Kissing Gate (song)

"Kissing Gate" is a song by English female singer-songwriter Sam Brown, released in 1990 as the second single from her second studio album April Moon. The song was written by Sam Brown, Pete Brown, Paul Bangash, Tina Warrilow and Sara Jones, and was produced by Pete Brown and Sam Brown.

"Kissing Gate"
Single by Sam Brown
from the album April Moon
B-side	"Is It Mustard or Mango?"
Released	1990
Length	2:48
Label	A&M
Songwriter(s)	Sam Brown Pete Brown Paul Bangash Tina Warrilow Sara Jones
Producer(s)	Pete Brown Sam Brown
Sam Brown singles chronology
"With a Little Love" (1990) "Kissing Gate" (1990) "Once in Your Life" (1990)

"Kissing Gate" reached No. 23 in the UK and remained in the charts for eight weeks. It is Brown's last single to reach the UK Top 40.[1] The song also reached No. 57 on the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles chart.[2]

Speaking of the song in relation to "Stop!" in 1990, Brown said: "They've both got the same old-song-style feel to them. But "Kissing Gate" is more tongue-in-cheek; it's not as serious as "Stop!"."[3]

Reception

Upon release, The Press and Journal wrote: "Romantic number with full orchestral backing. She was a very full voice, which she uses to its limit here. Unfortunately it just does not have the punch that "Stop!" had."[4] Simon Lloyd of the Reading Evening Post described the song as "an infectious little number which more than adequately provides a vehicle for Sam's earthy vocals".[5] Jennifer Grant of the Perthshire Advertiser commented: "There's nowt coming over this girl's vocal chords - she's got an excellent voice. "Kissing Gate" [is] really quite pleasant. However, a romantic string arrangement is probably not catchy enough to have the same sort of commercial success."[6]

Track listing

7" and cassette single

1. "Kissing Gate" - 2:48
2. "Is It Mustard or Mango?" - 3:11

12" and CD single

1. "Kissing Gate" - 2:48
2. "Is It Mustard or Mango?" - 3:11
3. "Here You Are Again" - 3:42
4. "Trick of the Imagination" - 5:20

Personnel

Kissing Gate Sam Brown - vocals, organ, piano Pete Brown, Paul Bangash - guitar Gavyn Wright, Pete Oxer, Jim Archer, John Williams, Tim Good, Ben Cruft, Mark Berrow - violin Chris Wellington, Paul Silverthorne - viola Ben Kennard, Paul Kegg - cello Nick Ingman - string conductor David Levy - bass Richard Newman - drums Is It Mustard or Mango? Sam Brown - vocals, organ Pete Brown, Paul Bangash - guitar David Levy - bass Richard Newman - drums Here You Are Again Sam Brown - vocals, piano, organ Pete Brown, Paul Bangash - guitar David Levy - bass Richard Newman - drums

Trick of the Imagination Sam Brown - vocals, piano, organ Pete Brown - guitar, synthesiser Paul Bangash - guitar David Levy - bass Richard Newman - drums Production Pete Brown, Sam Brown - producers (all tracks) Robin Evans - recording engineer (all tracks) Jock Loveband - assistant engineer on "Kissing Gate" Stan Loubieres, Cameron Jenkins - assistant engineers on all B-sides Other Mike Owen - photography Jeremy Pearce - design

Charts

Chart (1990)	Peak position
Australian Singles Chart[7]	89
Canada (RPM 100)[8]	45
UK Singles Chart[1]	23

References

1. "SAM BROWN | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
2. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. 2 June 1990.
3. Brendan Kelly (29 May 1990). "Sam Brown can't explain popularity here". The Gazette. Retrieved 14 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Record round-up". The Press and Journal. 31 May 1990.
5. Lloyd, Simon (11 May 1990). "Kissing gate for our Sam". Reading Evening Post.
6. Grant, Jennifer (1 May 1990). "Discover - Single Reviews". Perthshire Advertiser.
7. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 43.
8. "Item: 969 - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 2019-11-14.