Bounce Back (Fire on Blonde song)

Fire on Blonde version

"Bounce Back" was originally released as single in 1987 by American Los Angeles based duo Fire on Blonde. The release was a non-album single and was the band's third and final single release in total.

Background

Formed by keyboardist Jim Vukovich and singer Suzie Benson in 1985, the band released their Atlantic Records debut single in 1986, "Stop and Think", which failed to make any mainstream impact. Vukovich left the group in 1987 after months of creative differences with Benson. He was not easily replaced. The duo's manager James Elliott eventually settled for a keyboard player from Sweden named Scott Rudress. Both Rudgress and vocalist Suzie Benson recorded two singles in 1987: "Wrong Number" and "Bounce Back". Both songs were co-written and produced by Michael Jay. The recording efforts of Jay, Benson and Rudgress failed to chart and make any mainstream impact. Their first record "Stop and Think" was the only noteworthy record by the 1st incarnation of the group (Vukovich and Benson), masterfully produced by young wiz kid producer, Derek Nakamoto. Shortly following in 1988, the group broke up.

In 1988, the song was included as part of the soundtrack to the film Screwball Hotel, starring Michael Bendetti and Andrew Zeller.

In 1988, the song was included on the various artists 2x vinyl LP compilation Remixed Records 20, which was released in Sweden on May 11, 1988. This exclusive remix was created by Tommy Ledberg.

Since the original release of the song, various unofficial YouTube videos of the song have together gained over 14,000 views.

In the February 7, 2004 issue of Lake County News-Sun, a Chicago Sun-Times Publication, the band and the song was mentioned, stating "A short-lived duo called Fire on Blonde, got a contract with Atlantic Records and recorded a couple of dance hits called "Stop and Think" and "Bounce Back"."

Recording

The single was produced for James Elliott Productions and mastered at Precision DMM.

Release

The single was mainly released in America on both the TSR-distributed Spinn Records and Atlantic Records, although the single would also be released in Belgium in 1988 via Indisc.

A 7" vinyl from Atlantic Records was released, although the 12" vinyl versions were the main format. The 7" vinyl version featured the 7" radio version of "Bounce Back" as the a-side and the 12" extended version of the song as the b-side, which was titled "Bounce Back (Long Version)". The release featured no artwork sleeve.

For the 12" vinyl, both Spinn Records and Atlantic Records released separate versions on the single, each using the same track-listing, although the Spinn release was the only one to feature an artwork sleeve. The a-side of the 12" vinyl featured the tracks "Bounce Back (12" Version)" and "Bounce Back (7" Radio Version)", whilst the b-side featured the remixes "Bounce Back (House Dub Mix)", "Bounce Back (7" Remix)" and "Bounce Back (Acapella)". Although not stated which particular remixes, some remixing was handled by Keith Cohen and Steve Beltran.

Aside from the two main 12" vinyl releases, a promotional 12" vinyl was also released by Atlantic Records, featuring the same track-listing, whilst the 1988 Belgian 12" vinyl release by Indisc again used the same track-listing.

Promotion

No music video was created for the single, much like the duo's other two single releases.

Track listing

1. "Bounce Back" - 3:29
2. "Bounce Back (Long Version)" - 6:45

1. "Bounce Back (12" Version)" - 6:45
2. "Bounce Back (7" Radio Version)" - 3:59
3. "Bounce Back (House Dub Mix)" - 5:52
4. "Bounce Back (7" Remix)" - 4:12
5. "Bounce Back (Acapella)" - 3:59

1. "Bounce Back (12" Version)" - 6:45
2. "Bounce Back (Radio Version)" - 3:29
3. "Bounce Back (House Dub)" - 5:52
4. "Bounce Back (7" Remix)" - 4:12
5. "Bounce Back (Acapella)" - 3:59

1. "Bounce Back (12" Version)" - 6:45
2. "Bounce Back (Radio Version)" - 3:29
3. "Bounce Back (House Dub)" - 5:52
4. "Bounce Back (7" Remix)" - 4:12
5. "Bounce Back (Acapella)" - 3:59

1. "Bounce Back (12" Version)" - 6:45
2. "Bounce Back (7" Radio Version)" - 3:29
3. "Bounce Back (House Dub Mix)" - 5:52
4. "Bounce Back (7" Remix)" - 4:12
5. "Bounce Back (Acapella)" - 3:59

Critical reception

Alex Henderson of Allmusic stated in a biography on the duo, "Although all of its singles were infectious, Fire on Blonde didn't became well known and never came out with an album."

Alex Henderson also spoke of the version in a review of Alisha's Bounce Back album, stating "Its best songs are "Wrong Number" and the title song, both of which Jay had co-written and given to dance-pop duo Fire On Blonde in the 1980s. Fire's versions were superior, though Alisha's aren't bad."

Personnel

Martika version

In 1987, American pop singer-songwriter Martika, who had yet to record her self-titled debut album, recorded a version of "Bounce Back", where the largely unseen music video was aired on the show Entertainment '80, at the time before her solo music career when Martika was largely involved with for a few years.

