THE HIT!
Fans were given an 11-track CD, from which to pick The Hit.
1,382 valid ballot papers were received and these are the voting results, as scrutinised by The Electoral Reform Society.

The Hit – Bunsen Burner
378 votes


Based on the Trammps' Disco Inferno from the film Saturday Night Fever, and recently revived in the 2002 'Austin Powers' release, Goldmember, Otway's typically eccentric rendition of a great set of lyrics, fits the 'burn, baby, burn' chant so well. Bunsen Burner is funny and you can dance to it! This is proved by the Travolta-style antics that accompany it during live performances.

Otways says:
"I've been doing the lyrics of this track live for the last six months with no tune. Barry was the bright spark who sussed it."

Runners-up....

Beware Of The Flowers ('Cause I'm Sure They're Going To Get You Yeh)
345 votes

Originally the B-side of the earlier Hit – Cor Baby, That's Really Free, in 1977, Beware of the Flowers was previously voted the Nation's 7th Favourite lyric! This time it's a dance number, enhanced by a touch of Theremin.

Otways says:
"Barry really fancied having a go at producing a version of this. He felt there was a good way of updating this track that would work for radio and he's managed to keep the character of the vocal."

We Know What She's Doing (She's In Love)
172 votes

Otways says:
"I've had the idea that this song could turn into a 'poperetta' for a while – I've always liked those 60s bands like the Shangri-Las. I like the idea of doing Top Of the Pops with a girl group too (funnily enough, so do the band)."

Poetry And Jazz
112 votes

Otways says:
"I chose to work on this track, I used Jean Paul Metzgar (who did the orchestral arrangements for the Albert Hall show) with Barry producing. I personally like this version with my voice so high in the mix (But then I would, wouldn't I?)"

Too Much Air And Not Enough Oxygen
98 votes

Otways says:
"Richard has sorted this one out and he's got the big band doing their ever-classy bit on it too. When there was a poll on the web page as to which of the old songs should be included on the list, this one was the favourite."

I'm Cured (And I Can't Catch Love)
98 votes
Otways says:
"This track came together when I was in the studio doing the vocals to Poetry and Jazz, and at the end of the session Barry Upton (remember, he wrote '5678' for Steps) played an idea he had. I found it fitted with some lyrics I had just been working on and it all just clicked superbly.

Rumpelstiltskin
75 votes

Otways says:
"A girl called Jane Skellett e-mailed me a set of lyrics, I thought they were great, did some work on them and the band sorted out an arrangement. Richard Holgarth took this one on to produce. We've done it live a couple of times and it went down a storm."

Geneve
56 votes

Otways says:
"We promised to include an 'oldie' or two to balance things up, so Geneve is an obvious choice. This is the original "Walt Disney Version". I felt I had to include this, as I wrote it to impress this girl I really liked in 1975 - and there might still be time!"

(Right) Geneve – the Disney Version!

Pauline
28 votes
Otways says:
"Murray Torkildsen had this new song and suggested it; he was kind enough to allow me to change the words. Recorded at the same time as a Sweeney session with Murray taking most of the control, it's definitely got a cool Sweeney feel."

My American Friend
16 votes

Otways says:
"A new ballad - the whole band worked on this one together during a weekend at Ingmire Hall - the ancestral home of Sir John Otway. The aristocratic setting inspired us to get it nicely together. We finished it in London.

Josephine
13 votes

Otways says:
"Lots of people say this is their favourite ballad. When we looked at the list of tracks we had, Richard Holgarth noticed its absence and went to a studio in Oxford to produce this lovely version, with the help of keyboardist Andy Herring."


Campaign pre-voting history is here.

Pictures ©hithithit.com

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