Who Did It Better? One Night in Bangkok

Who Did It Better? One Night in Bangkok

Well, this is a bit much to chew. Let's get to it.

Actor/singer Murray Head is no one-hit wonder. Back in 1969, he hit #14 on Billboard's Hot 100 with the titular song from the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice concept album (and eventual stage musical and movie), Jesus Christ Superstar. Many movies and albums later, his next (and only other) hit was a song from the Tim Rice (again), Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (ABBA) concept album (and eventual stage musical) Chess. Recorded in 1984, the exotically frenetic, One Night in Bangkok was released as a single on February 23, 1985, it would peak at #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 (March 20, 1985) and become a world-wide hit, reaching #1 in seven countries, culminating in it being crowned #1 on the European Chart.

If you wish to get a sense of Mr. Head's acting chops, skip the film version of Jesus Christ Superstar and check out a little movie titled Sunday, Bloody Sunday (1971) featuring amazing turns by Glenda Jackson, Peter Finch, and Peggy Ashcroft. If you wish to have your gay card for life, this is required viewing. And now... 

Robey. 

Robey who?

Well, if you ever stayed up past your bedtime on a Saturday night in the late 1980's, you may have stumbled on a little syndicated television show called Friday the 13th. It had nothing whatsoever to do with the movie series, but was all about strange artifacts and supernatural happenings. Robey had the lead and, due to her sassy ways, quite the cult following. The series cranked out 70 episodes in four years (1987-1990). Before that?

Canadian-born Louise Robey is/was a model/singer/actress. Shortly after graduating high school she was discovered poolside in the French Rivera and signed to a modeling agency. As a model, she appeared in Paris Match (nude) and Vogue Paris. Stateside, she earned a cool $5K a day - yes, a day! - as a runway model and appeared in campaigns for Revlon, Maybelline, Clairol and Jordache. 

She also dabbled in music and, in 1984, was signed as 'Robey' to Silver Blue Records in Canada. She released six singles from her debut album and one of them stuck. Her version of One Night in Bangkok (recorded in 1984, mixed by Shep Pettibone!) was released at the same time as Murray Head's version, entered the charts at #80 the week after Murray's version, and managed a three-week stint on Billboard's Hot 100 in March of 1985, peaking at #77. It fared much better on the dance charts, reaching #5 on Billboard's Club Play Chart weeks before Murray's version became a success.

You would think that would be enough for one lifetime, but, not for Robey. One evening in 1993, she attended a lecture given by the current Earl of Buford, regarding one of his relatives, The 17th Earl of Oxford. In December of 1994, the two wed and she became Louise, Countess of Buford. She gave him a son in 1995 and divorce papers in 2001. Her most recent single was 2013's Take It To The Top. The single debuted at #87 on iTunes' U.S. Dance Chart.

So, now you've got the dirt. Let's dig in.

The Song: One Night in Bangkok (from Chess).

The Competitors: Robey vs. Murray Head

Seeing as these are both from the golden age of MTV, I implore you to take a look at the video versions. Hers is a scream. Very cheeky. His? Well, he had a much bigger budget.

Also... ladies first.

One Night In Bangkok - Robey

One Night in Bangkok - Murray Head

"I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine..."

Oh, if that were true, my life would have turned out so differently!

That's an iconic line, and one of the reasons I admire this song. In fact, I adored the Chess concept album. Since the musical had not been born on the stage, I could sit and imagine what it would look like; how it would be staged, costumed and choreographed. And my version had little in common with the tortured version that eventually limped its way to Broadway. Pity.  It's the storyline's fault. It peaks at the wrong time, leaving the audience with an unsatisfying ending (much like Camelot). But the music is a marvel to behold. The duet, I Know Him So Well? Divine. One can absolutely imagine Agnetha and Frida conjuring gold with it. Some of the music is a bit stilted... dramatically and musically, but overall, Chess, the concept album, remains an intriguing listen.

Skip the OCR and the Indina Menzel/Josh Groban concert versions. Blech.

As for One Night in Bangkok... 

The real battle here is between Shep Pettibone and the ABBA boys. In the late 80s, production was king.

Robey's version feels slight and under-cook and, while her diction is impeccable, she lacks the muscle needed to ground this to the dance floor. Her beats are not as big or propulsive as needed. Perhaps Shep Pettibone (Madonna) was in a hurry? Given all that, I do find it charming. Her clipped delivery and subtle wryness work well. I fault the arrangement, the production and the mix. It sounds cheap. A bit under-cooked.

Murry Head's is not the floor-pounder I remember. At the time, I thought the production was a miracle of science and the future of music. Now? Meh. But that's what happens as recorded music ages... sometimes the passing of time flatters and sometimes it exposes weaknesses. Listening to this in the present, I find the production a tad dull. It feels weighed down and drags a bit. Still, it is the better of the two. The ABBA boys have managed to spread their magic all over this, giving it some major punch, which is why it was such a big hit. 

The Verdict:

I have to hand this one to Murray. His is the more substantial production. The real meat. Robey's feels like a tad of a novelty in comparison. Fun. But more of a curious artifact than the real McCoy. 

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Alright. Your turn. I love to hear the opinions of others... so hit me with it. Leave your thoughts in the comments section.

That's all for now.

Tune in next week for the next installment. I hope to keep this going for a bit more. If you have some suggestions, leave them in the comments section as well. Keep in mind that cover versions are not eligible. Competing versions only. The versions need to have been released within a reasonable time (a year?) of one another. 

Until then...

Thanks for reading.

One Night in Bangkok - Vinyl Shakerz

One Night in Bangkok - Murray Head / Robey

(Vita Retro Remix)