Long Play Album

Last updated
Long Play Album
Stars On 45 - Long Play Album.jpg
Standard artwork
Studio album by
Stars on 45
ReleasedMarch 1981
Recorded1980–1981
Genre Pop
Length32:57 (US: 32:04)
Label CNR Records (NL)
Radio Records (US)
CBS Records (UK)
Melodiya (USSR)
Opus (Czechoslovakia)
Mercury Records (Philippines, NZ, AU and Israel)
Producer Jaap Eggermont
Stars on 45 chronology
Long Play Album
(1981)		 Longplay Album – Volume II
(1981)

Long Play Album is the first album by the Dutch soundalike studio group Stars on 45, released on the CNR Records label in the Netherlands in 1981. In the US, the album was retitled Stars on Long Play, released on Atlantic Records' sublabel Radio Records and credited to 'Stars On'. In the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand the group was renamed 'Starsound' (on certain releases spelt StarSound or Star Sound) and the album itself was listed as Stars on 45 or Stars on 45 – The Album and released by CBS Records. In Spanish-speaking countries, both the group and the album were launched under a fourth name: Estrellas en 45. Stars on 45 was also one of the very few Western pop albums to be officially released in the Soviet Union and large parts of the Eastern Bloc on the state-owned Melodiya label, credited to Stars on 45 but the Russian title of the album translates as Discothèque Stars and in Czechoslovakia on the state-owned Opus label as "Stars on 45". In the Philippines, it was released under the title Stars on 45 Long Play Album (manufactured and printed by Dyna Products, Inc. under license from PhonoGram International B.V., using the Mercury label [violet background, silver foreground]).

Contents

Following the chart success of the first "Stars on 45" single, producer Jaap Eggermont took the original 12" mix of the medley, a re-recording of the Canadian bootleg release "Let's Do It In The 80s - Great Hits" a.k.a. "Bits and Pieces III", which included both excerpts from various hits from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s as well as the four-minute Beatles cover segment ("No Reply"/"I'll Be Back"/"Drive My Car"/"Do You Want to Know a Secret"/"We Can Work It Out"/"I Should Have Known Better"/"Nowhere Man"/"You're Going to Lose That Girl") and divided it into two separate medleys. The Beatles part was extended to a whole 16-minute medley which took up the entire Side A of the vinyl album, with excerpts from another 21 Beatles titles plus George Harrison's solo hit "My Sweet Lord" being recorded and added plus two reprises of the "Stars On 45" theme.

The remainder of the original 12" mix was re-edited and placed as track one on Side B, coupling recent pop and disco hits like Heatwave's "Boogie Nights", Lipps Inc.'s "Funky Town", Penny McLean's "Lady Bump" and The Buggles' "Video Killed The Radio Star" with classic chart hits like Shocking Blue's "Venus" and The Archies' "Sugar Sugar" – both of which had been included on the 7" version of the Beatles medley along with an uncredited musical reference to Sparks' 1979 hit single "Beat the Clock", The Everly Brothers' "Cathy's Clown", Roy Orbison's "Only The Lonely", Martha and the Vandellas' "Jimmy Mack", The Fortunes' "Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again" and Brian Hyland's "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" – the latter, however, not on the North American editions of the album because of copyright issues. This medley also features uncredited instrumental references to The S.O.S. Band’s "Take Your Time (Do It Right)" and Sparkle Tuhran & Friends’ “Handsome Man”.

Side B of the album continued with two further medleys performed by Dutch rock revival band Long Tall Ernie & the Shakers. These two titles, "Do You Remember" and "Golden Years of Rock and Roll", had been hits in The Netherlands as early as in 1977 and 1978 respectively and had also been produced by Stars on 45 producer Jaap Eggermont.

The Long Play Album/Stars On Long Play/Stars On 45 album and its concept was a smash success as it not only reached #7 in the Netherlands, but managed to top both the U.K. and the Australian charts and also reached #9 on the U.S. charts.

The last four minutes of the album version of the Beatles medley ("Good Day Sunshine"/"My Sweet Lord"/"Here Comes the Sun"/"While My Guitar Gently Weeps"/"Taxman"/"A Hard Day's Night"/"Things We Said Today"/"If I Fell"/"You Can't Do That"/"Please Please Me"/"I Want to Hold Your Hand"/"Stars On 45") was in the autumn of 1981 released as the follow-up single in the US under the title "Stars On 45 Medley Part 2" (#67 on Billboard Hot 100). The second single in Europe and most other parts of the world was instead a medley of ABBA hits released under the title "More Stars" (confusingly also the title of the third US single, but an entirely different medley) and was later that same year extended for inclusion on the second Stars On 45 album.

The Long Play Album/Stars On Long Play/Stars On 45 album in its entirety and in its original form remains was re-released digitally in September 2021, although most of the album had already appeared on CD prior.

