VA - Orchestral Eighties (2024)

As August Day Records celebrates its 100th release, this album marks a significant milestone in the label's journey into the pop-classical crossover genre. Building on the success of previous orchestral albums from artists like Visage, Wang Chung, and Cutting Crew, this latest project promises to be a spectacular celebration of eighties songwriting, accompanied by a full orchestra. From Grammy winners to cult classics, this album is a testament to the enduring legacy of eighties music. August Day are thrilled to bring together some of the biggest hits of the era that will resonate with audiences old and new.

August Day's first foray into the Pop / Classical crossover came in 2014 when Visage re-recorded their hits with an Orchestra for the Czech Ski Jumping championships. The success of that show led to a subsequent album by Visage, and this then snowballed into more and more artists wanting to re-imagine their hits with orchestras.
Next up was A Flock Of Seagulls, reunited in their original line up for the first time since 1984 to deliver "Ascension". This was met with great acclaim from the fans & industry alike. Then in quick succession both Wang Chung & Rick Springfield released albums with August Day in 2019, Rick also performed an amazing launch show at the Saban theatre in Los Angeles with the Santa Monica HS Orchestra. 2020 saw the release of 2 more orchestral albums from legendary 80's artist, Cutting Crew and then Berlin.

The global pandemic meant that things slowed in the following few years… but as things opened up the label got back to work, recording a number of singles. First up we have Hollywood Beyond, with their cult classic "What's The Colour Of Money?". 1987's "Down To Earth" is one of 3 orchestral re-workings that August Day have coming out in the next few months from Curiosity Killed The Cat. Another UK top 20 single from 1987 comes from UK band Westworld, Sonic Boom Boy was the bands biggest charting track - hitting number 11 on the UK chart. [Clive] Farrington and [Andrew] Mann are the original singers and creative core of the UK based band "When In Rome". Their 1988 debut single "The Promise", taken from their debut self-titled album, was the bands biggest chart success. Although not technically released in the 1980's, "Young Hearts Run Free" by the legendary Candi Staton delivers all the feels you'd expect from such an iconic track. Originally released in 1985 Belouis Some's "Imagination" only managed to peak at number 50 in the UK chart, although a 1986 rerelease did see it hit the UK top 20. Benny Mardones' last recorded work was this re-sung, orchestral version of his 1980 mega hit "Into The Night". Mardones, as a young songwriter in the 60's/70's, had written for everyone from Chubby Checker to Brenda Lee, but "Into the Night" propelled him onto the world stage in his own right.

Tracklist
1. Rick Springfield – Jessie's Girl (Orchestral Version) (03:15)
2. A Flock Of Seagulls – I Ran (So Far Away) (Orchestral Version) (06:23)
3. Wang Chung – Dance Hall Days (Orchestral Version) (04:22)
4. Cutting Crew – (I Just) Died In Your Arms (Orchestral Version) (05:30)
5. Visage – Fade To Grey (Orchestral Version) (05:52)
6. Berlin – Take My Breath Away (Orchestral Version) (04:50)
7. The Belle Stars – Sign Of The Times (Orchestral Version) (03:04)
8. Hollywood Beyond – What's The Colour Of Money (Orchestral Version) (03:29)
9. Curiosity Killed The Cat – Down To Earth (Orchestral Version) (03:55)
10. Westworld – Sonic Boom Boy (Orchestral Version) (03:02)
11. Farrington And Mann – The Promise (Orchestral Version) (03:44)
12. Candi Staton – Young Hearts Run Free (04:04)
13. Belouis Some – Imagination (Orchestral Version) (03:44)
14. Benny Mardones – Into The Night (Orchestral Version) (04:24)