Hazy Shade of Winter
Encyclopedia
In 1987, The Bangles
were approached to record a song for the soundtrack of the film Less Than Zero
. They chose to record a cover of "A Hazy Shade of Winter," a song they had been performing since their early days as a band.
Their cover, simply titled "Hazy Shade of Winter," was vastly different from the original, turning it into a harder-edged rock song, and removing most of the bridge
section. The record, like the rest of the soundtrack album, was produced by Rick Rubin
. After a fruitful but disappointing experience with the producer of their Different Light
album, David Kahne
, where they were given little input in the production of the songs, the group decided to take more control for the recording of this song, and they were given an additional producer credit. Michael Steele
later commented that "we sounded the most on this record the way we actually sound live", and that "If we hadn't been so messed up as a band, it could have been a turning point for us"
Lead vocals were performed jointly by all four members of the group, with a short solo lead by Susanna Hoffs
towards the end of the song. This was a rare occurrence in the Bangles songs, as they mostly had just one member singing lead on their songs. Due to pressure from their record label, The Bangles removed the verse from the original song that contained the line "drinking my vodka and lime."
When released as a single in November 1987, "Hazy Shade of Winter" became a huge hit, surpassing the popularity of the original version, peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #11 in the UK. It was also a hit around Europe.
The music video for the song featured the band singing in a studio surrounded by television screens on the walls, similar to a scene of the Less Than Zero film. Scenes of the film also appear throughout the video.
"Hazy Shade of Winter" was not included on any of the band's studio albums, but was later included on the band's first official Greatest Hits
in 1990, and on many of the band's subsequent compilations. The accompanying Greatest Hits
video compilation did not feature the "Hazy Shade of Winter" video, due to complications with the licensing of the movie rights of the Less Than Zero scenes that appear on the video clip.
The Bangles version was commonly used as bumper music
for late night radio talk show Coast to Coast AM
hosted by Art Bell
in the mid to late 1990s.
recorded a version of the song for their 2006 album "Too Fast for Technology".
American psych-rock band Jimmy and the Soulblazers
covered this song on their 1972 album Clockwork.
Punk band Snuff
included a cover of the song on their EP Flibbidydibbidydob
in 1990.
German thrash metal
band Sodom
did a cover of the song for their 1997 album 'Til Death Do Us Unite
. However, they credited the song as a cover of the Bangles.
Australian pop punk band Bodyjar
produced a popular version of the song in 1999.
Les Fradkin
has a version on his 2006 album Jangleholic.
It was also covered by the darkwave
band She Wants Revenge
in 2007.
Singer-songwriter Susan Werner
included a version of the song on her album Classics, which was released in early 2009.
Christian singer/songwriter Joia Farmer covered this song on her album Until the Sun, released late 2009.
Wild Star covered this song on their debut, Hard Strokes Of Velvet, released in 2011.
The Bangles
The Bangles are an American all-female band that originated in the early 1980s, scoring several hit singles during the decade.-Formation and early years :...
were approached to record a song for the soundtrack of the film Less Than Zero
Less Than Zero (film)
Less Than Zero is a 1987 American drama film loosely based on Bret Easton Ellis' novel of the same name. The film stars Andrew McCarthy as Clay, a college freshman returning home for Christmas to spend time with his ex-girlfriend Blair and his friend Julian , who is also a drug addict...
. They chose to record a cover of "A Hazy Shade of Winter," a song they had been performing since their early days as a band.
Their cover, simply titled "Hazy Shade of Winter," was vastly different from the original, turning it into a harder-edged rock song, and removing most of the bridge
Bridge (music)
In music, especially western popular music, a bridge is a contrasting section which also prepares for the return of the original material section...
section. The record, like the rest of the soundtrack album, was produced by Rick Rubin
Rick Rubin
Frederick Jay "Rick" Rubin is an American record producer and the co-president of Columbia Records. Along with Russell Simmons, Rubin was the co-founder of Def Jam Records and also established American Recordings...
. After a fruitful but disappointing experience with the producer of their Different Light
Different Light
Different Light is an album by The Bangles released in January 1986. It is their best known album, with a Top 5 hit single and a No. 1 hit. The album's Top 40 sound was a departure from their earlier 60s-style sound...
album, David Kahne
David Kahne
David Kahne is an American record producer. Kahne started his musical career as a working musician and then became notable for his role as in-house producer and engineer at 415 Records, the first American new wave music label, and for his subsequent roles as Vice President of A&R at Columbia...
, where they were given little input in the production of the songs, the group decided to take more control for the recording of this song, and they were given an additional producer credit. Michael Steele
Michael Steele (musician)
Michael Steele is an American bassist, guitarist, songwriter, and singer. She performed with The Bangles and numerous other bands.-Career:Steele began her professional career as Micki Steele in the teen-girl band The Runaways, among the first all-female rock groups.Steele's stay in the Runaways was...
later commented that "we sounded the most on this record the way we actually sound live", and that "If we hadn't been so messed up as a band, it could have been a turning point for us"
Lead vocals were performed jointly by all four members of the group, with a short solo lead by Susanna Hoffs
Susanna Hoffs
Susanna Lee Hoffs is an American vocalist, guitarist and actress. She is best known as a member of the all-female pop band The Bangles.-Early life:...
towards the end of the song. This was a rare occurrence in the Bangles songs, as they mostly had just one member singing lead on their songs. Due to pressure from their record label, The Bangles removed the verse from the original song that contained the line "drinking my vodka and lime."
When released as a single in November 1987, "Hazy Shade of Winter" became a huge hit, surpassing the popularity of the original version, peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #11 in the UK. It was also a hit around Europe.
