggae song by Bob Marley & The Wailers. The song first became known in 1974 through the studio album Natty Dread. The live version from the 1975 album Live! is perhaps best known — it was this version which was released on the greatest hits compilation Legend. The original...
" (Ford, Bob MarleyBob MarleyRobert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
) - 2:58- Edited version
- "RasputinRasputin (song)"Rasputin" is a 1978 disco hit single by the Germany-based pop and disco group Boney M., the second single off their hugely successful album Nightflight to Venus. The song is a semi-biographical song whose subject and namesake is Grigori Rasputin, a friend and advisor of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia...
" (Farian, Jay, Reyam) - 3:40- Edited version.
- "Painter Man" (Phillips, Pickett) - 3:10
- Original album version
- "Ma BakerMa Baker"Ma Baker" is a 1977 disco hit single by German disco band Boney M. It was the first single of their second album Love for Sale and their third consecutive chart-topper in Germany and their best yet placing in the UK, peaking at #2 although only a minor single in the US .-The song:Frank Farian's...
" (Farian, Jay, Reyam) - 3:44- Edited version
- "Gotta Go Home" (Farian, Jay, Huth, Huth) - 3:45
- Oceans of FantasyOceans of FantasyOceans of Fantasy is the fourth studio album by Boney M. Released in September 1979, Oceans Of Fantasy became the second Boney M. album to top the UK charts and features hits "El Lute" based on Eleuterio Sánchez life, "I'm Born Again", "Bahama Mama" and "Gotta Go Home"...
album edit. Original 7" mix ( - 4:40) remains unreleased on CD.
- Oceans of Fantasy
Side B:
- "My Friend Jack" (The Smoke) - 4:31
- Slightly edited 7" mix.
- "I See a Boat on the River" (Farian, Jay, Rulofs) - 4:29
- 7" mix. N.B. 1992 CD edition: edited version - 3:03, taken from Fantastic Boney M.Fantastic Boney M.Fantastic Boney M. is a compilation album of recordings by Boney M. released by Hansa Records in Germany in December 1984.This collection, subtitled Die Grossen Erfolge, which was issued shortly after Kalimba de Luna - 16 Happy Songs focuses on the early career of the band and their best-known hits...
- 7" mix. N.B. 1992 CD edition: edited version - 3:03, taken from Fantastic Boney M.
- "Brown Girl in the RingBrown Girl in the Ring (song)"Brown Girl in the Ring" is a traditional children's song in the West Indies. It was originally featured in the game of the same name.Brown Girl in the Ring is a children's ring game thought to have originated in Jamaica....
" (Farian) - 3:06- Edited version
- "Mary's Boy ChildMary's Boy Child"Mary's Boy Child" is a 1956 Christmas song, written by Jester Hairston. With its religious content, it is also widely performed as a Christmas carol....
/Oh My Lord" (Jester HairstonJester HairstonJester Joseph Hairston was an American composer, songwriter, arranger, choral conductor, and actor. His notable compositions include "Amen," a gospel-tinged theme from the film Lilies of the Field and a 1963 hit for The Impressions, and the Christmas song "Mary's Boy Child".-Early life:Hairston...
, Farian, Jay, Lorin) - 4:31- Edited version
- "Bahama Mama" (Farian, Jay) - 3:17
- Oceans Of FantasyOceans of FantasyOceans of Fantasy is the fourth studio album by Boney M. Released in September 1979, Oceans Of Fantasy became the second Boney M. album to top the UK charts and features hits "El Lute" based on Eleuterio Sánchez life, "I'm Born Again", "Bahama Mama" and "Gotta Go Home"...
album edit
- Oceans Of Fantasy
- "I'm Born Again" (Jay, Rulofs) - 3:57
- Edited 7" mix
- "Oceans of Fantasy" (Kawohl, Jay, Zill) - 3:19
- Edited version
- "Ribbons of Blue" (Keith ForseyKeith ForseyKeith Forsey is an English soundtrack composer, drummer, songwriter and record producer.-Biography:Forsey's first recordings were as the younger member of the group The Spectrum, better known for the end title theme for Gerry Anderson's Captain Scarlet, but hit makers across Europe in their own...
) - 3:04- Edited version
- "Still I'm Sad" (McCarthy, Samwell-Smith) - 3:40
- Edited version
- "Hooray! Hooray! It's a Holi-Holiday" (Farian, Jay) - 3:11
- Edited version.
Alternate editions
'Greatest Hits Of Boney M.'
(German Club Edition LP)
Side A:
- "SunnySunny (song)"Sunny" is the name of a song written by Bobby Hebb. It is one of the most covered popular songs, with hundreds of versions released. BMI rates "Sunny" number 25 in its "Top 100 songs of the century."...
