Stars on 45 (song)

Last updated
"Stars on 45"
Stars On 45 - Stars On 45.jpg
Original Dutch 7" single sleeve
Single by Stars on 45
from the album Long Play Album
ReleasedJanuary 1981 (1981-01)
Recorded1980
Genre
Length
  • 4:48 (7" version)
  • 11:30 (12" version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Jaap Eggermont
Stars on 45 singles chronology
"Stars on 45"
(1981)
"More Stars"
(1981)
Audios
"Stars on 45" (original 7-inch A-side) on YouTube

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [40] 2× Platinum200,000^
Germany (BVMI) [41] Gold500,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [42] Gold500,000^
United States (RIAA) [43] Gold1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

"Stars on 45 Medley 2"

The success of the single in North America even resulted in Radio Records rush-releasing a second single for the US market. The last four minutes of the album version of the Beatles medley ("Stars on 45"/Good Day Sunshine"/"My Sweet Lord"/"Here Comes the Sun"/"While My Guitar Gently Weeps"/"Tax Man"/"A Hard Day's Night"/"Please Please Me"/"From Me to You"/"I Wanna Hold Your Hand"/"Stars on 45") was released under the title "Stars on 45 Medley 2", but peaked at No. 67 on the Billboard Hot 100. The second Beatles medley single was not released in the Netherlands or any other part of the world.

Formats and track listings

Side one

"Medley II" - 5:11

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

Side two

"Stars on 45 II" (Eggermont, Duiser) - 3:19

Side one

"Stars on 45 (Medley)" - 5:11

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

Side two

"'45 Stars Get Ready" (7" version) (Eggermont, Duiser) - 3:12

1989 remix

The Beatles medley was remixed and re-released in a house music version in Europe in 1989 under the title "Stars on '89 Remix", then featuring an alternate selection of Beatles tracks taken from the album version of the medley, coupled with a new "Stars on 45" theme called "Rock the House". The single was remixed and reproduced by Danny van Passel and Rutti Kroese and released on the Red Bullet label as a 7", 12", and CD maxi singles, all formats backed with an extended version of the "Rock the House" theme.

Formats and track listings

Side one

"Stars on '89 Remix" (radio version) – 4:01

Side two

"Stars on the House" (van Passel, van Passel, Kroese) – 3:40

Side one

"Stars on '89 Remix" (extended version) – 6:17

Side two

"Stars on the House" (super club mix) (van Passel, van Passel, Kroese) – 5:01

1. "Stars on '89 Remix" (radio version) – 4:04

2. "Stars on '89 Remix" (extended version) – 6:12

3. "Stars on the House" (super club mix) (van Passel, van Passel, Kroese) – 4:57

Other versions

Parodies

A parody of "Stars on 45," entitled "Stars Over 45," was done by Chas & Dave. It was a hit in the UK, where it reached No. 21 in early 1982. [44]

Scottish band Orange Juice, recorded a medley of their own songs, set to a rhythm similar to that of Stars On 45, for a radio session in 1981 for John Peel, called "Blokes On 45".

"Maoris on 45" (1982), a song inspired by the "Stars on 45" concept but instead featuring popular traditional Māori music set to guitar, was a hit in New Zealand. [45]

"Weird Al" Yankovic has regularly included polka medleys of popular hits on most of his albums. The tradition began as a parody of "Stars on 45" (billed as "Polkas on 45") on Yankovic's second album "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D . [46]

See also

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Bibliography