Stars On 45 and the Medley Craze of the '80s - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Jude The Obscure · 06-12-2008, 10:42 PM

Remember them?

It all started in 1981 when a session group from Holland made a 12" single (to combat a similar bootleg release)of mostly Beatles songs plus snippets of "Sugar Sugar" and "Venus" thrown in. The difference is the Stars On 45 version was performed by sound-alike vocalists, who actually did each and every song, which was then edited down into this medley. Capping off the medley (and breaking it into segments) was a chorus called "Stars on 45", which was reminding people to remember those famous Beatles songs. The song went to #1 in many countries, including the US. The success lead to many others trying their hand at varying degress of success, their own medleys. So45 released a second Beatles medley, The Beatles themselves did a Movie Medley, The Beach Boys, the Hollies, etc. There were takes on classical music and big band tunes, each set to a thumping disco beat. We can probably list all those we can remember here. The success of So45 inspired a spinoff group called The Star Sisters who had a big European hit with an Andrew Sisters medley.

catlover79 · 06-12-2008, 11:16 PM

The Spinners went medley-crazy in the early 80s: "Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl", "Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time", and "Yesterday Once More/Nothing Remains the Same".

Jude The Obscure · 06-13-2008, 05:40 PM

Thanks, Monika, I never realized those songs from The Spinners were medleys!

Today the medley lives on under the moniker "megamix"

Zoneboy · 06-13-2008, 05:48 PM

catlover79 · 06-13-2008, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude86

Thanks, Monika, I never realized those songs from The Spinners were medleys!

Today the medley lives on under the moniker "megamix"

Any time, Jude.

Jude The Obscure · 06-13-2008, 09:53 PM

Is that your personal LP, Charles?

I had Hooked on Classics 1,2, and 3. Hooked on Swing 1 and 2
Stars on Long Play 1, 2, and 3, plus Soul Revue.
Another LP called Turned On Broadway, Hooked on Rock Classics.
A 12" single called "Michael's Medley"
The Weird Al tapes with the polka medleys.

Zoneboy · 06-13-2008, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude86

Is that your personal LP, Charles?

No, That's one I never bought.

Ireneparalegal · 06-14-2008, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

The Spinners went medley-crazy in the early 80s: "Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl", "Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time", and "Yesterday Once More/Nothing Remains the Same".

Here are the lyrics for WORKING MY WAY BACK TO YOU/FORGIVE ME GIRL:

I'll keep working my way back to you, babe
With a burning love inside
Hey, I'm working my way back to you, babe
And the happiness that died

I let it get away
Do-do, do-da, do
(Been paying every day)
Do-do, do-da, do

When you were so in love with me
I played around like I was free
Thought I could have my cake and eat it too
But how I cried over losing you

See, I'm down and out
But I ain't about to go living my life without you
Hey, every day
I made you cry
I'll pay and, girl
'Til the day I die

I'll keep working my way back to you, babe
With a burning love inside
Yeah, I'm working my way back to you, babe
And the happiness that died

I let it get away
Do-do, do-da, do
(Been paying every day)
Do-do, do-da, do

Oh, I used to love to make you cry
It made me feel like a man inside
If I had been a man in reality
You'd be here, baby, loving me

Now my nights are long and lonely
And I ain't too proud, babe
I just miss you so
Girl, but you're too proud
And you won't give in
But when I think about all I could win

I'll keep working my way back to you, babe
With a burning love inside
Yeah, I'm working my way back to you, babe
And the happiness that died

I let it get away
Do-do, do-da, do
(Been paying every day)
Do-do, do-da, do

(Yooooou, you, babe)
My road is kind of long
(Yooooou, you, babe)
I just gotta get back home

Whoa, I'm really sorry for acting that way
I'm really sorry
Ooh, little girl
I'm really sorry for telling you lies
For so long
Oh, please, forgive me, girl
Come on (give me a chance)
Won't you forgive me, girl
Hey (let's have romance)
Ooh, forgive me, girl (let's try again)
Come on, forgive me, girl
I want you over and over
And over and over again

I'll keep working my way back to you, babe
With a burning love inside
Yeah, I'm working my way back to you, babe
And the happiness that died
I let it get away
Do-do, do-da, do
(Been paying every day)
Do-do, do-da, do
I'll keep working my way back to you, babe

My reason for posting the lyrics is because I never understood why it was considereed a medley. I mean, it sounds like one song, not two. It just seems like one long song. Isn't it really a song with two titles simply because they couldn't decide what to call the song?

