On the fourth day of SAWmas, the DJ played for me…
When You Come Back To Me – Jason Donovan
1989 saw Mike, Matt and Pete dominate the charts with 7 number one singles, and a further 15 Top 40 hits. A significant part of this success was due to their collaboration with Jason Donovan, who followed Especially For You with two solo number ones (Too Many Broken Hearts, Sealed With A Kiss) and a number two hit (Every Day), and a number one debut album (Ten Good Reasons).
Jason and SAW would end such a successful year by making another attempt at a Christmas number one with the release of a new single - recorded in October 1989 - from his forthcoming second album.
When You Come Back To Me, written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, is an up-tempo number which manages to convey the Christmas spirit without making any explicit reference to the season.
Whilst it features the usual SAW hallmarks of synth brass and electronic percussion, it has a very seasonal feel to it; it's underpinned with timpani, swirling strings and prominent backing vocals, with chimes, tubular bells and timpani sprinkled on top. There's a nod to the time of year in the lyrics, with references to "so many people" with "smiles on their faces" and "armful of presents", and there being a "chill in the air". It's a tale of separated lovers, which of course resonates deeply in the Christmas season.
As with many SAW songs, the real strength lies in Mike Stock and Matt Aitken’s melody. The memorable chorus is euphoric, conflating Donovan’s hope of reunion with the hope that Christmas offers many, and Pete Hammond’s immaculate final 7” mix seals the deal that this is a bona fide hit record.
(The 2010 digital release of the When You Come Back To Me single bundle contains the Original 7” Mix, by Dave Ford; this mix dispenses with the distinctive brass found on the final 7” mix and is perhaps less energetic, but is actually more atmospheric and seasonal. It may lack the impact of the Hammond mix, but is an interesting take all the same).
In addition to the main single release, a second remix 7" was released featuring The Yuletide Sleigh List Mix -- this very much turned the track into a Christmas song; opening up with a spoken intro by Donovan, the track removes most of the frenetic percussion and synths which adorn the main version and replaces them by choral backing vocals, tinkly bells and plucked strings.
There were a number of various mixes of the track; the main Extended Version (mixed by Pete Hammond) is an atmospheric longer take on the 7” mix, with the elongated intro and outro showing off the various layers of the track. Dave Ford’s No Probs Mix takes the track into a dance direction, with Ford deploying an effective house approach, whilst the Guitar Instrumental Mix, also mixed by Ford, is a showcase for Matt Aitken as he plays the melody line on a classical guitar. The 2010 digital release contains a No Strings Mix, which was mixed by Ford and appears to be a slight variation on the Yuletide Sleigh List Mix, plus various instrumental and backing track versions.
When You Come Back To Me was fairly well received at the time, and is still fondly regarded by many even now. Perhaps just as memorable was the bright orange overcoat which Donovan wore in the video and on the single sleeve! The single sleeve, the design of which is actually credited to Donovan, also carries handwritten (and annotated) lyrics to the song, and given these appear to be written in two different sets of handwriting, it appears these were Stock and Aitken’s own original handwritten lyrics.
Given both Donovan and SAW's huge success in 1989, When You Come Back To Me would have likely been a Christmas number one -- had it not been for the rush-release of a particular charity single. However, that particular charity record did actually see both SAW and Donovan – and many others – reach number one on the 1989 Christmas charts…
Based upon and expanded from the entry in 80s UK Christmas Singles (available on Kindle)
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