Boy (Book of Love song) explained

Boy
Cover:Book of Love Boy single.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Book of Love
Album:Book of Love
B-Side:Book of Love
Released:1985
Recorded:Early 1985, Unique Recording, NYC
Genre:Synthpop, new wave
Length:2:57 (album version)
Label:Sire Records
Producer:Ivan Ivan
Next Title:I Touch Roses
Next Year:1985

"Boy" is the 1985 debut single by the American synth-pop band Book of Love. The song was included on the band's eponymous debut album Book of Love in 1986.

Background

"Boy" was written by band member Theodore ("Ted") Ottaviano and features a prominent Chimes melody. The band secured a recording contract when the demo of the song was given to DJ/producer Ivan Ivan, who then passed it along to Seymour Stein of Sire Records.[1]

The song is said to describe the frustrations of a woman with an affection for "a boy who likes boys",[2] with songwriter Ted Ottaviano adding in a 2016 Village Voice interview that the song was "written about Boy Bar, which was a very exclusive gay club in the East Village."[3]

In 1985, a rare Australian promotional video was shot for the single. On May 21, 1985, the song was featured on American Bandstands rate-a-record segment. Up against B.E. Taylor Group's "Reggae Rock & Roll", "Boy" won the competition with a score of 84.[4]

Chart performance

Although the song failed to reach the Billboard Hot 100 chart, it did make the top 10 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, where it peaked at No. 7 in April 1985.[5]

2000 remixes

Boy (Remixes)
Cover:BOLBoy2000.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Book of Love
Released:30 January 2001
Late 2000 (Promo)
Recorded:Early 1985, Unique Recording, NYC
2000 (remixes)
Genre:Synthpop, new wave
Length:3:11 (Peter Rauhofer Remix, album edit,
a.k.a. Big Red Mix)

9:59 (Peter Rauhofer Club Mix)
Label:Sire Records
Producer:Ivan Ivan
Peter Rauhofer
Headrillaz
Dubaholics
RPO
Ted Ottaviano & Bill Coleman
Prev Title:Hunny Hunny
Prev Title2:Chatterbox (Pt. 2)
Prev Year:1993
Next Title:I Touch Roses (Markus Schulz Remixes)
Next Year:2001

In 2000, the song was remixed by noted club DJ Peter Rauhofer, as well as Headrillaz, Dubaholics, RPO, and re-released to dance clubs in late 2000/early 2001. These remixes, including an almost ten-minute-long version by Rauhofer, again charted on the Billboard Club Play chart under the title "Boy (Remixes)", this time reaching No. 1 on the dance chart in February 2001.[6] Both the original version of "Boy" as well as an edit of the remix by Rauhofer were included on Book of Love's greatest hits album, , in 2001.

In 2001, a promotional video remix titled 'Big Red Mix' was made for the album edit of the Peter Rauhofer remix using footage from the band's 1989 appearance at Bill Graham's In Concert Against AIDS benefit show in San Francisco.

Track listings

1985 7" single (Sire)

Side A"Boy" - 3:02

Side B"Book of Love" - 4:31

1985 12" maxi-single (Sire)

Side A

  1. "Boy" (Extended Mix) - 4:28
  2. "Boy" (Dub) - 5:00

Side B

  1. "Boy" - 3:02
  2. "Book of Love" - 4:31

2000 2 x 12" promo (Reprise)

Side A

  1. "Boy" (Peter Rauhofer Club Mix) - 9:59

Side B

  1. "Boy" (Headrillaz Extended Vocal Mix) - 7:10
  2. "Boy" (Headrillaz Dub) - 3:30

Side C

  1. "Boy" (Peter Rauhofer Dub) - 8:18

Side D

  1. "Boy" (Headrillaz Club Dub) - 4:47
  2. "Boy" (A Cappella) - 3:24

2001 12" promo (Reprise)

Side A

  1. "Boy" (Dubaholics Remix) - 6:11
  2. "Boy" (Dubaholics Dub) - 5:13

Side B

  1. "Boy" (RPO Remix) - 6:40
  2. "Boy" (Sound Bisquit "Blame" Dub) - 8:00

2001 2 x 12" single (Reprise)

Side A

  1. "Boy" (Peter Rauhofer Club Mix) - 9:59

Side B

  1. "Boy" (Headrillaz Extended Vocal Mix) - 7:10
  2. "Boy" (Headrillaz Dub) - 3:30

Side C

  1. "Boy" (Dubaholics Remix) - 6:11
  2. "Boy" (Dubaholics Remix) - 5:13

Side D

  1. "Boy" (Peter Rauhofer Dub) - 8:18
  2. "Boy" (RPO Remix) - 6:40

2001 CD single (Reprise)

  1. "Boy" (Peter Rauhofer Club Mix) - 9:59
  2. "Boy" (Peter Rauhofer Dub) - 8:18
  3. "Boy" (Headrillaz Extended Vocal Mix)" - 7:09
  4. "Boy" (Headrillaz Dub) - 5:32
  5. "Boy" (RPO Remix) - 6:40
  6. "Boy" (Dubaholics Remix) - 6:11
  7. "Boy" (Dubaholics Dub) - 5:13
  8. "Boy" (Original 12" Version) - 4:27
  9. "Boy" (Sound Bisquit "Blame" Dub) -8:00

Charts

YearSongChart peak positions
US Club Play
1985"Boy"7
2001"Boy" (Remix)2
2001"Boy"1

In popular culture

The song is played during a club scene in the episode "Limbo" of the American television series Halt and Catch Fire, and during a bar scene in the film Fun Mom Dinner.

