"Not Fade Away" by Eric Hine

Song#:  0719
Date:  08/22/1981
Debut:  89
Peak:  73
Weeks:  5
Genre:  Synthpop



Pop Bits:  Not too much is known about Hine except that he was the keyboardist in the UK group Simon Dupree and the Big Sound. That group disbanded in 1969 and it seems that Hine picked up a career behind the boards as an engineer and occasional producer. But in 1981, he must have gotten the itch to pursue some solo work and recorded this song plus a couple others he wrote. The single was issued as a 45 and in a 12" mix version. It got some attention for a few weeks but in the end no full LP was ever released.

ReduxReview:  Oh man, I just don't know. Is this a massacre of a classic (see below) or an interesting take on one? Is it expertly done or is someone fiddling with their new synth they got for Christmas? It's both repelling and interesting. It's kind of like the smell of Thomas Dolby farting out a Buddy Holly cover done by Talking Heads and you are ashamed to admit that you're not terribly bothered by the odor - but you definitely know it is there.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) Simon Dupree and the Big Sound, formed by three Shulman brothers (there was no Simon Dupree), were originally an R&B-style band who release a few singles that went nowhere. Their label pushed them in a psychedelic direction and in 1967 they reached the UK Top 10 with "Kites." Unfortunately, they couldn't follow it up, so the group called it quits in 1969. The Shulman brothers then formed the prog-rock band Gentle Giant and for a decade they released 11 albums, some of which hit the UK and US charts. Their best US showing was the #48 peak of 1975's "Free Hand." They were known for their very complex music and experimentation.  2) This is a remake of The Crickets' 1957 song co-written by Buddy Holly. It was the B-side to their #10 "Oh, Boy" and didn't chart. It has been remade by many artists with the best single chart version coming in 1964 with the #48 peak from The Rolling Stones. It was their very first single release in the US.

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