Cover

The cover of the European CNR Records/Red Bullet release of this album only listed the medley tracks and a short producer credit. It contained no pictures or other artwork. The lettering was set in an old fashioned telex-style font.

The US release had a cover in the style of a newspaper with the headline being the album title, the byline "Performed by Stars On" and using a black-and-white photo of 1950s movie goers wearing 3-D glasses. Bursting through the photo is a big, silver, five-pointed star. The rest of the cover is the track listing for the side one medley in newspaper font.

Track listing

Side A

1. "Beatles Medley", performed by Stars On 45/Stars On/Starsound – 15:58 (US: 15:33)

All tracks written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney unless otherwise noted

Side B

1. "Medley" (aka “Boogie Nights and Other Hits”) performed by Stars On 45/Stars On/Starsound – 8:08 (US: 7:25)

2. "Do You Remember" a.k.a. "Rock 'n Roll Medley" performed by Long Tall Ernie and The Shakers – 4:31

3. "Golden Years of Rock & Roll" performed by Long Tall Ernie and The Shakers – 4:26

Personnel

Production

Charts

Sales and certifications

Certifications for Long Play Album
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Netherlands (NVPI) [10] Gold50,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

Stars on 45 was a Dutch novelty pop act that was successful in Europe, the United States, and Australia in the early 1980s. The group later shortened its name to Stars On in the U.S., while in the United Kingdom and Ireland it was known as Starsound. The band, which consisted solely of studio session musicians under the direction of Jaap Eggermont, formerly of Golden Earring, recorded medley recordings made by recreating hit songs as faithfully as possible and joining them together with a common tempo and underlying drum track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Got My Mind Set on You</span> 1962 song by James Ray

"Got My Mind Set on You" is a song written and composed by Rudy Clark and originally recorded by James Ray in 1962, under the title "I've Got My Mind Set on You". An edited version of the song was released later in the year as a single on Dynamic Sound Records credited to Ray with Hutch Davie Orchestra & Chorus. The song features a variety of instruments, including a Chinese Lute, but it is unsure whether Ray or the orchestra played the lute.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stars on 45 (song)</span> Single by Stars on 45

"Stars on 45" is a song medley issued in January 1981 by Dutch studio group Stars on 45. In some countries, including the UK, Ireland, and New Zealand, the band was credited as 'Starsound' and only the medley itself was named "Stars on 45".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kansas City (Leiber and Stoller song)</span> Song by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller

"Kansas City" is a rhythm and blues song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in 1952. First recorded by Little Willie Littlefield the same year, as "K. C. Loving", the song later became a chart-topping hit when it was recorded by Wilbert Harrison in 1959. "Kansas City" is one of Leiber and Stoller's "most recorded tunes, with more than three hundred versions", with several appearing in the R&B and pop record charts.

The Beatles Anthology is a documentary television series on the career of the Beatles. It was broadcast on UK television in six parts on ITV between 26 November and 31 December 1995, while in the United States it was seen as three feature-length episodes on ABC between 19 and 23 November 1995. It was released in greatly expanded form as an eight-volume VHS set and an eight-disc LaserDisc set on 5 September 1996. The series was re-released on DVD in 2003, with an 81-minute special-features disc.

Tracy Ackerman is a British singer and songwriter. She works with several other British songwriters including Andy Watkins and Paul Wilson of Absolute and Mark Taylor. Ackerman has written for artists including Geri Halliwell, Cher, Boyzone, Tina Turner and Will Young.

<i>Longplay Album – Volume II</i> 1981 studio album by Stars on 45

Longplay Album – Volume II is the second album by the Dutch soundalike studio group Stars on 45, released on the CNR Records label in the Netherlands in August 1981. In the US the album was retitled Stars On Long Play II, released on Radio Records and credited to 'Stars On'. In the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand the album was listed as Stars on 45 Volume 2 or Stars on 45 – The Album – Volume 2, credited to Starsound and issued on CBS Records. Just like the first Stars on 45 album Longplay Album – Volume II was also officially released in the Eastern Bloc by state-owned czechoslovak label Opus, credited to Stars On 45 but under the title Stars on 45 – Volume II.

<i>The Superstars</i> 1982 studio album by Stars on 45

The Superstars is the third album by the Dutch soundalike studio group Stars on 45, released on the CNR Records label in the Netherlands in March 1982. In the US, the album was retitled Stars On Long Play III, released on Radio Records and credited to 'Stars On'. In the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, the album was instead titled Stars Medley, again credited to Starsound and released by CBS Records. Just like the first Stars on 45 album The Superstars was also issued in the Soviet Union and large parts of the Eastern Bloc by the state-owned label Melodiya, credited to Stars on 45 but released under the title Discotheque Stars 2.