I remember the Stars on 45 Jude.

Man, that record was awesome to hear. I just heard it abt two weeks ago on satellite radio. That is probably the only place you will hear that song played.

Jude The Obscure · 06-15-2008, 09:27 AM

From Irene:My reason for posting the lyrics is because I never understood why it was considereed a medley. I mean, it sounds like one song, not two. It just seems like one long song. Isn't it really a song with two titles simply because they couldn't decide what to call the song?

I remember the Stars on 45 Jude. Man, that record was awesome to hear. I just heard it abt two weeks ago on satellite radio. That is probably the only place you will hear that song played.

My reply:
I have never heard it on radio since its original chart heyday. Course I don't have satellite radio either

I had the 45 to Working My Way and that was the title--not with the /Forgive Me Girl added. I too thought it was just one song.

Ireneparalegal · 06-15-2008, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude86

From Irene:My reason for posting the lyrics is because I never understood why it was considereed a medley. I mean, it sounds like one song, not two. It just seems like one long song. Isn't it really a song with two titles simply because they couldn't decide what to call the song?

I remember the Stars on 45 Jude. Man, that record was awesome to hear. I just heard it abt two weeks ago on satellite radio. That is probably the only place you will hear that song played.

My reply:
I have never heard it on radio since its original chart heyday. Course I don't have satellite radio either

I had the 45 to Working My Way and that was the title--not with the /Forgive Me Girl added. I too thought it was just one song.

You haven't heard Stars since it debuted? OMG, that is a long time. Do you really like that song a lot?

I remember hearing the Spinners songs when they were released and hearing the deejays sometimes refer to the songs as being a medley and I wondered why. To me a medley is when a song has two distinct songs in one. And I mean a very DISTINCT difference.

Another one I have heard as being considered a medley is Diana Ross' song, "Love Hangover." It starts out a very slow song and then changes into a fast dance tune. I don't consider that a medley (for those who do).

Jude The Obscure · 06-15-2008, 02:38 PM

Oh no--you've misunderstood! I said I have not heard it on radio....I have the LPs and burned CDs.

Stars On 45 is my all time fave music act--I just love how different styles and songs are put together to make one groovy disco beat!

I even have the 1983 VHS concert of the touring act called "Stars on 45"--very very cheese-tastic!

However one should be aware of a group here in the US that claims to take credit for the medleys at www.starson45.com Don't be fooled--they are NOT the original Dutch session group. I have also told them that they are a FRAUD. They never e-mailed me back once I confronted them

Because of Stars, I've come to appreciate the music of The Beatles, The Stones, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder and ABBA even more than I did before.

Ireneparalegal · 06-15-2008, 02:42 PM

I remember the group being Dutch. I checked out that website.

I wonder how many people they fool?

Jude The Obscure · 06-15-2008, 02:54 PM

That group is no more than a party cover band! At least they should call themselves "Stars on 45 Too" or something innocuous. Trying to pass themselves as the original Dutch hitmakers is really really scuzzy. Too bad I don't have a way to contact Jaap Eggermont and let him know of this fraudlent act.

Ireneparalegal · 06-15-2008, 03:00 PM

I just emailed them myself.

FRAUDS!

I can see if ONE original member from S45 were in the group, but there isn't. How can they legally do that?

Jude The Obscure · 06-15-2008, 03:16 PM

Beats me.......I think they do because they think they can......

it's not a case of where The Beach Boys for awhile splintered into two touring acts or Jefferson Starship--which to this day tours as JS and another group as "Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas".

