Blue Turns to Grey explained

Blue Turns to Grey
Artist:The Rolling Stones
Album:December's Children (And Everybody's)
Released:4 December 1965
Recorded:6 September 1965
Genre:Rock
Blue Turns to Grey
Type:single
Artist:Cliff Richard and the Shadows
B-Side:"Somebody Loses" (Tepper/Bennett)
Released:18 March 1966
Recorded:17 January 1966
Label:Columbia
Producer:Norrie Paramor
Chronology:Cliff Richard
Prev Title:Wind Me Up (Let Me Go)
Prev Year:1965
Next Title:Visions
Next Year:1966

"Blue Turns to Grey" is a song that was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. The song first appeared in February 1965 when both Dick and Dee Dee and The Mighty Avengers released versions of it as singles. Another version was released shortly thereafter by Tracey Dey on Amy Records. On Dey's single, the label credits the song to "K. Richard-A. Oldham"—Oldham being the surname of the Rolling Stones' then-manager/producer Andrew Loog Oldham.[1] It was released by The Rolling Stones on their 1965 US-only album December's Children (And Everybody's) later that year. On this album, "Blue Turns to Grey" as well as "The Singer Not the Song" features Brian Jones on a 12-string electric guitar and Keith on a 6-string. It did not see a UK release until the 1971 compilation album Stone Age.[2]

When Cliff Richard and the Shadows released their version as a single in March 1966 it became a hit in a number of countries. In the UK it reached number 15.[3]

Rolling Stones version

Personnel

Cliff Richard and the Shadows version

Chart performance

Chart (1966)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[4] 20
Israel[5] 1
Malaysia[6] 2
Singapore2

Other cover versions

Flamin' Groovies released a version of the song on their 1978 album, Flamin' Groovies Now[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tracey Dey - Didn 'Ya / Blue Turns To Grey - Amy - USA - 917 . 45cat.com . 1965-01-23 . 2016-09-28.
  2. Book: Egan, Sean. The Rough Guide to The Rolling Stones . 2006. Penguin . 978-1-84353-719-9. 197.
  3. Book: Roberts , David . 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th. Guinness World Records Limited . London. 1-904994-10-5. 460/2.
  4. Book: Kent, David. Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. doc. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. . 2005. 0-646-44439-5.
  5. ((Billboard)). Billboard. 3 September 1966. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. 38. 0006-2510.
  6. ((Billboard)). Billboard. 9 July 1966. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. 46. 0006-2510.
  7. Web site: Flamin Groovies - Flamin' Groovies Now CD Album . Cduniverse.com . 2005-02-22 . 2013-01-08.