"Gold" is a song by English boy bandEast 17, taken from the band's debut album, Walthamstow (1993). Written by Tony Mortimer, and produced by Ian Curnow and Phil Harding, it was released on 2 November 1992 by London Records as the second single from the album. The song was successful in only a few countries, peaking at number two in Sweden, number three in Finland, and number 28 in the UK. Outside Europe, it reached number one for four weeks in Israel. A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Jaswinder Bancil,[citation needed] depicting the band performing the track whilst wearing angel wings.[2]
Critical reception
Sharon Mawer from AllMusic felt the song could easily have been recorded by the Pet Shop Boys, "as the intro and chorus had their lush orchestration and smooth vocals, although the verses featured Tony Mortimer rapping about the futility of war and the need to live together in harmony on this planet."[3] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton wrote, "With their tracks having a harder dance feel to them unlike most teen bands their future looks set to follow soundalikes EMF. Watch this climb."[4]
Alan Jones from Music Week gave the song three out of five, describing it as "energetic and slick pop, with the Walthamstow boys more in control of their own destiny."[5] In his review of the Walthamstow album, Neil Spencer from The Observer found that 'House of Love' and 'Gold' "prove the more inane offerings from a mix of junior hip-hop and melodic pop".[6] Ted Kessler from Select wrote, "Love them or loathe them, 'House of Love' and 'Gold' were perfectly fashioned hits: spanking contemporary production and sounds, crass, horribly infectious choruses and easily absorbed dance routines."[7]Mark Frith from Smash Hits also gave it three out of five, saying it's "quite good — memorable, light and poppy".[8]
^Gold (UK cassette single sleeve). East 17. London Records. 1992. LONCS 331, 869 943-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Gold (UK 7-inch single sleeve). East 17. London Records. 1992. LON 331, 869 942-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Gold (UK 12-inch single sleeve). East 17. London Records. 1992. LONX 331, 869 943-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^"Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 5. 30 January 1993. p. 43.
^Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 263. ISBN978-951-1-21053-5.