"The Gift" is a song by English musician Tony Banks featuring English singer Andy Taylor (formerly of the Jazz Devils). It was released by Virgin on 22 July 1991[1] as the second single from Banks's third solo studio album, Still. The song was written by Banks and was produced by Banks and Nick Davis. It reached number 110 in the UK Singles Chart.
| "The Gift" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Tony Banks featuring Andy Taylor | ||||
| from the album Still | ||||
| B-side | "Back to Back" | |||
| Released | 22 July 1991 | |||
| Length | 3:56 | |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Tony Banks | |||
| Producer(s) |
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| Tony Banks singles chronology | ||||
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Background
editTony Banks collaborated with Andy Taylor on two tracks for his solo album Still, with Taylor providing vocals on "The Gift" and "Still It Takes Me by Surprise".[2] In a 2019 interview with Innerviews, Banks revealed, "I wanted someone with a voice like Ray Charles, but I couldn't find one at the time. So, I used Andy who wasn't really a great singer, but he had a sort of tone to his singing that worked quite well. I think the songs he [sang] stand up with his voice."[3]
Critical reception
editUpon its release as a single, Fife Free Press noted that Banks and Taylor "dovetail to perfection on the catchily commercial 'The Gift'" and predicted it would be "another likely hit" for Banks.[4] Marcus Hodge of the Cambridge Evening News was negative in his review, commenting, "Banks turns out a plodding, polite pub rock number that would have sounded out of date back in 1974. It's about time major labels began exercising some proper quality control."[5]
Track listing
edit7–inch single (UK)[6]
- "The Gift" (featuring Andy Taylor) – 3:56
- "Back to Back" (featuring Jayney Klimek) – 4:30
12–inch single (UK)[7]
- "The Gift" – 3:56
- "Back to Back" – 4:30
- "A House Needs a Roof" (featuring Jayney Klimek) – 4:06
CD single (UK)[8]
- "The Gift" – 3:56
- "I Wanna Change the Score" – 4:30
- "A House Needs a Roof" – 4:06
- "Redwing" – 5:38
Personnel
edit"The Gift"
- Andy Taylor – vocals
- Daryl Stuermer – guitar
- Tony Banks – keyboards, bass synth, drum programming
- Vinnie Colaiuta – hi-hat, cymbals
"Back to Back"
- Jayney Klimek – vocals
- Daryl Stuermer – guitar
- Tony Banks – keyboards, bass synth
- Vinnie Colaiuta – drums
Production
- Nick Davis – production and engineering ("The Gift", "Back to Back", "I Wanna Change the Score")
- Tony Banks – production (all tracks)
- Steve Hillage – production ("A House Needs a Roof")
- Geoff Callingham – production assistance ("Redwing")
- Mark Robinson – assistant engineering ("The Gift", "Back to Back", "I Wanna Change the Score")
Other
- Carl Studna – photography
- Wherefore Art – design
Charts
edit| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart (OCC)[9] | 110 |
| UK Playlist Chart (Music Week)[10] | 58 |
References
edit- ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 20 July 1991. p. 21. ISSN 0265-1548.
- ^ Still (UK and European CD album liner notes). Tony Banks. Virgin Records. 1991. CDV 2658, 261 638.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Prasad, Anil (2019). "Tony Banks - Beyond the Physical". Innerviews. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ "Furs on Form: Singles". Fife Free Press. 19 July 1991. p. 6. Retrieved 16 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Hodge, Marcus (5 August 1991). "Pop - Singles: Rocking well with no-fudge Trixter". Cambridge Evening News. p. 16. Retrieved 16 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ The Gift (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Tony Banks featuring Andy Taylor. Virgin Records. 1991. VS 1362.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ The Gift (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Tony Banks featuring Andy Taylor. Virgin Records. 1991. VST 1362.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ The Gift (UK CD single sleeve). Tony Banks featuring Andy Taylor. Virgin Records. 1991. VSCDT 1362.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Singles - Positions 76 to 200". Charts Plus. Spotlight Publications. 20 July 1991. p. 2.
- ^ "Playlist Chart". Music Week. 3 August 1991. p. 18. ISSN 0265-1548.