the song 'Kites'

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i love this song and would like more info on it if anyone knows. originally by Simon Dupree & The Big Sound, very late 60s, grandiose production but not as 'raw' as Phil Spector's sound tho it could have had something to do with him - it reminds me more of Andy Williams though - so was it a one-hit wonder for them?

the song was covered a few times, i found a version credited to 39 Lyon Street, sounds very early 80s with a breathy female replacing the Mike FLowers-esque singing from the original, nice bells

it was later covered by an act called Ultraviolet and this is in Sasha's first 'Northern Exposure' mix - a nice Balearic/tribal housey vibe this time with the same sweet female vocals, whale noises and flute even, bizarre stuff but pretty dam cool

anyone else know it/love it/know what its even about?

― stevem (blueski), Sunday, 29 December 2002 13:55 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah, I know it from psych compis. I like it, it has an appealing strung out quality. I can't imagine anyone covering it, though.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Sunday, 29 December 2002 15:52 (twenty-three years ago)

i'd love to hear Ladytron do it, based on the covers i've heard with the icy female vocal, this could work well

― stevem (blueski), Sunday, 29 December 2002 16:03 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeh,nice idea stevem-Ladytron could do a good job.I vaguely remember the 39 Lyon street version,it was The Associates under a pseudonym I think.I've also got another recording of it by The Four Freshmen,a weird easy version,I'll have to give it another listen.I like the B-side of the original'Like the sun,like the fire'.I've also got 'For whom the bell tolls' on 45 which is also great,'Sleep' is fab too.It's a shame there isn't a 'Best of' around,crap record companies as usual.

― Paul R (paul R), Sunday, 29 December 2002 22:54 (twenty-three years ago)

Thinking about it I think there was a dance version that came out 4 or 5 years ago,trancey pop thing.Dunno if anyone remembers it

― Paul R (paul R), Sunday, 29 December 2002 22:57 (twenty-three years ago)

yeh Paul that was probably the Ultraviolet version or a remix of - its not as dated as i made it out to be, would be no later than '96 tho if featured on Northern Exposure vol 1 as it was

― stevem (blueski), Sunday, 29 December 2002 23:25 (twenty-three years ago)

Sorry Stevem,I'm half blind-thanks,I'll try & find it

― Paul R (paul R), Sunday, 29 December 2002 23:28 (twenty-three years ago)

I have got a Simon Dupree compilation which is pretty good, but there's not a lot of psychy stuff on there, and nothing is really a patch on "Kites". They did record a brilliant psych tune under the psuedonym The Moles called "We Are The Moles" which is definately worth tracking down.

― Matthew (faster), Monday, 30 December 2002 17:45 (twenty-three years ago)

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