Best Years of Our Lives (song)
Encyclopedia
"Best Years of Our Lives" is the highest charting single from UK band Modern Romance
. It was released in October 1982 as a 7-inch single and 12-inch single
by WEA
. A Japanese and German edition was also released.
. It was the first single to feature Michael J. Mullins
as lead vocalist
and peaked at #4 on the UK chart in late 1982. The single can be found on Modern Romance's two hit albums, Trick of the Light
(1983) and Party Tonight
(1983). It also made an appearance on their farewell single, Best Mix of Our Lives
(1985) with four other singles: High Life (1983 song), Don't Stop That Crazy Rhythm
, Everybody Salsa, and Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey. It served as a 7-inch single [re-mix] on the B-side of Best Mix of Our Lives
and as a 12-inch single
[re-mix] on the B-side of the 12-inch version of Best Mix ....
The original B-side, We've Got Them Running (The Counting Song), is taken from the Modern Romance debut studio album
Adventures in Clubland
and features the lead vocals of Geoff Deane. It was written by Modern Romance founder member, David Jaymes. The latest appearance of Best Years ... is on the compilation CD Modern Romance: The Platinum Collection (2006).
band Baha Men
and featured in the hit 2001 computer animation
film Shrek
.
It was the Baha Men's sixth single and reached number 49 on the Australian ARIA Charts
and number 70 on the Swiss Music Charts
. It appeared on their album Move It Like This
.
The Baha Men version received generally positive reviews. According to the Baltimore Afro-American
, the song was "shaping up to be a worthy follow-up to Who Let the Dogs Out?
," while Terry vanHorn of MTV.com called it a "playful dance song." Eric Schumacher-Rasmussen, also of MTV.com, referred to the song as upbeat.
Modern Romance (band)
Modern Romance were a British pop music band that found popularity in the early 1980s. Formed in 1980 by previous members of an earlier punk rock band, The Leyton Buzzards, the band enjoyed a string of UK chart hits before they broke up in 1985...
. It was released in October 1982 as a 7-inch single and 12-inch single
12-inch single
The 12-inch single is a type of gramophone record that has wider groove spacing compared to other types of records. This allows for louder levels to be cut on the disc by the cutting engineer, which in turn gives a wider dynamic range, and thus better sound quality...
by WEA
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
. A Japanese and German edition was also released.
12-inch single
- Best Years of Our Lives (Parts 1&2) Midnight Mix
- Best Years of Our Lives (Parts 1&2) Extended Mix
- We've Got Them Running (The Counting Song)
History
"Best Years of Our Lives" was the biggest selling single for Modern RomanceModern Romance (band)
Modern Romance were a British pop music band that found popularity in the early 1980s. Formed in 1980 by previous members of an earlier punk rock band, The Leyton Buzzards, the band enjoyed a string of UK chart hits before they broke up in 1985...
. It was the first single to feature Michael J. Mullins
Michael J. Mullins
Michael J. Mullins is an English lead vocalist, backing singer, and songwriter best known as the lead singer of Salsa band Modern Romance . Modern Romance achieved eight Top 40 singles and two hit albums...
as lead vocalist
Lead vocalist
The lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
and peaked at #4 on the UK chart in late 1982. The single can be found on Modern Romance's two hit albums, Trick of the Light
Trick of the Light
Trick of the Light is a single released by The Triffids from their album Calenture. It was produced by Gil Norton and written by David McComb. The B-Side "Love the Fever" was co-written by David McComb and Adam Peters and was produced by Adam Peters and was recorded in August 1986...
(1983) and Party Tonight
Party Tonight
Party Tonight is the third album by English band Modern Romance. It was a compilation album released in 1983 on LP and Cassette tape by Ronco. A Japanese reissue on LP was released, titled Juanita, but is long out of print.-Track listing:...
(1983). It also made an appearance on their farewell single, Best Mix of Our Lives
Best Mix of Our Lives
"Best Mix of Our Lives" is the final single from UK band Modern Romance. It was released in 1985 as a 7-inch single and 12-inch single by WEA.-12-inch single:*Best Mix of Our Lives*Best Years of Our Lives [extended re-mix]Broken Down...
(1985) with four other singles: High Life (1983 song), Don't Stop That Crazy Rhythm
Don't Stop That Crazy Rhythm
"Don't Stop That Crazy Rhythm" is a Top 20 single from UK band Modern Romance. It was released in 1983 as a 7-inch single, 7-inch picture disc, and 12-inch single by WEA...