06-12-2008, 11:16 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	The Spinners went medley-crazy in the early 80s: "Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl", "Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time", and "Yesterday Once More/Nothing Remains the Same".
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

06-13-2008, 05:48 PM	#4
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,472
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

06-12-2008, 10:42 PM	#1
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	Stars On 45 and the Medley Craze of the '80s Remember them? It all started in 1981 when a session group from Holland made a 12" single (to combat a similar bootleg release)of mostly Beatles songs plus snippets of "Sugar Sugar" and "Venus" thrown in. The difference is the Stars On 45 version was performed by sound-alike vocalists, who actually did each and every song, which was then edited down into this medley. Capping off the medley (and breaking it into segments) was a chorus called "Stars on 45", which was reminding people to remember those famous Beatles songs. The song went to #1 in many countries, including the US. The success lead to many others trying their hand at varying degress of success, their own medleys. So45 released a second Beatles medley, The Beatles themselves did a Movie Medley, The Beach Boys, the Hollies, etc. There were takes on classical music and big band tunes, each set to a thumping disco beat. We can probably list all those we can remember here. The success of So45 inspired a spinoff group called The Star Sisters who had a big European hit with an Andrew Sisters medley.

06-13-2008, 05:40 PM	#3
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	Thanks, Monika, I never realized those songs from The Spinners were medleys! Today the medley lives on under the moniker "megamix"

06-13-2008, 09:53 PM	#6
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	Is that your personal LP, Charles? I had Hooked on Classics 1,2, and 3. Hooked on Swing 1 and 2 Stars on Long Play 1, 2, and 3, plus Soul Revue. Another LP called Turned On Broadway, Hooked on Rock Classics. A 12" single called "Michael's Medley" The Weird Al tapes with the polka medleys.

06-15-2008, 09:27 AM	#9
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	From Irene:My reason for posting the lyrics is because I never understood why it was considereed a medley. I mean, it sounds like one song, not two. It just seems like one long song. Isn't it really a song with two titles simply because they couldn't decide what to call the song? I remember the Stars on 45 Jude. Man, that record was awesome to hear. I just heard it abt two weeks ago on satellite radio. That is probably the only place you will hear that song played. My reply: I have never heard it on radio since its original chart heyday. Course I don't have satellite radio either I had the 45 to Working My Way and that was the title--not with the /Forgive Me Girl added. I too thought it was just one song.

06-15-2008, 02:38 PM	#11
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	Oh no--you've misunderstood! I said I have not heard it on radio....I have the LPs and burned CDs. Stars On 45 is my all time fave music act--I just love how different styles and songs are put together to make one groovy disco beat! I even have the 1983 VHS concert of the touring act called "Stars on 45"--very very cheese-tastic! However one should be aware of a group here in the US that claims to take credit for the medleys at www.starson45.com Don't be fooled--they are NOT the original Dutch session group. I have also told them that they are a FRAUD. They never e-mailed me back once I confronted them Because of Stars, I've come to appreciate the music of The Beatles, The Stones, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder and ABBA even more than I did before.

06-15-2008, 02:42 PM	#12
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	I remember the group being Dutch. I checked out that website. I wonder how many people they fool?

06-15-2008, 02:54 PM	#13
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	That group is no more than a party cover band! At least they should call themselves "Stars on 45 Too" or something innocuous. Trying to pass themselves as the original Dutch hitmakers is really really scuzzy. Too bad I don't have a way to contact Jaap Eggermont and let him know of this fraudlent act.

06-15-2008, 03:00 PM	#14
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	I just emailed them myself. FRAUDS! I can see if ONE original member from S45 were in the group, but there isn't. How can they legally do that?

06-15-2008, 03:16 PM	#15
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	Beats me.......I think they do because they think they can...... it's not a case of where The Beach Boys for awhile splintered into two touring acts or Jefferson Starship--which to this day tours as JS and another group as "Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas".