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 MeTake 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 SaleLove for Sale is the second album by Boney M.. The album includes the hits "Ma Baker" , "Belfast", "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" and "Still I'm Sad".-Track listing:Side A...
,
Nightflight to VenusNightflight 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 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"...
as well as their most recent double A-side single release "I See A Boat On The River"/ "My Friend Jack" (Germany #5, 25 weeks).
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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 MeTake 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 SaleLove for Sale is the second album by Boney M.. The album includes the hits "Ma Baker" , "Belfast", "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" and "Still I'm Sad".-Track listing:Side A...
,
Nightflight to VenusNightflight 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 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"...
as well as their most recent double A-side single release "I See A Boat On The River"/ "My Friend Jack" (Germany #5, 25 weeks). 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 SmokeThe Smoke was an English pop group from York. Their biggest hit was "My Friend Jack" . They consisted of Mick Rowley , Mal Luker , "Zeke" Lund and...
'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. 2Children of Paradise - The Greatest Hits of Boney M. - Vol. 2 is a greatest hits album by Boney M. issued in June 1981 in Germany. The album wasn't commercially available but a Club Edition release only. Vol. 1 - Greatest Hits of Boney M. - was a 16 track Club Edition of The Magic of Boney M...
in June '81.
Track listing
Side A:
- "Rivers of Babylon
"Rivers of Babylon" is a song written and recorded by Brent Dowe and Trevor McNaughton of The Melodians in 1972, and popularized mainly by the 1978 Boney M. cover version...
" (Dowe, McNaughton) - 3:59
- "Daddy Cool" (Farian, Reyam) - 3:25
- "Sunny
"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 Hebb is an American singer and songwriter, best known for his writing and 1966 recording of "Sunny".-Life and career:Hebb's parents, William and Ovalla Hebb, were both blind musicians...
) - 3:14
- "Belfast" (Billsbury, Deutscher, Menke) - 2:25
- "El Lute" (Farian, Jay, Blum) - 4:24
- "No Woman, No Cry
"No Woman, No Cry" is a reggae song by Bob Marley. 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 song was No...
" (Ford, Bob MarleyRobert Nesta "Bob" Marley was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the lead singer, songwriter and guitarist for the ska, rocksteady and reggae bands The Wailers and Bob Marley & The Wailers...
) - 2:58
- "Rasputin
"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
- "Painter Man" (Phillips, Pickett) - 3:10
- "Ma Baker
"Ma Baker" is a 1977 disco hit single by German disco band Boney M.. It was the first single off 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
- "Gotta Go Home" (Farian, Jay, Huth, Huth) - 3:45
- 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"...
album edit. Original 7" mix ( - 4:40) remains unreleased on CD.
.jpg)
- "My Friend Jack" (The Smoke
The Smoke was an English pop group from York. Their biggest hit was "My Friend Jack" . They consisted of Mick Rowley , Mal Luker , "Zeke" Lund and...
) - 4:31
- "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. 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...
- "Brown Girl in the Ring
"Brown Girl in the Ring" is a traditional West Indian children's song. It was originally featured in the game of the same name.-Boney M. recording:...
" (Farian) - 3:06
- "Mary's Boy Child
"Mary's Boy Child" is a 1956 Christmas song, written by Jester Hairston.It was first recorded by Harry Belafonte in 1956, for his album An Evening with Belafonte. An edited version was subsequently released as a single on RCA Victor 20-6735 / 47-6735 , reaching #1 on the UK charts in 1957...
/Oh My Lord" (Jester HairstonJester Joseph Hairston was an American composer, songwriter, arranger, choral conductor, and actor. He wrote the Christmas song "Mary's Boy Child".-Early life:...
, Farian, Jay, Lorin) - 4:31
- "Bahama Mama" (Farian, Jay) - 3:17
- 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"...
album edit
- "I'm Born Again" (Jay, Rulofs) - 3:57
- "Oceans of Fantasy" (Kawohl, Jay, Zill) - 3:19
- "Ribbons of Blue" (Keith Forsey
Keith Forsey is an British soundtrack composer, drummer, songwriter and record producer.As drummer and long-time associate of producer Giorgio Moroder, Forsey can be heard on several Donna Summer albums until 1981. He co-wrote several songs on the albums Bad Girls, The Wanderer and I'm a Rainbow...
