"Painted Moon" by The Silencers

Song#:  3218
Date:  08/08/1987
Debut:  97
Peak:  82
Weeks:  6
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  This Scottish band was formed in 1986 by Jimme O'Neill and Cha Burns. Both had been members of the punk/new wave band Fingerprintz who had released three albums for Virgin Records between 1979 and 1981. While they didn't achieve widespread success, they had a good following. The band even got on the US Dance chart in 1982 with the #24 "The Beat Escape." After their third album, the band would break up. O'Neill and Burns went off and did their own projects for a few years before getting back together and forming a new band that would eventually be called The Silencers. The band would record a few demos that got the attention of RCA Records. With a deal in place, the band recorded and released this debut single. It got a little bit of attention in the UK reaching #57. The tune crossed over to the US and it did fairly well at Rock getting to #23. That result allowed it to get on the Pop chart for a few weeks. Their debut album, A Letter from St. Paul, would make it to #147. The Silencers would record four more albums for RCA and grab a few minor chart singles in the UK. In the US, their only other chart appearance would come in 1989 when "Razor Blades of Love" would get to #14 on the Modern Rock chart. The band would continue to perform over the years and release the occasional indie album.

ReduxReview:  When this song began to play I immediately thought of The Proclaimers' "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)," which would be a hit in the UK in 1988 and then in the US in 1993. They were also a Scottish band. The songs are different, but the opening and feel of this track reminded me of that Proclaimers track. It also has a bit of Simple Minds and Tears for Fears tossed in. I like the track and it probably sounded good on the radio, but it doesn't necessarily have a big hooky chorus. It takes a few listens for the track to sink in a bit. Still, I doubt it will hang in my mind for very long.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  This band shouldn't be confused with the Pittsburgh band of the same name. That new wave band grabbed a minor entry on the Pop chart in 1980 with "Shiver and Shake." They broke up a couple years later and that probably allowed the Scottish group to use the name in the US later (most likely with a payment to the original name holders). Other UK bands were not so lucky and had to alter their name for their US releases due to same name conflicts that could not be resolved. Yazoo became Yaz, The Beat became The English Beat, Suede became The London Suede, and so on. Even Wham! had to become Wham! UK for a brief period until George Michael struck a deal with the Nashville-based disco outfit of the same name.

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