Band of Gold (Freda Payne Song) - Cover Versions

Cover Versions

Despite both coming off major hits and working with noted musicians, neither the Belinda Carlisle nor the Bonnie Tyler versions were major hits. Tyler's was produced by Jim Steinman, the man behind earlier hits by Tyler and Meat Loaf, and later hits by Celine Dion, and the track was given a slew of Hi-NRG remixes. The song was the third single off her Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire, which also features the hit "Holding Out for a Hero". Carlisle's version was also given dance remixes featuring vocals by Freda Payne herself, that appear on a 2003 CD re-issue of the album Belinda, which features the hit "Mad About You".

In 1970, Anne Renée (a popular Quebec singer) recorded a French cover of "Band of Gold" (Le Jonc d'amitié).

In 1983, "Band of Gold" was recorded by Disco/Hi-NRG singer Sylvester on Megatone Records and released as a 12" single. Sylvester's version reached number 18 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and number 67 on the UK Singles Chart.

The song was a covered in 1980 by the Australian group The Reels on their hit EP Five Great Gift Ideas.

UK Salsa group Modern Romance covered "Band of Gold" on their compilation album, Party Tonight (1983).

Also in 1983, country singer Charly McClain recorded a cover version of "Band of Gold" for her album The Woman in Me. McClain's version reached No. 22 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in June 1984.

American singer-songwriter Anna Nalick recorded a version of "Band of Gold" that is included on the 2005 Hollywood Records release, Music from and Inspired by Desperate Housewives.

Kimberley Locke released her version of "Band of Gold" to radio on August 13, 2007 as the second single from her album Based on a True Story. It became Locke's second single to hit number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart and her seventh to go top 10 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. In December 2009, Billboard included Kimberley's version of the song at number 45 on their list of the top 50 Dance Club Play songs of the decade. Locke had previously performed the song alongside Frenchie Davis during "Hollywood week" on the second season of American Idol, and later performed it again during her final performance week on the show. Billboard' said of her version:

"Freda Payne's 1970 No. 3 hit "Band of Gold" may have been done to death, but a refresher course with ignition control of Kimberley Locke turns "Gold" green again. As with every song she has delivered, the "American Idol" alumnus—who earned high marks with her performance of this track on season two of the series—has commanded an enduring love affair at AC radio, with six hits and two No. 1s, including previous No. 6 "Change" from current CD "Based on a True Story." With a firm base in the gay community, the Bimbo Jones remix will only extend Locke's reach. So many seasons into the show, fewer original victors maintain relevance. (That's the way of the pop world.) But Locke has drop-kicked Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken as the season's real winner."