Blue Turns to Grey

Summary

"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]

"Blue Turns to Grey"
Song by The Rolling Stones
from the album December's Children (And Everybody's)
Released4 December 1965
Recorded6 September 1965
GenreRock
Songwriter(s)Jagger–Richards
"Blue Turns to Grey"
Single by Cliff Richard and the Shadows
B-side"Somebody Loses" (Tepper/Bennett)
Released18 March 1966
Recorded17 January 1966
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Jagger–Richards
Producer(s)Norrie Paramor
Cliff Richard singles chronology
"Wind Me Up (Let Me Go)"
(1965)
"Blue Turns to Grey"
(1966)
"Visions"
(1966)

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][4]

Rolling Stones version edit

Personnel edit

Cliff Richard and the Shadows version edit

Chart performance edit

Chart (1966) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 20
Israel[6] 1
Malaysia[7] 2
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[8] 18
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[9] 11
Singapore[7] 2
UK Singles (OCC)[10] 15

Other cover versions edit

Flamin' Groovies released a version of the song on their 1978 album, Flamin' Groovies Now[11]

References edit

  1. ^ "Tracey Dey - Didn 'Ya / Blue Turns To Grey - Amy - USA - 917". 45cat.com. 23 January 1965. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  2. ^ Egan, Sean (2006). The Rough Guide to The Rolling Stones. Penguin. p. 197. ISBN 978-1-84353-719-9.
  3. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 460/2. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. ^ Cliff Richard and the Shadows: Blue Turns to Grey at Discogs (list of releases)
  5. ^ Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969 (doc). Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-44439-5.
  6. ^ Billboard (3 September 1966). "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 38. ISSN 0006-2510. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  7. ^ a b Billboard (9 July 1966). "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 46. ISSN 0006-2510. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  8. ^ "Cliff Richard – Wired for Sound" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  9. ^ "Cliff Richard – Wired for Sound". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  10. ^ "Cliff Richard: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  11. ^ "Flamin Groovies - Flamin' Groovies Now CD Album". Cduniverse.com. 22 February 2005. Retrieved 8 January 2013.