) - 3:04
- "Still I'm Sad" (McCarthy, Samwell-Smith) - 3:40
- "Hooray! Hooray! It's a Holi-Holiday" (Farian, Jay) - 3:11
Alternate editions
'Greatest Hits Of Boney M.'
(German Club Edition LP)
Side A:
- "Sunny
"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 Hebb is an American singer and songwriter, best known for his writing and 1966 recording of "Sunny".-Life and career:Hebb's parents, William and Ovalla Hebb, were both blind musicians...
) - 3:14
- "Daddy Cool" (Farian, Reyam) - 3:25
- "Belfast" (Billsbury, Deutscher, Menke) - 2:25
- "Ma Baker
"Ma Baker" is a 1977 disco hit single by German disco band Boney M.. It was the first single off 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
The Smoke was an English pop group from York. Their biggest hit was "My Friend Jack" . They consisted of Mick Rowley , Mal Luker , "Zeke" Lund and...
) - 4:31
- "Gotta Go Home" (Farian, Jay, Huth, Huth) - 3:45
- "Rivers of Babylon
"Rivers of Babylon" is a song written and recorded by Brent Dowe and Trevor McNaughton of The Melodians in 1972, and popularized mainly by the 1978 Boney M. cover version...
" (Farian, Reyam) - 3:59
- "Mary's Boy Child
"Mary's Boy Child" is a 1956 Christmas song, written by Jester Hairston.It was first recorded by Harry Belafonte in 1956, for his album An Evening with Belafonte. An edited version was subsequently released as a single on RCA Victor 20-6735 / 47-6735 , reaching #1 on the UK charts in 1957...
/Oh My Lord" (Jester HairstonJester Joseph Hairston was an American composer, songwriter, arranger, choral conductor, and actor. He wrote the Christmas song "Mary's Boy Child".-Early life:...
, Farian, Jay, Lorin) - 4:31
- "Brown Girl in the Ring
"Brown Girl in the Ring" is a traditional West Indian children's song. It was originally featured in the game of the same name.-Boney M. recording:...
" (Farian) - 3:06
- "Ribbons of Blue" (Keith Forsey
Keith Forsey is an British soundtrack composer, drummer, songwriter and record producer.As drummer and long-time associate of producer Giorgio Moroder, Forsey can be heard on several Donna Summer albums until 1981. He co-wrote several songs on the albums Bad Girls, The Wanderer and I'm a Rainbow...
) - 3:04
- "Hooray! Hooray! It's a Holi-Holiday" (Farian, Jay) - 3:11
Personnel
- Liz Mitchell
Liz 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 Barrett
Marcia Barrett , is one of the original vocalists with the prominent pop vocal group, Boney M.- The early years :...
- lead vocals (A4), backing vocals
- Frank Farian
Not to be confused with Frank Farina.Franz Reuther , better known as Frank Farian, is a German music producer and singer-songwriter. He started out as a trained cook before moving into the music business...
- lead vocals (A2, A5, A7, A9, A10, B6 & B7), backing vocals
(track denotations refer to original Hansa issue)
Release history
- UK: Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm & blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
BMTV 1.
- Germany: Hansa Records
Hansa 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
UK
7"
- "My Friend Jack" (Edited 7" Mix) - 4:40 / "I See A Boat on the River" - 4:29 (Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm & 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 Records
Hansa 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 |
| 1980 |
NorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a country in Northern Europe occupying the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, as well as Jan Mayen and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard under the Spitsbergen Treaty...
's album chart |
2 |
Single
| Year |
Single |
Chart |
Position |
| 1980 |
"My friend Jack" |
UK single chart |
57 |
| 1980 |
"My friend Jack" |
NorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a country in Northern Europe occupying the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, as well as Jan Mayen and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard under the Spitsbergen Treaty...
's single chart |
6 |
Sources and external links