Puneet Varma (Editor)

Valentine (T'Pau song)

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B-side
  
Giving My Love Away

Genre
  
Pop rock

Released
  
1988

Length
  
3:55

Format
  
7" single, 12" single, CD single

Label
  
Siren Records, Virgin Records

"Valentine" is the second of six singles of 1988 from the British band T'Pau.

Contents

Background

The single was the band's third top 10 single in the UK, peaking at No. 9 and spending eight weeks in the charts. Although the band would continue to release big hits, no following singles reached the top ten, making "Valentine" the final top ten single from the band. The single was also a moderate hit within Europe.

A promotional video was created for the single. The band also performed the song on UK show The Roxy as well as the popular music show Top of the Pops.

"Valentine" was written by rhythm guitarist Ronnie Rogers and lead vocalist Carol Decker.

The b-side for the single "Giving My Love Away" was exclusive to the single, written again by Rogers and Decker. The song was produced by Rogers and T'Pau drummer Tim Burgess.

For the 12" vinyl and CD versions of the single, a bonus cover version of "I'm a Believer" was included. The song featured Ron Rogers on lead vocal, originally written by Neil Diamond. The song was produced by Rogers and Burgess.

The CD version of the single featured a live version of the band's biggest hit (UK #1), "China in Your Hand". The recording is an unadulterated and unoverdubbed live recording made at the Scottish Exhibition Centre on 29 October 1987.

1993 Reissue

In 1993, a reissue of "Valentine" was released as a 7" and CD single, peaking at No. 53 in the UK, and staying within the chart for the one week.

The single was released to promote the compilation "Heart and Soul – The Very Best of T'Pau", both being released in February that year.

The reissue single would be the last appearance T'Pau would make on the UK singles chart.

The 7" single would feature one live version of "China in Your Hand", live from Hammersmith March 1988.

The CD reissue single featured three bonus tracks, "Heart and Soul", "China in Your Hand" and "Sex Talk". All three of these tracks were previously unreleased live versions, recorded live at Hammersmith, London.

Original release

7" Single
  1. "Valentine" – 3:55
  2. "Giving My Love Away" – 3:19
12" Single
  1. "Valentine" – 3:55
  2. "Giving My Love Away" – 3:19
  3. "I'm A Believer" – 3:24
CD Single
  1. "Valentine" – 3:53
  2. "Giving My Love Away" – 3:10
  3. "I'm A Believer" – 3:24
  4. "China in Your Hand (Live)" – 5:49

1993 Reissue

7" Single
  1. "Valentine"
  2. "China in Your Hand (Live)"
CD Single
  1. "Valentine"
  2. "Heart and Soul (Live)"
  3. "China in Your Hand (Live)"
  4. "Sex Talk (Live)"

Personnel

  • Carol Decker – lead vocals/songwriter
  • Dean Howard – lead guitar
  • Ronnie Rogers – rhythm guitar/songwriter
  • Tim Burgess – percussions/drums
  • Michael Chetwood – keyboards
  • Paul Jackson – bass guitar
  • Taj Wyzgowski – lead guitar on "Bridge of Spies" album

    • Additional Personnel

  • Producer on "Valentine" – Roy Thomas Baker
  • Engineer on "Valentine" – Jerry Napier
  • Writers of "Valentine" – Ronnie Rogers, Carol Decker
  • Producers on "Giving My Love Away" – Ronnie Rogers, Tim Burgess
  • Engineer on "Giving My Love Away – Norman Goodman
  • Writers of "Giving My Love Away" – Ronnie Rogers, Carol Decker
  • Producers on "I'm a Believer" – Ronnie Rogers, Tim Burgess
  • Writer of "I'm a Believer" – Neil Diamond
  • Design – Mark Millington
  • Photography – Simon Fowler
  • Management – MI5 (MGMT)

    • References

    Valentine (T'Pau song) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA