| "Boy" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Book of Love | ||||
| from the album Book of Love | ||||
| B-side | "Book of Love" | |||
| Released | 1985 | |||
| Recorded | Early 1985, Unique Recording, NYC | |||
| Genre | Synthpop, new wave | |||
| Length | 2:57 (album version) | |||
| Label | Sire Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Theodore Ottaviano | |||
| Producer(s) | Ivan Ivan | |||
| Book of Love singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Boy" on YouTube | ||||
"Boy" is the 1985 debut single by the American synth-pop band Book of Love. The song was included on the band's eponymous debut album Book of Love in 1986.
"Boy" was written by band member Theodore ("Ted") Ottaviano and features a prominent Chimes melody. The band secured a recording contract when the demo of the song was given to DJ/producer Ivan Ivan, who then passed it along to Seymour Stein of Sire Records. [1]
The song is said to describe the frustrations of a woman with an affection for "a boy who likes boys", [2] with songwriter Ted Ottaviano adding in a 2016 Village Voice interview that the song was "written about Boy Bar, which was a very exclusive gay club in the East Village." [3]
In 1985, a rare Australian promotional video was shot for the single. On May 21, 1985, the song was featured on American Bandstand's rate-a-record segment. [4] Up against B.E. Taylor Group's "Reggae Rock & Roll", "Boy" won the competition with a score of 84. [4]
Although the song failed to reach the Billboard Hot 100 chart, it did make the top 10 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, where it peaked at No. 7 in April 1985. [5]
| "Boy (Remixes)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Book of Love | ||||
| from the album I Touch Roses: The Best of Book of Love | ||||
| Released | 30 January 2001 Late 2000 (Promo) | |||
| Recorded | Early 1985, Unique Recording, NYC 2000 (remixes) | |||
| Genre | Synthpop, new wave | |||
| Length | 3:11(Peter Rauhofer Remix, album edit, a.k.a. Big Red Mix) 9:59 (Peter Rauhofer Club Mix) | |||
| Label | Sire Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Theodore Ottaviano | |||
| Producer(s) | Ivan Ivan Peter Rauhofer Headrillaz Dubaholics RPO Ted Ottaviano & Bill Coleman | |||
| Book of Love singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Boy" (Big Red Mix) on YouTube | ||||
In 2000, the song was remixed by noted club DJ Peter Rauhofer, as well as Headrillaz, Dubaholics, RPO, and re-released to dance clubs in late 2000/early 2001. These remixes, including an almost ten-minute-long version by Rauhofer, again charted on the Billboard Club Play chart under the title "Boy (Remixes)", this time reaching No. 1 on the dance chart in February 2001. [6] Both the original version of "Boy" as well as an edit of the remix by Rauhofer were included on Book of Love's greatest hits album, I Touch Roses: The Best of Book of Love , in 2001.
In 2001, a promotional video remix titled 'Big Red Mix' was made for the album edit of the Peter Rauhofer remix using footage from the band's 1989 appearance at Bill Graham's In Concert Against AIDS benefit show in San Francisco.
1985 7" single (Sire)
"Boy" - 3:02
"Book of Love" - 4:31
1985 12" maxi-single (Sire)
2000 2 x 12" promo (Reprise)
2001 12" promo (Reprise)
2001 2 x 12" single (Reprise)
2001 CD single (Reprise)
| Year | Song | Chart peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| US Club Play [7] | ||
| 1985 | "Boy" | 7 |
| 2001 | "Boy" (Remix) | 2 |
| 2001 | "Boy" | 1 |
The song is played during a club scene in the episode "Limbo" of the American television series Halt and Catch Fire , and during a bar scene in the film Fun Mom Dinner . The song also appears during the closing credits of the fifth episode of the third season of the TV show “Industry”.
Written by Theodore Ottaviano.