The music video for the song featured the band singing in a studio surrounded by television screens on the walls, similar to a scene of the Less Than Zero film. Scenes of the film also appear throughout the video.
"Hazy Shade of Winter" was not included on any of the band's studio albums, but was later included on the band's first official Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits (The Bangles album)
-The Bangles:*Susanna Hoffs – rhythm guitar, percussion, vocals*Vicki Peterson – lead guitar, mandolin, electric sitar, vocals*Debbi Peterson – drums, percussion, vocals*Michael Steele – bass guitar, vocals-Additional musicians:...
in 1990, and on many of the band's subsequent compilations. The accompanying Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits (The Bangles DVD)
Greatest Hits is the 1990 video containing the greatest hits of The Bangles. The video was also released on DVD in 2005, however it is the same version with the same quality. The video contains the music videos of the greatest hits of The Bangles in the 1980s....
video compilation did not feature the "Hazy Shade of Winter" video, due to complications with the licensing of the movie rights of the Less Than Zero scenes that appear on the video clip.
The Bangles version was commonly used as bumper music
Bumper music
Bumper music, or a bump, is a term used in the radio broadcasting industry to refer to short clips of signature or theme music used to buffer transitions between programming elements. Bumper music is commonly employed when a syndicated program takes a break for local station identification or...
for late night radio talk show Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM is a North American late-night syndicated radio talk show that deals with a variety of topics, but most frequently ones that relate to either the paranormal or conspiracy theories. It was created by Art Bell and is distributed by Premiere Radio Networks. The program currently...
hosted by Art Bell
Art Bell
Arthur W. "Art" Bell, III is an American broadcaster and author, known primarily as one of the founders and the original host of the paranormal-themed radio program Coast to Coast AM. He also created and formerly hosted its companion show, Dreamland...
in the mid to late 1990s.
Charts
| Chart (1987–1988) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | 37 |
| Chart (1988) | Peak position |
| UK Singles Chart | 11 |
| Ireland Singles Chart | 8 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 14 |
| Canadian Singles Chart | 3 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 12 |
| Australia ARIA Singles Chart | 7 |
| German Singles Chart | 52 |
Other cover versions
UK punk-pop band Cranial ScrewtopCranial Screwtop
Cranial Screwtop are an English punk-influenced rock band which plays 1980s pop songs in a punk style, the only specialist covers band of its type currently in the UK. The band's sound is distinguished by their use of kazoos...
recorded a version of the song for their 2006 album "Too Fast for Technology".
American psych-rock band Jimmy and the Soulblazers
Jimmy and the Soulblazers
Jimmy and the Soulblazers are an American soul and funk band from Alliance, Ohio. Since 1966 they have played for audiences across the East Coast and Midwest of the United States.-Career:...
covered this song on their 1972 album Clockwork.
Punk band Snuff
Snuff (band)
Snuff are a British punk rock band formed in Hendon in 1986. Their name reportedly came about after a long discussion about names ended up with one of them claiming "That's Enough", which was then shortened to Snuff...
included a cover of the song on their EP Flibbidydibbidydob
Flibbidydibbidydob
Flibbidydibbidydob is an EP of cover versions, including commercial jingles and a TV theme, by English punk rock band, Snuff. It was originally released in 1990, but was re-released in August, 1996 on Fat Wreck Chords.-Track listing:...
in 1990.
German thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band Sodom
Sodom (band)
Sodom is a German Thrash metal trio from Gelsenkirchen, formed in 1981.Along with the bands Kreator and Destruction, Sodom is considered one of the "big three" of Teutonic thrash metal...
did a cover of the song for their 1997 album 'Til Death Do Us Unite
'Til Death Do Us Unite
'Til Death Do Us Unite is the eighth album by Sodom. It had a controversial album cover, showing the bellies of a naked pregnant woman and an obese man pressing a human skull together. This album marked the beginning of return to thrash, but was more along the lines of thrash/crossover sound...
. However, they credited the song as a cover of the Bangles.
Australian pop punk band Bodyjar
Bodyjar
Bodyjar were an Australian punk rock/pop punk band based in Melbourne. They began performing under the name Bodyjar in 1994; their previous names included Damnation and Helium.-History:...
produced a popular version of the song in 1999.
Les Fradkin
Les Fradkin
Les Fradkin is a guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, composer and record producer. He is best known for being a member of the original cast of the hit Broadway show Beatlemania...
has a version on his 2006 album Jangleholic.
It was also covered by the darkwave
Darkwave
Dark Wave or darkwave is a music genre that began in the late 1970s, coinciding with the popularity of New Wave and post-punk. Building on those basic principles, dark wave added dark, introspective lyrics and an undertone of sorrow for some bands...
band She Wants Revenge
She Wants Revenge
She Wants Revenge is an American musical duo, based in San Fernando Valley, California. The group's debut album She Wants Revenge was released in early 2006, with three singles to follow...
in 2007.
Singer-songwriter Susan Werner
Susan Werner
Susan Werner is an American singer-songwriter. Much of Werner's work has been in the contemporary folk genre.-Career:Born and raised near Manchester, Iowa, Werner became interested in music at a young age and went on to receive a bachelor's degree in voice at the University of Iowa. In 1987, she...
included a version of the song on her album Classics, which was released in early 2009.
Christian singer/songwriter Joia Farmer covered this song on her album Until the Sun, released late 2009.
Wild Star covered this song on their debut, Hard Strokes Of Velvet, released in 2011.
External links
- Simon & Garfunkel - A Hazy Shade of Winter at MyspaceMyspaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
(streamed copy where licensed)
- The Bangles - A Hazy Shade of Winter at MyspaceMyspaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
(streamed copy where licensed)