Red Rose is the fifth and final single from Alphaville

Alphaville (band)

Alphaville is a German synthpop group which gained popularity in the 1980s. The founding members were Marian Gold , Bernhard Lloyd , and Frank Mertens Alphaville is a German synthpop group which gained popularity in the 1980s. The founding members were Marian Gold (real name Hartwig Schierbaum,...

's 1986 album, Afternoons in Utopia

Afternoons In Utopia

Afternoons in Utopia is the second album released by Alphaville in 1986, by Warner Music. The album was recorded between September 1985 and May 1986, and Alphaville employed no less than 27 guest musicians and singers to record the songs...

. It was released in April 1987, and is their ninth single overall.

The 7" version is a completely new studio recording of the song with a slightly different arrangement than the album version, including a new intro and fade ending.

Reviews

Reviews for the song at the time were generally positive, with one reviewer calling this song "a reasonably sassy pop number that's one of various chances for [singer and songwriter Marian] Gold to exercise his Bryan Ferry

Bryan Ferry

Bryan Ferry, CBE is an English singer, musician, and songwriter. Ferry came to public prominence in the early 1970s as lead vocalist and principal songwriter with the band Roxy Music, who enjoyed a highly successful career with three number one albums and ten singles entering the top ten charts in...

 fascination." Coincidentally, Alphaville would later cover the Brian Ferry / Roxy Music

Roxy Music

Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...

 song "Do the Strand

Do The Strand

"Do the Strand" is the first song from Roxy Music's second album, For Your Pleasure. In contrast to the songs from Roxy Music's eponymous debut album, this song starts suddenly without any instrumental fanfare.-Lyrics:...

" on their 2003 release, CrazyShow

CrazyShow

CrazyShow is a limited-edition four-CD album by Alphaville, composed of new material as wellas rare and remixed tracks, and three cover versions...

. Another reviewer stated that 'Red Rose,' alongside their other notable singles such as "Big in Japan

Big in Japan (song)

"Big in Japan" is the debut single of the band Alphaville. It is from their 1984 album Forever Young. The title comes from a phrase Big in Japan, which was used to describe Western bands who are popular with Japanese audiences while garnering little attention in their home country.The single was a...

" and "Jerusalem

Jerusalem (Alphaville song)

Jerusalem is third single from Alphaville's album Afternoons in Utopia. It is their seventh single overall. It was released only in Germany in November 1986.-Song development:...

", "reside in the upper echelon of early-'80s synth pop."

Track listings

7" single

1. "Red Rose (7" Version)" — 4:24
2. "Concrete Soundtracks For Imaginary Films 1: Big Yellow Sun" — 6:45

12" German single

1. "Red Rose (12" Version)" — 7:53
2. "Concrete Soundtracks For Imaginary Films 1: Big Yellow Sun" — 6:45
3. "Red Rose (Dub Mix)" — 5:06

• The B-side is referred to by alternate names including "Concrete Soundtraxx For Imaginary Films" and "Big Yello Sun." A remix appears on 1999's album Dreamscapes
  Dreamscapes
  Dreamscapes is a limited edition eight-CD set of rare Alphaville recordings, released in 1999. It features 124 tracks with a total playing time of around 9.5 hours...
  
  , and alternate demo appears on the fan-only History
  History (Alphaville album)
  History is the rarest of Alphaville albums.Released in 1993 only on cassette, and only to members of the official fan club, History is a collection of early Alphaville demo tracks, b-sides, and a few out-takes.-Track listing:...
  
  release

12" US single

1. "Red Rose (12" Version)" — 7:53
2. "Next Generation" — 3:58
3. "Red Rose (Dub Mix)" — 5:06

• As the previous two singles were not released in the US, that market received the B-side from the "Universal Daddy
  Universal Daddy
  Universal Daddy is the 6th single by Alphaville, and their second from their album Afternoons in Utopia.-Reviews:This song was described as one of the album's best songs and reminiscient of the kind of music that their contemporaries the Pet Shop Boys might produce.-Track listings:7" single#...
  
  " single instead
• A remix of the US B-side appears on 1999's album Dreamscapes
• The writing credit for "Next Generation" is listed as "Gold/Lloyd/Echolette/Ryan"

Other releases

This song was released on a variety of other official Alphaville releases, including:

• Alphaville Amiga Compilation
  Alphaville Amiga Compilation
  Alphaville Amiga Compilation was released under the Amiga label only in former East Germany, where Forever Young and Afternoons In Utopia weren't easily available...
  
  , 1988 (LP version)
• Alphaville: The Singles Collection
  Alphaville: The Singles Collection
  Alphaville: The Singles Collection is Alphaville's first "best of" compilation, consisting of remixes of singles from their first two albums, Forever Young and Afternoons in Utopia. It was released in 1988.-Reviews:...
  
  , 1988 (LP and 12" versions)
• First Harvest 1984-92
  First Harvest 1984-92
  First Harvest 1984–92 is Alphaville's first "real" greatest-hits compilation ....
  
  , 1992 (7" version)
• Dreamscapes, 1999 (demo version)
• Forever Pop
  Forever Pop
  Forever Pop is a collection of new remixes of older Alphaville songs and singles. The people responsible for some of the remixes include notables such as Paul Van Dyk, Mark Plati, and De-Phazz.-Reviews:...
  
  , 2001 (new remix)