1985 version credits
2001 remixes credits
| Year | Version | Length | Mixed/Remixed by | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Album version/ 7" version | 2:57 | Ivan Ivan | The album version and 7" version are the same. Found on the 7" and 12" vinyl singles, all formats of the album Book of Love and the CD of I Touch Roses: The Best of Book of Love CD.* |
| 1985 | Japanese 7" version | 3:17 | Ivan Ivan | The Japanese 7" version is slightly longer and has a cold ending instead of a fade. Found only on the Japanese 7" vinyl single. |
| 1985 | Extended Mix | 4:28 | Ivan Ivan | Found on the 12" vinyl single and the 1988/1990 Sire Records' CD version of Book of Love .* |
| 1985 | Dub | 5:00 | Ivan Ivan | Found on the 12" vinyl single and the 2009 CD reissue of Book of Love (Noble Rot). |
| 1999 | Razormaid Mix | 5:23 | John Bice | Found on the 1999 Razormaid Records CD compilation Members Revenge 1: Discontented!. |
| 2000 | Headrillaz Club Dub | 4:47 | Casper Kedros Darius Kedros | Exclusive mix found only on the 2x12" vinyl promo released in 2000. |
| 2000 | A Cappella | 3:24 | Peter Rauhofer | Exclusive a cappella version, taken from the Peter Rauhofer remix (not the original 1985 version). Only found on the 2x12" vinyl promo released in 2000. |
| 2001 | Peter Rauhofer Remix | 3:11 | Peter Rauhofer | A shorter edited version of the Peter Rauhofer Club Mix (Edited by John Masciana) used in the video remix (Big Red Mix). Found on the CD version of I Touch Roses: The Best of Book of Love .* |
| 2001 | Peter Rauhofer Club Mix | 9:59 | Peter Rauhofer | Found on both the regular and promo 2x12" vinyl singles and the Reprise Records CD Maxi-single (2001). |
| 2001 | Peter Rauhofer Dub | 8:18 | Peter Rauhofer | Found on both the regular and promo 2x12" vinyl singles and the Reprise Records CD Maxi-single (2001). |
| 2001 | Headrillaz Extended Vocal Mix | 7:09 | Casper Kedros Darius Kedros | Found on both the regular and promo 2x12" vinyl singles and the Reprise Records CD Maxi-single (2001). |
| 2001 | Headrillaz Dub | 5:32 | Casper Kedros Darius Kedros | Found on both the regular and promo 2x12" vinyl singles and the Reprise Records CD Maxi-single (2001). |
| 2001 | RPO Remix | 6:40 | Rick Pier O'Neil | Found on the 2001 promo 12" vinyl, the regular 2x12" vinyl single, and the Reprise Records CD Maxi-single (2001). |
| 2001 | Dubaholics Remix | 6:11 | The Dubaholics | Found on the 2001 promo 12" vinyl, the regular 2x12" vinyl single, and the Reprise Records CD Maxi-single (2001). |
| 2001 | Dubaholics Dub | 5:13 | The Dubaholics | Found on the 2001 promo 12" vinyl, the regular 2x12" vinyl single, and the Reprise Records CD Maxi-single (2001). |
| 2001 | Sound Bisquit "Blame" Dub | 8:00 | Ted Ottaviano Bill Coleman | Found on the 2001 promo 12" vinyl single and the Reprise Records CD Maxi-single (2001). |
| 2006 | DJ Irene Rockstar Mix | 4:27 | DJ Irene | Found on the 2006 CD compilation Future Retro (Rhino Records).* |
| 2009 | Demo | 3:06 | Theodore Ottaviano | The original demo version. Found only on the bonus disc of the 2009 CD reissue of Book of Love (Noble Rot). |
| 2009 | Live | 2:43 | n/a | Live version from the In Concert Against AIDS benefit, 1989. Found only on the bonus disc of the 2009 CD reissue of Book of Love (Noble Rot). |
" * " denotes that version is available as digital download.
Un-Break My Heart: The Remix Collection is the first remix album by American R&B singer Toni Braxton, released on April 12, 2005, by Sony BMG Music Entertainment in association with La Face Records and Legacy Recordings, while on iTunes, it was released a month later, on March 31, 2005. It takes its name from Braxton's signature ballad, "Un-Break My Heart".