Personnel

Written by Theodore Ottaviano.

1985 version vredits

2001 remixes credits

Official versions

YearVersionLengthMixed/Remixed byComment
1985Album version/
7" version
2:57Ivan IvanThe album version and 7" version are the same. Found on the 7" and 12" vinyl singles, all formats of the album Book of Love and the CD of CD.*
1985Japanese 7" version3:17Ivan IvanThe Japanese 7" version is slightly longer and has a cold ending instead of a fade. Found only on the Japanese 7" vinyl single.
1985Extended Mix4:28Ivan IvanFound on the 12" vinyl single and the 1988/1990 Sire Records' CD version of Book of Love.*
1985Dub 5:00Ivan IvanFound on the 12" vinyl single and the 2009 CD reissue of Book of Love (Noble Rot).
1999Razormaid Mix 5:23John BiceFound on the 1999 Razormaid Records CD compilation Members Revenge 1: Discontented!.
2000Headrillaz Club Dub4:47Casper Kedros
Darius Kedros
Exclusive mix found only on the 2x12" vinyl promo released in 2000.
2000A Cappella3:24Peter RauhoferExclusive a cappella version, taken from the Peter Rauhofer remix (not the original 1985 version). Only found on the 2x12" vinyl promo released in 2000.
2001Peter Rauhofer Remix3:11Peter RauhoferA shorter edited version of the Peter Rauhofer Club Mix (Edited by John Masciana) used in the video remix (Big Red Mix). Found on the CD version of .*
2001Peter Rauhofer Club Mix9:59Peter RauhoferFound on both the regular and promo 2x12" vinyl singles and the Reprise Records CD Maxi-single (2001).
2001Peter Rauhofer Dub8:18Peter RauhoferFound on both the regular and promo 2x12" vinyl singles and the Reprise Records CD Maxi-single (2001).
2001Headrillaz Extended Vocal Mix7:09Casper Kedros
Darius Kedros
Found on both the regular and promo 2x12" vinyl singles and the Reprise Records CD Maxi-single (2001).
2001Headrillaz Dub5:32Casper Kedros
Darius Kedros
Found on both the regular and promo 2x12" vinyl singles and the Reprise Records CD Maxi-single (2001).
2001RPO Remix6:40Rick Pier O'NeilFound on the 2001 promo 12" vinyl, the regular 2x12" vinyl single, and the Reprise Records CD Maxi-single (2001).
2001Dubaholics Remix6:11The DubaholicsFound on the 2001 promo 12" vinyl, the regular 2x12" vinyl single, and the Reprise Records CD Maxi-single (2001).
2001Dubaholics Dub5:13The DubaholicsFound on the 2001 promo 12" vinyl, the regular 2x12" vinyl single, and the Reprise Records CD Maxi-single (2001).
2001Sound Bisquit "Blame" Dub8:00Ted Ottaviano
Bill Coleman
Found on the 2001 promo 12" vinyl single and the Reprise Records CD Maxi-single (2001).
2006DJ Irene Rockstar Mix4:27DJ IreneFound on the 2006 CD compilation Future Retro (Rhino Records).*
2009Demo3:06Theodore OttavianoThe original demo version. Found only on the bonus disc of the 2009 CD reissue of Book of Love (Noble Rot).
2009Live2:43n/aLive version from the In Concert Against AIDS benefit, 1989. Found only on the bonus disc of the 2009 CD reissue of Book of Love (Noble Rot).

" * " denotes that version is available as digital download.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book of Love . Book Of Love . 2009 . Paoletta . Michael . 1 . CD sleeve notes . Noble Rot . 2009 reissue.
  2. Web site: About Book of Love's Song 'Boy'. Internet Archive. 29 May 1989 . 1 August 2015.
  3. Web site: Andi Harriman. Back from the Eighties: A Q&A with Book of Love. The Village Voice. June 23, 2016. September 9, 2020.
  4. Book of Love . 1985 . News . Love Letter . Summer 1985 .
    1. 1
    . 1. Book of Love.
  5. http://www.billboard.com/charts/1985-04-13/dance-club-play-songs 1985 chart stats at billboard.com
  6. http://www.billboard.com/charts/2001-02-17/dance-club-play-songs 2001 chart stats at billboard.com