" (Bobby HebbBobby HebbBobby Hebb was an American singer and songwriter, best known for his writing and recording of "Sunny".-Biography:...
) - 3:14 - "Daddy Cool" (Farian, Reyam) - 3:25
- "Belfast" (Billsbury, Deutscher, Menke) - 2:25
- "Ma BakerMa Baker"Ma Baker" is a 1977 disco hit single by German disco band Boney M. It was the first single of their second album Love for Sale and their third consecutive chart-topper in Germany and their best yet placing in the UK, peaking at #2 although only a minor single in the US .-The song:Frank Farian's...
" (Farian, Jay, Reyam) - 3:44 - "El Lute" (Farian, Jay, Blum) - 4:24
- "Rasputin" (Farian, Jay, Reyam) - 3:40
- "I'm Born Again" (Jay, Rulofs) - 3:57
- "Bahama Mama" (Farian, Jay) - 3:17
Side B:
- "I See a Boat on the River" (Farian, Jay, Rulofs) - 4:29
- "My Friend Jack" (The Smoke) - 4:31
- "Gotta Go Home" (Farian, Jay, Huth, Huth) - 3:45
- "Rivers of BabylonRivers of Babylon"Rivers of Babylon" is a rastafarian song written and recorded by Brent Dowe and Trevor McNaughton of the Jamaican reggae group The Melodians in 1970. The Melodians' original versions of the song appeared in the sound track to the 1972 movie The Harder They Come and the 1999 Nicolas Cage movie...
" (Farian, Reyam) - 3:59 - "Mary's Boy ChildMary's Boy Child"Mary's Boy Child" is a 1956 Christmas song, written by Jester Hairston. With its religious content, it is also widely performed as a Christmas carol....
/Oh My Lord" (Jester HairstonJester HairstonJester Joseph Hairston was an American composer, songwriter, arranger, choral conductor, and actor. His notable compositions include "Amen," a gospel-tinged theme from the film Lilies of the Field and a 1963 hit for The Impressions, and the Christmas song "Mary's Boy Child".-Early life:Hairston...
, Farian, Jay, Lorin) - 4:31 - "Brown Girl in the RingBrown Girl in the Ring (song)"Brown Girl in the Ring" is a traditional children's song in the West Indies. It was originally featured in the game of the same name.Brown Girl in the Ring is a children's ring game thought to have originated in Jamaica....
" (Farian) - 3:06 - "Ribbons of Blue" (Keith ForseyKeith ForseyKeith Forsey is an English soundtrack composer, drummer, songwriter and record producer.-Biography:Forsey's first recordings were as the younger member of the group The Spectrum, better known for the end title theme for Gerry Anderson's Captain Scarlet, but hit makers across Europe in their own...
) - 3:04 - "Hooray! Hooray! It's a Holi-Holiday" (Farian, Jay) - 3:11
Personnel
- Liz MitchellLiz MitchellLiz Mitchell is a singer, best known as the former lead singer of the 1970s disco/pop band, Boney M.-Early life:...
- lead vocals (A1, A3, A5, A6, A8, B2, B3, B4, B6, B8, B9 & B10), backing vocals - Marcia BarrettMarcia BarrettMarcia Barrett , is one of the original singers with the vocal group, Boney M.-The early years:...
- lead vocals (A4), backing vocals - Frank FarianFrank FarianFrank Farian , is a German record producer and songwriter. He started out as a trained cook before moving into the music industry...
- lead vocals (A2, A5, A7, A9, A10, B6 & B7), backing vocals
(track denotations refer to original Hansa issue)
Release history
- UK: Atlantic RecordsAtlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
BMTV 1. - Germany: Hansa RecordsHansa RecordsHansa Records was a record label founded in the 1960s based in Berlin, Germany....
201 666-502. Re-issued as 202 505-320. - Club Edition Greatest Hits Of Boney M. Hansa 30 943 5
Single releases
UK7"
- "My Friend Jack" (Edited 7" Mix) - 4:40 / "I See A Boat on the River" - 4:29 (Atlantic RecordsAtlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
K11463, 1980)
Germany
7"
- "I See A Boat on the River" - 4:29 / "My Friend Jack" (7" Mix) - 4:56 (Hansa RecordsHansa RecordsHansa Records was a record label founded in the 1960s based in Berlin, Germany....
101 750-100, 1980)
12"
- "My Friend Jack" (12" Mix) - 8:24 / "I See A Boat on the River" (12" Mix) - 6:01 (Hansa Records 600 233-213, 1980)
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | UK albums chart | 1 |
| Norway Norway Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million... 's album chart |
2 |
Single
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | "My Friend Jack" | UK single chart | 57 |
| Norway Norway Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million... 's single chart |
6 |
Sources and external links
- Rate Your Music, detailed discography
- [ Allmusic, biography, discography etc.]