Who Did It Better? Shooting Star

Who Did It Better?

Shooting Star

Today's Who Did It Better selection is a perfect pop song which is probably not all that familiar to those in the US, but helped launch the careers of a very popular recording duo in the UK. In addition, it was covered by a versatile performer who, while never a household name, has conquered the worlds of stage, screen and music in his lifetime.

Shooting Star was written by David Courtney who was a  frequent collaborator of Leo Sayer. In fact, the two got their big break writing songs for The Who's Roger Daltry's first solo album. As a producer, Courtney would go on to work with musicians such as Roger Daltrey, Adam Faith, Leo Sayer, Gene Pitney, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour and Jimmy Page.

The UK's David Van Day and Canada's Thereza Bazar came together to create the popular 1980's pop duo, Dollar. Both were only seventeen when they met at an audition for a manufactured pop group known as Guys 'n Dolls. They both made the cut and became part of the group, which would go on have a number of successful singles during the mid-seventies. The chemistry between the pair proved quite real, and they began a romantic relationship during their time with Guys 'n Dolls.

However, by 1977, tastes were changing and Guys n' Dolls fortunes began to reverse. Sensing a sinking ship, Van Day and Bazar both complained about the quality of the material they were being given by management - and were promptly sacked! The official word was that the duo left the group in order to concentrate on songwriting.

Initially, Van Day had aspirations of going solo, however, it seemed having someone as lovely looking as Bazar to compliment his own golden boy good looks was the better bet. The duo, christened Dollar, were put under contract by a French label, Carrere Records.

Their first single for the label, Shooting Star, was released in late 1978. It managed to reach #14 on the UK Singles Chart. In addition, in the US, the duo made their first and only appearance on Billboard's Hot 100, when the song climbed all the way to #74.

Around that same time, the song fell into the lap of star of stage and screen, actor Paul Nicholas, who had a habit of adopting nicknames. The first was Paul Dean. Nicholas started his career in the 60's supporting Screaming Lord Sutch And The Savages. He also had his own act, Paul Dean And The Dreamers. He then adopted the nickname Oscar, releasing several singles in the late 60's, before recording with his actual name, Paul Nicholas. His third single, a 1967 novelty song called Over The Wall We Go was written and produced by a young David Bowie.

Switching focus, ne went on to play Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar and Claude in Hair on the Westend. This led to him being cast in several films including Stardust, Tommy, and Litzomania.

In 1976, he returned to music, embarking on a short-lived but high-profile pop career, with three Top 20 hits on the UK Singles chart: Reggae Like It Used To Be, Dancing with the Captain, and Grandma's Party, the last two of which reached the Top 10. He released his most well-known song, the single Heaven On The 7th Floor in 1977. While the song barely scratched the UK Top 40, it did reach #1 in New Zealand, while peaking at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US.  

Nicholas recorded a version of Shooting Star - his version appeared as a bonus track on various incarnations of his 1977/1978 album Paul Nicholas/On The Strip. It also served as the B-side to his 1979 single, Yesterday's Hero. 
 

And that's the whole story.

Now? On to the  competition!

The Song: Shooting Star

The Competitors: Dollar vs. Nicholas

Shooting Star - Dollar

Shooting Star - Paul Nicholas

Dollar

Nice crisp programmed drum track with some spacey synths noodling down the scale. It would catch your ear on the radio, for sure. Long intro: 27 seconds! Van Day's vocals, like all the preceded sound perfectly in tune with one another, if a bit unremarkable. I could do without the satellite bloops. 

Bazar joins on the chorus and the two harmonize well. I do like the song. It's very fun, uplifting. And I'm sure, at the time, the ornamental space atmospherics sounded super hip. 

First verse, same as the first, albeit with a few goofy synth touches here and there. The bullfrog synth effect in the second verse made me laugh aloud. 

On the chorus, Bazar seems to be given the word 'dancin'. Well, better than nothing. Both their vocals are heavily treated, but as the whole affair is a piece of packaged pop fluff, I don't mind at all. Rather faceless, though, despite both their pretty faces on the album cover.

The instrumental breakdown is fun, just more of the same. There are no surprises, here, which is why, though pleasant, it strikes me as little else. 

And a 30 second plus play off. It's all cut from the same cloth. Upbeat, well-done, but ultimately average.

Paul Nicholas

This was produced by Harry Maslin, who helped the Bay City Rollers extend their 15 minutes of fame. 

A little more up-tempo and a livelier sound overall. Those horns warm it up quite a bit. 

I think Nicholas' vocals have quite a bit of more personality than Van Day's. Brighter, and all that counter-melody synth nonsense seems more timely given his delivery - more call and response, than merely trotting out the stray trick here and there. 

Vocals on the chorus are quite similar, but that guitar provides just a hint of a punch as do those horns. Too 'Variety Show'? Perhaps. But at least its alive and real and not hermetically sealed. And a fun string rev up at the end... nice. A bit old-fashioned, but more vibrant. 

I'm getting more of a sense of the storyline in the song in this version. Nicholas is the better storyteller. Van Day could have been singing anything; he failed to tell the story. Nicholas' version is reminding me of pop hits like Alan O' Day's Undercover Angel and the like. 

I assume he's singing with backup singers, even on the verse. It's melded well. And, again, that bit of chunky guitar is just enough to get my head bopping. And I like that echo on the final 'star'. 

On the instrumental breakdown, it's once again that sloppy guitar to the rescue. It's a motif that works and I'm glad it's applied consistently without becoming annoying. 

I even like the playout better.

The Verdict

I wasn't sure how this was to go. 

But, for me, it's Nicholas all the way.

Dollar's version may have beat him to the punch, but theirs is a lifeless affair. It's bright and pretty, but ultimately empty feeling. 

Nicholas on the other hand manages to tell the story with a much fresher, live sound. He sounds more engaged and endearing. Old hat? Perhaps. The arrangement does threaten to bleed into Vegas territory, but I'll take that over the chilly homogenized robotics as served up by our pre-packaged duo, Dollar. 

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And that's enough of me.

Okay, your turn. Leave your choice and thoughts in the comments section. Always welcome a differing opinion. 

That's all for now.

Until next time...

Thanks for reading... and listening!

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Shooting Star - Dollar

Heave On The 7th Floor - Paul Nichols