The Overtones - You Keep Me Hanging On

I'm genuinely thrilled that The Overtones are actively working on their 3rd album - and that it is due for release later this year (just a year after album number 2, Higher). While it was right and proper that the campaign for the sparkling debut album, Good Ol' Fashioned Love, spread across 2 years (and with enough material for 2 albums anyway), there's solid evidence that an annual, final quarter release album along with supporting tour is solid business practice (hey, it kept Westlife in suits and hair product for many years!)

Despite, however, three very good indeed singles from Higher (Loving The Sound, the titular track and Love Song), I'm not quite ready to quit the album just yet. There is still time for a fourth single to soundtrack those balmy, summer nights - someting that would be a final celebration of the album, bring some closure to the campaign, set up album 3 and yes, even win over some new fans. Here is why that song should be their version of You Keep Me Hanging On...

• They've certainly proved their songwriting chops - and I'm firmly of the belief that their originals stand effortlessly alongside their cover versions. Ergo, there is no shame in releasing a well known song at this stage. Plus it hasn't featured in the charts since 1987 when Kim Wilde took it to number 2. And you can't keep a good song down...
• Talking of Kim Wilde, imagine adding her to the track a la Take That popping Lulu into the middle 8 of Relight My Fire! The boys certainly carry the track more than ably on their own, but there would be a giddy little thrill and pop reverence to Kim joining in from middle 8 onwards. Plus, I can totally see her booty popping alongside Mark in the video!!
• The remixes! Now these need to be a subtle sheen rather than a full out throbbing (oo-er) dance glomwobble as these things can go a bit wrong (years ago, a dance remix of a Faith Hill country song made the UK Top 10. It completely transformed the twangy country track and it was clear Faith had nothing to do with it. Her Top Of The Pops performance, trying to shimmy along, was the most uncomfortable bit of television since Michael Jackson snogged Lisa Marie!) An Almighty Radio Mix that amps up the Motown funk of the song would be just dandy. And oh, just imagine those G-A-Y performances!!
• New photoshoots! There is not a suit yet that The Overtones haven't made look dishy so let's take this opportunity to deck them out in elegant summer formal wear realness for the video. And have Darren in a different ascot in every scene...
• Lachie's deep voice delivery of "and there ain't nothing you can do about it". That alone deserves to nestle in the higher echelons on the chart!

The defence rests your honour...