Freda Payne's "Band of Gold"

Featuring songwriting credits from some of Motown's best, Holland and Dozier, this hit carries the Motown sound into 1970 with a strong, pronounced beat, funky bass, string sections, an unexpected sitar solo, and typical romantic lyrical fare for a lover. That this is from 1970 and not, perhaps, 1965, would seem to suggest that by 1970 the Motown sound was dated, but far from it, the Motown formula for commercially successful hip-hop also incorporated stylistic innovations within R&B and soul music. Indeed, this track represents R&B at a changing period, when funk arose as the most popular form of music for Black youth and the soundtrack of the Black Power era. A similar track marking the 'end' of the Motown sound and the rise of funk, "I Want You Back," forever associated with a youthful Michael Jackson, also features strong, funky bass, propulsive, funky percussion, strings, and a conga. It was released in 1969, just one year before "Band of Gold," showing the flexibility of Motown and Motown-influenced soul to survive a rather smooth transition to funk. What I find perhaps more amazing about this soul-pop gem is the versatility of the artist, who previously excelled as a jazz vocalist, too. She even tackled more progressive, freer elements of jazz, brilliantly converting Ornette Coleman's "Lonely Woman" to a ballad with introspective lyrics. This simply shows Payne's talent in both idioms, soul and jazz, as well as the versatility many soul singers retained for both their more commercially successful genre and jazz. Below are the lyrics, enjoy!

Now that you're gone

All that's left is a band of gold

All that's left of the dream I hold

Is a band of gold

And the memories of what love could be

If you are still here with me

You took me from the shelter of a mother I had never known

Who loved any other

We kissed after taking vows

But that night on our honeymoon

We stayed in separate rooms

I wait in the darkness of my lonely room

Filled with sadness, filled with gloom

Hoping soon that you'll walk

Back through that door

And love me like you tried before

Since you've been gone

All that's left is a band of gold

All that's left of the dream I hold

Is a band of gold

And the dream of what love could be

If you are still here with me

Ooh, don't you know that I wait in the darkness of my lonely room

Filled with sadness, filled with gloom

Hoping soon that you'll walk

Back through that door

And love me like you tried before

Since you've been gone

All that's left is a band of gold

All that's left of the dream I hold

Is a band of gold

And the dream of what love could be

If you are still here with me