Book of Love is an American synth-pop and electronic band, formed in 1983 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and later based in New York City. Led by vocalist Susan Ottaviano, the band also includes keyboardists Ted Ottaviano, Lauren Roselli and Jade Lee. The band gained its first exposure as the opening act for two Depeche Mode tours in 1985 and 1986. The group has been described by the Houston Press as "forward thinking" for lyrics dealing with sexual orientation and gender roles.
"Break 4 Love" is a song written, produced and recorded by Vaughan Mason, the principal member of American house music group Raze, the song's original credited performer. The song, the group's only significant US hit, featured vocals by Keith Thompson and Vaughan Mason, as well as sexual sound samples by Erique Dial. The single peaked at number 28 on the UK Singles Chart and topped the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1988. It is still considered a classic of the early house music genre.
"Give Me Danger" is a song by American electropop duo Dangerous Muse. It was written by Mike Furey, Tom Napack, and produced by Ted Ottaviano for the duo's second EP of the same name. It was released in 2006 as a single, reaching number 11 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.
Book of Love is the debut studio album by American synth-pop and electronic band Book of Love, released on April 1, 1986, by Sire Records.
"Flavor" is a song written and recorded by Tori Amos, originally appearing on her album Abnormally Attracted to Sin (2009) as a down-tempo song, and later released as the lead single from her album Gold Dust (2012) which features classical rearrangements of selected songs from her oeuvre. Amos stated she felt the song was overlooked on its original album and had to be re-worked and noticed on Gold Dust.
Lullaby is the second studio album by American synth-pop band Book of Love, released on June 21, 1988, by Sire Records.
Candy Carol is the third studio album by American synth-pop band Book of Love, released on January 23, 1991, by Sire Records.
Lovebubble is the fourth and final studio album by American synthpop and electronic band Book of Love, released on June 15, 1993, by Sire Records.
I Touch Roses: The Best of Book of Love is a best of compilation album by American synthpop and electronic band Book of Love, released on March 13, 2001, by Reprise Records.
"I Touch Roses" is the second single released by the American synth-pop band Book of Love. The song was included on the band's eponymous debut album Book of Love in 1986. The B-side to the single is "Lost Souls", a remixed version of which also appeared on their debut album.
"You Make Me Feel So Good" is the third single released by the American synth-pop band Book of Love. The song was included on the band's eponymous debut album Book of Love in 1986. The song was written by band members Susan Ottaviano and Ted Ottaviano.
"Modigliani (Lost in Your Eyes)" is the fourth single released by the American synthpop band Book of Love. The song was included on the band's eponymous debut album Book of Love in 1986. "Modigliani (Lost in Your Eyes)", was released as a single in early 1987, making it the fourth and final single release from the album. The B-side to the single is a remixed version of "Modigliani" by Omar Santana, titled "Mo'dub'iani".
"Lullaby" is the sixth single released by the American synthpop band Book of Love. The song was the second single released from the band's second album Lullaby in 1988.
"Witchcraft" is the seventh single released by the American synthpop band Book of Love. The song was the third, and final single from the band's second album Lullaby, and was released on July 15, 1989.
"Alice Everyday" is the eighth single released by the American synth-pop band Book of Love. The song was released prior to the band's third album, 1991's Candy Carol, as the first single.
"Counting the Rosaries" is the tenth single released by the American synthpop band Book of Love. The song was released as the third and final single from the band's third album, 1991's Candy Carol.
"Sunny Day" is the ninth single released by the American synthpop band Book of Love. The song was released as the second single from the band's third album, 1991's Candy Carol.
"Boy Pop" is the eleventh single released by the American synthpop band Book of Love. The song was released on May 6, 1993, as the first single from the band's fourth album Lovebubble.
The Book of Love discography consists of four studio albums, three compilation album, fourteen singles, and one promo only single released on Sire Records, or Reprise Records, as well as nine music videos. The band has had their songs appear on more than forty compilations, as well as three music videos on three various video compilations.