<i>Stars on Frankie</i> 1987 studio album by Stars on 45

Stars on Frankie is the fourth and final album by the Dutch soundalike studio group Stars on 45, released on the CNR Records label in the Netherlands in 1987. The album was the first proper Stars on 45 project since The Superstars, released some five years earlier, during which time producer Jaap Eggermont had recorded three albums with spin-off group The Star Sisters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">More Stars</span> 1981 single by Stars on 45

"More Stars" a.k.a. "Stars on 45 Vol. 2" is a song issued in 1981 by the Dutch studio group Stars on 45, in the UK credited to 'Starsound'. It was the follow-up to the US and Dutch #1 and UK #2 single "Stars on 45". "More Stars" was later included on the band's second album Longplay Album - Volume II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volume III (song)</span> 1981 single by Stars on 45

"Volume III" a.k.a. "Stars on 45 Volume 3" is a song issued in 1981 by the Dutch studio group Stars on 45, in the UK credited to 'Starsound'. It was the second single from the band's second full-length release Longplay Album - Volume II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stars on Stevie</span> 1982 single by Stars on 45

"Stars on Stevie" a.k.a. "Stars Medley" a.k.a. "Stars on 45 III: A Tribute to Stevie Wonder" is a song issued in 1982 by the Dutch studio group Stars on 45, in the UK credited to 'Starsound', in the US 'Stars On'. It was the first single from the band's third full-length release The Superstars and was Stars on 45's fourth single release in both Europe and North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Greatest Rock 'n Roll Band in the World</span> 1982 single by Stars on 45

"The Greatest Rock 'n Roll Band in the World" a.k.a. "Stars Medley" a.k.a. "Stars on 45 III: Rollin' Stars" is a song issued in 1982 by the Dutch studio group Stars on 45, in the UK credited to 'Starsound', in the US 'Stars On'. It was the second single from the band's third full-length release The Superstars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stars on Frankie (song)</span> 1987 single by Stars on 45

"Stars on Frankie" is a song issued in 1987 by the Dutch studio group Stars on 45, taken from the album of the same title.

<i>The Beatles Box</i> 1980 box set by the Beatles

The Beatles Box is an eight-record box set of Beatles recordings, initially released on 3 November 1980 by World Records, a mail-order subsidiary of EMI. It was also issued in two formats by Reader's Digest in New Zealand, Australia and Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Anniversary Waltz (Status Quo song)</span> 1990 single by Status Quo

"The Anniversary Waltz" is the title of two medley singles released in 1990 by English rock band Status Quo. The medleys consist of hit songs from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. One of the songs performed, Dion's "The Wanderer" had previously been covered by Status Quo in 1984. "The Anniversary Waltz" was divided into two parts for release as a single. Part One was the bigger hit, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart, and was included on their 1990 compilation album Rocking All Over the Years.

<i>All You Need Is Luv</i> 1994 studio album by Luv

All You Need Is Luv' is the final studio album by Dutch girl group Luv' released in 1994 by Roman Disc and only available in Kruidvat stores in the Netherlands. It was reissued in 1995 and 2021.

The Buma Export Award was a prize given to the Dutch artists who sold the most records abroad between 1972 and 2011. In 2013, this prize was replaced by the Buma ROCKS! Export Award that focused on rock artists and the Buma Award Internationaal. The latter award is presented yearly during the Buma Awards ceremony.

<i>Tomorrow Never Knows</i> (Beatles album) 2012 compilation album by the Beatles

Tomorrow Never Knows is a compilation album of songs by the English rock band the Beatles, released on 24 July 2012 through the iTunes Store. The album was conceived to highlight the band's influence on the history of rock music and bring together many of the Beatles' most influential rock songs. It is named after the Revolver album track "Tomorrow Never Knows", which is featured on the compilation.

<i>Tracks of My Years</i> 2014 studio album by Bryan Adams

Tracks of My Years is the twelfth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams. The covers album was released on September 30, 2014 by Polydor Records. It is an eclectic mix of songs reflective of the time when rock was played alongside pop, country and R&B, and follows Adams’ acoustic album, 2010's Bare Bones, a release that resulted in sold out shows across Europe, North America, Australia and South Africa.

References

  1. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 291. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  2. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Stars on 45 – Long Play Album" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  3. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Stars on 45 – Long Play Album" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  4. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Stars on 45 – Long Play Album" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  5. ↑ "Charts.nz – Stars on 45 – Long Play Album". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  6. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Stars on 45 – Long Play Album". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  7. ↑ "Number 1 Albums – 1980s". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 9 February 2008. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  8. ↑ "Stars On Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  9. ↑ "Top Selling Albums of 1981 – The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand . Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  10. ↑ "Dutch album certifications – Stars on 45 – Long Play Album" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers . Retrieved July 16, 2022.Enter Long Play Album in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1982 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.