"Strange Changes" is a song that was co-written by Lynsey de Paul and Sue Shifrin (Sue Shifrin Cassidy), the former wife of David Cassidy[1][2] and that is listed in the ACE database of ASCAP songs[3] and also in the MusicBrainz database.[4]
Original recording
After signing a worldwide recording contract with MCA Records at the end of 1980,[5] "Strange Changes" was released as a single on 27 April 1981 by de Paul on the MCA label with the semi instrumental flipside "Strange Changes (2)" in an visually striking picture sleeve of de Paul and the title in rainbow colours.[6][7][8][9] It was released in the UK, Europe, Scandinavia and Australia.[10] In addition, a promo 12 inch white label single with an extended version of the song was also released[11][12] as a limited issue, leading to it becoming a collectors item.[13] The song also appeared on the 1981 French compilation of hits album, Hot Summer Nights, on the Arabella record label,[14][15] as well as being released as a single in France.[16] The recording was co-produced by Jon Kelly and de Paul.[17][18] While the song was not immediately as commercial as many of de Paul's other hits, it had a laid back, hypnotic feeling ahead of its time that grows on repeated listening.[19] The British DJ and music journalist James Hamilton (DJ and journalist) wrote in the music paper Record Mirror, "MCA’s mystery Fleetwood Mac-sounding ‘Strange Changes’ white label teaser turns out to be by Lynsey De Paul – oh, goodie!",[20][21] with other sources also noting a similarity to Fleetwood Mac[22] and Stevie Nicks.[23] In his review of the single for Music Week (at that time known as "Music & Video Week"), Tony Jasper wrote "Infectious light-riding sensitive cut which in pop terms scores high. Inventive, creative, deserves notice for returning lady."[24]
It subsequently made the UK Airplay action chart[25] as well as the UK disco chart breakers/bubblers listing.[26] Writing on her website, de Paul revealed she wrote this song when she was living in the United States and wanted to come back home to the UK. "It meant leaving behind a life that had taken five years to build and a long term relationship with James Coburn. I literally felt that I was going through a strange change" she said.[27] De Paul performed the song on a number of TV programmes including the German TV series WWF Club on the 10 July 1981,[28] - a DVD of this performance was released on "WWF Club Festival 3".[29] She also performed the song on the second episode of the UK TV music programme Razzamatazz on 9 June 1981.[30][31] It was included as a track on her Hit Singles album.[32]
Resurgence and remixed as a Balearic classic
The song is still popular, having become a balearic classic, and it featured on "Beam Me Up" by Albion in 2015[33] and "12 Strange Changes - BeachFreaksRecords For Polanski Magazine Vol.05".[34] It was the first song on the "After Midnight" DJ set by Martino Valentino,[35] and features on the play list of online radio station "Overfitting,[36] The Balearic Mike & Ben Monk show on 1 Brighton FM,[37] Radioactive FM,[38] Tomorrow Land on PBS106.7 FM,[39] Ginea Radio,[40] The Melbourne radio program Noise in My Head[41] as well as being listed as the number 1 hit on the old skool chart at WahWah45 in November 2016.[42][43] It was also featured as track 9 on Good Vibes 61 - mixed by Dr.T on Brown Fat in 2018,[44] on NTS Radio on the program "Getting Warmer".[45] and on "OnlyJams" radio show in 2021.[46]
A remixed and extended version, entitled "Stranger Changes", was released by Gentle Hands (aka Stellar Well's Jake Goldsmith) on 30 September 2016 on La.Ga.Sta. Late Summer Compilation Vol.6, featuring De Paul's original vocals.[47][48][49][50][51] This version was described as "A sublime rework executed by the gentlest of hands".[52] This version has been playlisted by Tom Ravenscroft on BBC Radio 6,[53][54] Beats in Space Radio,[55] and most recently KALX, Berkeley.[56] It was ranked #7 in the "Lagasta" top 50 Songs.[57]
A remixed version of the song by DJ Duckcomb (self proclaimed DJ/Digger/Dad/Disco editor currently residing in Los Angeles but hailing from Brooklyn and Florida, one half of Sharegroove, one half of Trap.Avoid[58]) was released in 2021, as featured also on "Inn Da Zone Mix",[59] and it also received radio plays in the US.[60][61][62] "Sound Station Strategy" described his mix of "Strange Changes" as "an edit of an impossibly rare white label 12" extended mix of this AOR balearic disco classic tune".[63]
Most recently, it was released on 27 July 2022 on vinyl on the Everything You're About To Hear Is True label as "Paul Strange", with a pre-review stating "..a supremely slinky rub down of Lynsey De Paul's 1981 disco funk masterpiece 'Strange Changes'".[64][65][66] It reached number 3 on Juno's soul chart[67] and is still on the chart one year later.[68]