She would later work with Jay mainly on her debut album, as Jay co-wrote seven tracks on the album and produced it. Reportedly, Martika suggested the song for Alisha as they were friends, causing Jay to become involved in Alisha's version and the entire Bounce Back album.

Music video

The Entertainment '80 episode, hosted by Ryan Salmans, featured a short interview with Martika, where she spoke of the video before it was shown, stating "I haven't seen this one yet, but I do remember I wore ripped jeans. That's all I remember about this video, except for the song's called "Bounce Back", and it'll be interesting to see what it looks like."After the airing of the video, Salmans complimented the video, stating "I'm so surprised, it's the first time I've seen your videos and it's just really exciting to see those things", with Martika commenting on it also, stating "I like that one, that was fun."

After being asked how long the video took to make, Martika stated "I think we did it in about, it couldn't have been more than an hour at the most. I was running late for something else."

Since being uploaded onto YouTube unofficially in mid-2007, the Entertainment 80 footage has gained approximately 9,000 views.

Alisha version

"Bounce Back" was later recorded and released in 1990 by American freestyle and dance-pop singer Alisha, where it was included on the same-titled album Bounce Back. Michael Jay produced the track, as well as producing the entire album, whilst the song was released as the album's lead single. It was Alisha's last single to make any commercial impact.

Background

Handing the song over to Alisha for her third album, Michael Jay also gave the singer the Fire on Blonde track "Wrong Number" for the album as well, and the song was also released as the second single. After the 1987 album Nightwalkin' only gave Alisha some minor chart action, mainly on the Dance Charts, "Bounce Back", released nearly two years after the previous single, gave the singer her biggest charting release on the American Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at #54 in mid-1990 On the American Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart, the song peaked at #10 whilst also peaking at #26 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart.

Recording

Like the album, the song was recorded and engineered at Trax Recording in Hollywood, CA, whilst it was mastered at Precision, Hollywood, CA. It was produced for Captain Hook Productions. The track was mixed at Ground Control, Santa Monica, CA.

Release

The single was released in America via MCA Records and in Germany via both PolyGram and Mercury/Phonogram.

A 7" vinyl version was released in America only, with no artwork sleeve, where it included the album version of "Bounce Back" and the album track "I Need Forever" as the b-side, which was written by Jeff Franzel and Jim Klein.

The American 12" vinyl featured four tracks in total, with the a-side featuring "Bounce Back (LP Version)" and "Bounce Back (7" Radio Remix)", and the b-side featuring "Bounce Back (12" Vocal Remix)" and "Bounce Back (12" Techno-Bounce Dub)". All three remixes of the track, excluding the LP version, were created by Hugo Dwyer and Justin Strauss. The release featured artwork of a close up shot of Alisha with a pink background, which was similar to the artwork of the Bounce Back album.

The American CD release was promotional only and featured "Bounce Back (7" Radio Remix)" as the main track, along with "Bounce Back (LP Version)" and "Bounce Back (12" Vocal Remix)". The front sleeve used a yellow background artwork design to accompany the title and text. The American cassette version featured "Bounce Back (LP Version)" on Side A, whilst Side B remained blank. The release used the main artwork with the close up shot of Alisha.

In Germany, a 12" vinyl and CD version of the single was released. The PolyGram 12" vinyl featured "Bounce Back (Vocal Remix)" as the main track, whilst also adding "Bounce Back (Radio Remix)" and "Bounce Back (Techno-Bounce Dub)". The Mercury/Phonogram CD maxi-single was released in a cardboard sleeve, featuring the tracks "Bounce Back (LP/7" Version)", "Bounce Back (Radio Remix)", "Bounce Back (Vocal Remix)" and "I Need Forever". This release again used the single's close up photo artwork.

Promotion

A music video was created for the song - the only video for a single from the Bounce Back album, and also Alisha's final music video.

Since being uploaded onto YouTube unofficially in mid-2006, the video has gained approximately 33,000 view.

Track listing

1. "Bounce Back" - 3:53
2. "I Need Forever" - 4:27

1. "Bounce Back (LP Version)" - 3:53
2. "Bounce Back (7" Radio Remix)" - 3:48
3. "Bounce Back (12" Vocal Remix)" - 7:07
4. "Bounce Back (12" Techno-Bounce Dub)" - 7:12

1. "Bounce Back (Vocal Remix)" - 7:07
2. "Bounce Back (Radio Remix)" - 3:48
3. "Bounce Back (Techno-Bounce Dub)" - 7:12

1. "Bounce Back (7" Radio Remix)" - 3:48
2. "Bounce Back (LP Version)" - 3:53
3. "Bounce Back (12" Vocal Remix)" - 7:07

1. "Bounce Back (LP/7" Version)" - 3:53
2. "Bounce Back (Radio Remix)" - 3:48
3. "Bounce Back (Vocal Remix)" - 7:07
4. "I Need Forever" - 4:27

1. "Bounce Back (LP Version)" - 3:53

Critical reception

Alex Henderson of Allmusic spoke of the song in a review of the Bounce Back album, stating "Its best songs are "Wrong Number" and the title song, both of which Jay had co-written and given to dance-pop duo Fire On Blonde in the 1980s. Fire's versions were superior, though Alisha's aren't bad."

Personnel