, Everybody Salsa, and Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey. It served as a 7-inch single [re-mix] on the B-side of Best Mix of Our Lives
Best Mix of Our Lives
"Best Mix of Our Lives" is the final single from UK band Modern Romance. It was released in 1985 as a 7-inch single and 12-inch single by WEA.-12-inch single:*Best Mix of Our Lives*Best Years of Our Lives [extended re-mix]Broken Down...
and as a 12-inch single
12-inch single
The 12-inch single is a type of gramophone record that has wider groove spacing compared to other types of records. This allows for louder levels to be cut on the disc by the cutting engineer, which in turn gives a wider dynamic range, and thus better sound quality...
[re-mix] on the B-side of the 12-inch version of Best Mix ....
The original B-side, We've Got Them Running (The Counting Song), is taken from the Modern Romance debut studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
Adventures in Clubland
Adventures in Clubland
Adventures in Clubland is the debut album by English band Modern Romance. It was released in 1981 on LP and Cassette tape by WEA, and in 2008 a CD reissue was released by Wounded Bird Records.-Track listing:...
and features the lead vocals of Geoff Deane. It was written by Modern Romance founder member, David Jaymes. The latest appearance of Best Years ... is on the compilation CD Modern Romance: The Platinum Collection (2006).
Personnel
- Michael J. MullinsMichael J. MullinsMichael J. Mullins is an English lead vocalist, backing singer, and songwriter best known as the lead singer of Salsa band Modern Romance . Modern Romance achieved eight Top 40 singles and two hit albums...
- vocals - David Jaymes - bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Robbie Jaymes - synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
- Paul Gendler - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- John Du PrezJohn Du PrezJohn Du Prez is a musician, conductor, and composer. Du Prez was a member of the 1980s multi-hit Salsa-driven pop band Modern Romance and has since written several Film scores including Oxford Blues and the final Carry On film, Carry On Columbus...
- trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air... - Andy Kyriacou - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Tony ViscontiTony ViscontiAnthony Edward Visconti is an American record producer and sometimes a musician or singer.Since the late 1960s, he has worked with an array of performers; his lengthiest involvement with any artist is with David Bowie: intermittently from Bowie's 1969 album Space Oddity to 2003's Reality, Visconti...
- producer (music) - Geoff Deane - vocals (on We've Got Them Running [The Counting Song])
Baha Men version
In 2001, the song regained popularity after it was covered by the reggaeReggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
band Baha Men
Baha Men
The Baha Men are Bahamian singers in a Bahamian band. They play a modernised style of Bahamian music called Junkanoo.-Early career as High Voltage :...
and featured in the hit 2001 computer animation
Computer animation
Computer animation is the process used for generating animated images by using computer graphics. The more general term computer generated imagery encompasses both static scenes and dynamic images, while computer animation only refers to moving images....
film Shrek
Shrek
Shrek is a 2001 American computer-animated fantasy comedy film directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, featuring the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow. Loosely based on William Steig's 1990 fairy tale picture book Shrek!...
.
It was the Baha Men's sixth single and reached number 49 on the Australian ARIA Charts
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
and number 70 on the Swiss Music Charts
Swiss Music Charts
The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75...
. It appeared on their album Move It Like This
Move It Like This
Move It Like This is the seventh studio album released by Bahamas-based group Baha Men. It was released in 2002 under S-Curve record, making it their first album under the label. The album includes a cover of Harry Nilsson's "Coconut"...
.
The Baha Men version received generally positive reviews. According to the Baltimore Afro-American
Baltimore Afro-American
The Baltimore Afro-American, commonly known as The Afro, is a weekly newspaper published in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. It is the flagship newspaper of the Afro-American chain and the longest-running African-American family-owned newspaper in the United States.-History:The newspaper was founded in...
, the song was "shaping up to be a worthy follow-up to Who Let the Dogs Out?
Who Let the Dogs Out?
"Who Let the Dogs Out?" is a song written and originally recorded by Anslem Douglas for Trinidad and Tobago's Carnival season of 1998. It was heard and taped on a float by hairdresser Keith from the London salon Smile, who played it to Jonathan King, who recorded it and released it under the name...
," while Terry vanHorn of MTV.com called it a "playful dance song." Eric Schumacher-Rasmussen, also of MTV.com, referred to the song as upbeat.