Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax

Frankie Goes to Hollywood (FGTH) were extremely popular in the mid 1980s. The Liverpool group was fronted by Holly Johnson (vocals), supported by Paul Rutherford (vocals, keyboards), Peter Gill (drums, percussion), Mark O'Toole (bass guitar) and Brian Nash (guitar). In February 1983, the group were invited by the Channel 4 show 'The Tube' to record a video at the Liverpool State Ballroom. The Peel sessions were repeated after the show and a new session recorded for the BBC, comprising 'Welcome To The Pleasuredome' 'The Only Star In Heaven' and 'Relax'. These performances along with the repeat of the Tube video convinced Trevor Horn to sign the group to his new label ZTT Records.

In October 1983 'Relax' was released to the public and recieved a modicum of airplay allowing it to progress steadly into the UK Top 40. A debut performance on the BBC's Top Of The Pops show on 5th January 2004, while the single was at number 35 in the charts, propelled the single to number 6 the following week.

On 11th January 1984 BBC Radio 1 disc jockey Mike Read was playing the single on his show when he noticed the front cover design (by Yvonne Gilbert). Read apparently became outraged by the 'overtly sexual' nature of both the record sleeve and the printed lyrics, which promted him to remove the disc live on air, breaking it and branding it 'obscene'. Two days later - almost 3 months after the single's initial release, and just 8 days after the BBC Top Of The Pops show, the BBC banned the single from all its TV and radio outlets, with the exception of its Top 40 show.

'Relax' immediately shot to Number One in the UK Singles Chart the following week and stayed there for 5 consecutive weeks, during which time the BBC could not feature the nations best-selling single on their flagship TV chart show. The single went on to enjoy prolonge chart success throughout 1984 and ultimately becaming the 7th best selling single of all time (as of May 2006).
Following the follow-up success of 'Two Tribes' and 'The Power of Love', FGTH became only the second act in the history of the UK charts to reach number one with their first three singles; the first being Gerry and the Pacemakers in 1964

The original video directed by Bernard Roase depicted a gay S&M den (filmed in the unused East London theatre Wilton's Music Hall), which was promptly banned by both the BBC and MTV, resulting in the production of a substitute video directed by filmmaker Brian De Palma to coincide with the release of his film Body Double with the movie stars even featuring in the video. Another video was also made for the UK market labeled 'The Lazer Version' as the band walked and performed with lazers being projected around them.

The BBC lifted its ban on 'Relax' at the end of 1984 to allow the band to perform it on the Christmas edition of Top of the Pops (it had been, aside from Band Aid, the biggest-selling single of the year).

Click the link to download the following:

Video's
Original Banned Video
Lazer Video
USA Body Double - From the film Body Double
Mashed Up Merging Video - All versions combined to teh track
Nightlife - Interview with Holly about the banning of Relax
The Tube - First Live Performance
The Tube - Short Documentary
The Tube - Introduced by Jools Holland
Live on Europe A Go-Go 1985
Virgin Atlantic 25th anniversary TV Add - featuring relax

MP3's
Single Version
Club 69 Future Anthem Part 1
Sex Mix-Original 12 Inch
The Party Trick - Acting Dumb
Relax MCMXCIII
The Special Act Adapted from the Sex Mix
The Ollie J Remix
The US Mix - Come Dancing
Jam & Spoon Trip-O-Matic Fairy Tale Mix
The Single - The Act
Jam & Spoon Hi N-R-G Mix
From One September Monday Mix
New York Mix
Marc Et Claude's Respect Remix
Relax (Live)
Peter Rauhofer's Doomsday Club Mix
12 inch Extended Mix
25th Anniversary Mix
2M jr. Schranz Bootleg Mix
89 Inner Style Mix
Antoine Clamaran Remix
Cryptonites Remix
From soft To Hard Mix
94 Remix
Digitally Remastered 'Party Trick Mix'
Discotech remix
Ferry Across the Mersey - B-Side

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Frankie Goes To Hollywod - Relax - Video Banned Version