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Young 'n' Russian

"Young 'n' Russian"
Single by the Korgis
from the album The Korgis
B-side"Cold Tea"
Released16 February 1979
Length3:12
LabelRialto
Songwriter(s)
  • Andy Davis
  • James Warren
  • Jakki Ridlington
Producer(s)
  • Andy Davis
  • James Warren
The Korgis singles chronology
"Young 'n' Russian"
(1979) 		"If I Had You"
(1979)

"Young 'n' Russian" is a song by British pop band the Korgis from their debut studio album, The Korgis. It was released as the band's debut single in February 1979, and following the UK top 20 success of "If I Had You", was re-issued as a single again in October 1979. The song was written by Andy Davis, James Warren, and Jakki Ridlington; produced by Davis and Warren.

Background

"Young 'n' Russian" was inspired by the Cold War. The song was written while sitting on the lawn in front of the Royal Crescent in Bath, England.[1]

Release

"Young 'n' Russian" was released in the UK on 16 February 1979,[2] but it failed to chart. It was the first release on the new independent label Rialto, which was launched by Nick and Tim Heath.[3] Speaking of the song's limited success, James Warren told the Liverpool Echo in 1979, "Our first single never got any real airplay, so, consequently, nobody has ever heard of it, which is a pity really, because I'm convinced it's a good song."[4]

Following the UK top 20 success of "If I Had You" in the summer of 1979, "Young 'n' Russian" was reissued in October 1979. It once again failed to enter the UK Singles Chart, but did gain radio airplay and reached number 59 on Record Business magazine's Airplay Guide Top 100 chart.[5] The reissue's release date was originally delayed after Rialto decided to terminate its licensing agreement with Decca Records.[6] A new deal for pressing and distribution with quickly signed with Pye Records and "Young 'n' Russian" was released as the first Rialto single under the new agreement.[7]

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Dave Borthwick and David Hutt, with Dave Alex Riddett as the cinematographer. It was filmed in Bristol. In 2015, Hutt uploaded the video to YouTube after digitising and remastering it from the original master film.[8]

Critical reception

Upon its release in February 1979, Radio & Record News called "Young 'n' Russian" a "brilliant debut single" and a "highly infectious and witty song". The reviewer noted the "equally good" B-side and felt that the single "could well see [itself] in the top 30".[9] In a review of the October 1979 reissue, David Hepworth of Smash Hits stated, "It's midnight in Red Square, an organ is stuck on one continuous chord, a lively bass skips around and the singer has tongue stuck firmly in cheek." He added that "if there's any justice, it will surpass the success" of its predecessor, "If I Had You".[10] Paul Screeton of the Hartlepool Mail believed the single was a "likely chart follow-up now they're known" and wrote, "Strange sound throughout and something really different. Good idea, strong hook, and an air of mystery and menace."[11] Jim Whiteford of The Kilmarnock Standard remarked, "Not a patch on 'If I Had You' but a fair attempt. Next time, perhaps!"[12] US magazine Record World noted that "the quirky tempo and menacing vocals bespeak an ominous aura that's affecting as it is odd".[13]

Track listing

7–inch single (UK, Germany, Belgium and Australia - original release)[14][15][16][17]

  1. "Young 'n' Russian" – 3:12
  2. "Cold Tea" – 4:25

7–inch single (UK and Australia reissues, plus Netherlands, Italy and Spain releases)[18][19][20][21]

  1. "Young 'n' Russian" – 3:12
  2. "Mount Everest Sings the Blues" – 2:28

7–inch single (France)[22]

  1. "Young 'n' Russian" – 3:35
  2. "I Just Can't Help It" – 3:48

7–inch single (US)[23]

  1. "Young 'n' Russian" – 3:14
  2. "Art School Annexe" – 3:34

Personnel

Production

  • Andy Davis – production
  • James Warren – production

Charts

Chart (1982) Peak
position
UK Airplay Guide Top 100 (Record Business)[5] 59

References

  1. ^ "The Korgis 'Young 'n' Russian". Angel Air. 12 March 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2024 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ "The Korgis - Young 'n' Russian" (Press release). Decca Press and Promotion. 1979.
  3. ^ "News: Rialto sets first 45s". Record Business. Vol. 1, no. 48. 19 February 1979. p. 2. ISSN 0144-0691.
  4. ^ Trollope, Peter (21 July 1979). "Homely sound of the Korgis". Liverpool Echo. p. 8. Retrieved 19 January 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ a b "Airplay Guide Top 100 and Breakers". Record Business. Vol. 2, no. 32. 22 October 1979. ISSN 0144-0691.
  6. ^ "Rialto moves". Record Business. Vol. 2, no. 29. 1 October 1979. p. 1. ISSN 0144-0691.
  7. ^ "News: Rialto signs with Pye". Music Week. 13 October 1979. p. 4. ISSN 0265-1548.
  8. ^ "The Korgis: 'Young 'n' Russian". David Hutt. 28 December 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2024 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ "Single Reviews". Radio & Record News. 9 March 1979. p. 30.
  10. ^ Hepworth, David (15 November 1979). "Reviews: Singles". Smash Hits. Vol. 1, no. 25. p. 30. ISSN 0260-3004.
  11. ^ Screeton, Paul (1 December 1979). "Disc Date! - Singles". Hartlepool Mail. p. 4. Retrieved 11 January 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. ^ Whiteford, Jim (16 November 1979). "Records: Singles". The Kilmarnock Standard. p. 20. Retrieved 11 January 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. ^ "Single Picks". Record World. Vol. 36, no. 1689. 1 December 1979. p. 14. ISSN 0034-1622.
  14. ^ Young 'n' Russian (UK 7-inch single sleeve). The Korgis. Rialto. 1979. TREB 101.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ Young 'n' Russian (German 7-inch single sleeve). The Korgis. Rialto. 1979. 6.12 506.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ Young 'n' Russian (Belgian 7-inch single sleeve). The Korgis. Rialto. 1979. 26.585.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ Young 'n' Russian (Australian 7-inch single sleeve). The Korgis. Rialto. 1979. TREB-11960.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ^ Young 'n' Russian (UK and Australian 7-inch single sleeve). The Korgis. Rialto. 1979. TREB 108.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ^ Young 'n' Russian (Dutch 7-inch single sleeve). The Korgis. Rialto. 1979. 6198 300.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ Young 'n' Russian (Italian 7-inch single sleeve). The Korgis. Rialto. 1979. RTNP 5001.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ Young 'n' Russian (Spanish 7-inch single sleeve). The Korgis. Rialto. 1980. OOX-490.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ^ Young 'n' Russian (French 7-inch single sleeve). The Korgis. Rialto. 1979. 101291.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ^ Young 'n' Russian (US 7-inch single label). The Korgis. Warner Bros. Records. 1979. WBS 49135.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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