The song was written by
Terry Britten and
Graham Lyle, who originally offered it to
Cliff Richard, but it was rejected. It was then given to
Phyllis Hyman, who wanted to do the song, but
Arista Records head
Clive Davis would not allow her. The song then was offered to
Donna Summer, who has stated that she sat with it for a couple of years but never recorded it.[
citation needed] Some months before Turner recorded the song, the British pop group
Bucks Fizz were offered it. Member
Jay Aston requested to sing lead on the track after hearing the demo, but was told by the producer that it was unsuitable for a female lead vocal. The group went on to record it in February 1984, but sung by male groupmember
Bobby G.
[4] Aston recalls that the demo was very similar to the eventual Tina Turner version, but their finished version was in a very different style.
[5] It was intended for possible inclusion on their next album
I Hear Talk but was shelved when Turner released her version first. The Bucks Fizz version went unreleased until it was included on a re-issue of their
Are You Ready album in 2000.
).
