Vienna (album)
Encyclopedia
Vienna is the fourth studio LP by the synthpop
band Ultravox
, first released on 11 July 1980. The album peaked at #3 in the UK charts and was the first Ultravox release to enter the UK top ten. It was certified Platinum in the United Kingdom
in July 1981 for 300,000 copies sold. The album reached #22 in Germany
, and #164 in the United States
.
had taken the reins of the band as bandleader, vocalist and guitarist after the departure of John Foxx
, and it was also the first release under Chrysalis Records
. Additionally, it was also the first massive commercial success for the band. Ultravox effectively changed pace, style and audience with the arrival of Ure, who had already participated in early New Romantic
ventures with Visage
and actually steered the ensemble in that direction for the years to come.
Many different styles are in use on the album; "Astradyne" is a long instrumental featuring sweeping, majestic synthesizer arrangements throughout, while "Mr. X" is a simpler, much sparser affair. The lyrics to the album's songs were mainly written between Ure and drummer Warren Cann
, who also takes a rare lead vocal on "Mr. X".
For Vienna, the band decided to once again work with renowned producer Conny Plank
, notorious for his work with German synthetists Kraftwerk
, as they did on their previous album Systems of Romance
. The tracks were mixed at Plank's studio near Cologne
, Germany
.
The album was remastered and re-issued on CD in 2000 under the EMI Gold
label. This release also includes a selection of b-sides from the album's singles as bonus tracks and the music video for the "Vienna" single.
The definitive version of the Vienna album (released Sept 22nd 2008) is a double remastered CD including rare and previously unreleased tracks on the 2nd CD.
, Chris Cross
, Billy Currie
, Midge Ure
except as mentioned.
Bonus tracks:
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
band Ultravox
Ultravox
Ultravox is a British New Wave rock band. They were one of the primary exponents of the British electronic pop music movement of the late 1970s/early 1980s. The band was particularly associated with the New Romantic and New Wave movements....
, first released on 11 July 1980. The album peaked at #3 in the UK charts and was the first Ultravox release to enter the UK top ten. It was certified Platinum in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in July 1981 for 300,000 copies sold. The album reached #22 in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and #164 in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Background
This album was the first for Ultravox with the new (today called "the classic") lineup: Midge UreMidge Ure
James "Midge" Ure, OBE is a Scottish guitarist, singer, keyboard player, and songwriter...
had taken the reins of the band as bandleader, vocalist and guitarist after the departure of John Foxx
John Foxx
John Foxx is an English singer, artist, photographer and teacher. He was the original lead singer of the band Ultravox before being replaced by Midge Ure, when he left to embark on a solo career in 1979...
, and it was also the first release under Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis...
. Additionally, it was also the first massive commercial success for the band. Ultravox effectively changed pace, style and audience with the arrival of Ure, who had already participated in early New Romantic
New Romantic
New Romanticism , was a pop culture movement in the United Kingdom that began around 1979 and peaked around 1981. Developing in London nightclubs such as Billy's and The Blitz and spreading to other major cities in the UK, it was based around flamboyant, eccentric fashion and new wave music...
ventures with Visage
Visage
Visage are a British New Wave rock band. Formed in 1978, the band became closely linked to the burgeoning New Romantic fashion movement of the early 1980s, and are best known for their 1980 hit "Fade to Grey".-New Wave years :...
and actually steered the ensemble in that direction for the years to come.
Many different styles are in use on the album; "Astradyne" is a long instrumental featuring sweeping, majestic synthesizer arrangements throughout, while "Mr. X" is a simpler, much sparser affair. The lyrics to the album's songs were mainly written between Ure and drummer Warren Cann
Warren Cann
Warren Reginald Cann is a drummer and drum machine programmer, best known as a member of the British New Wave band Ultravox.-Early life:...
, who also takes a rare lead vocal on "Mr. X".
For Vienna, the band decided to once again work with renowned producer Conny Plank
Conny Plank
Konrad "Conny" Plank was a German record producer and musician. He was born in Hütschenhausen. His creativity as a sound engineer and producer helped to shape some of the most important and innovative recordings of postwar European popular music, covering a wide range of genres including...
, notorious for his work with German synthetists Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
, as they did on their previous album Systems of Romance
Systems of Romance
Systems of Romance, released on 8 September 1978, is the third album by British band Ultravox...
. The tracks were mixed at Plank's studio near Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
The album was remastered and re-issued on CD in 2000 under the EMI Gold
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
label. This release also includes a selection of b-sides from the album's singles as bonus tracks and the music video for the "Vienna" single.
The definitive version of the Vienna album (released Sept 22nd 2008) is a double remastered CD including rare and previously unreleased tracks on the 2nd CD.
Singles
Four singles were released from the album from 1980 to 1981, the most prominent one being the title track which hit #2 in the UK charts.- "SleepwalkSleepwalk (song)"Sleepwalk" is Ultravox's first single from the band's fourth album, and the first with Midge Ure as frontman, released by Chrysalis Records on June 16, 1980....
" (16 June 1980, #29 UK) - "Passing StrangersPassing Strangers"Passing Strangers" is Ultravox's second single from the band's first album with Midge Ure, released on Chrysalis Records on 15 October 1980....
" (15 October 1980, #57 UK) - "Vienna" (15 January 1981, #2 UK)
- "All Stood StillAll Stood Still"All Stood Still" is Ultravox's fourth and final single from Vienna, the band's first album with Midge Ure, released on Chrysalis Records on May 26, 1981....
" (26 May 1981, #8 UK)
Chart positions
- The Netherlands - #1
- United Kingdom - #3
- Sweden - #6
- Norway - #18
- West Germany - #22
Track listing
All songs written by Warren CannWarren Cann
Warren Reginald Cann is a drummer and drum machine programmer, best known as a member of the British New Wave band Ultravox.-Early life:...
, Chris Cross
Chris Cross
Chris Cross is the bass guitarist in the band Ultravox.-Early years:Cross went to Belmont Secondary Modern School, William Forster Comprehensive...
, Billy Currie
Billy Currie
Billy Currie is an English violist, violinist, pianist, keyboardist, and songwriter...
, Midge Ure
Midge Ure
James "Midge" Ure, OBE is a Scottish guitarist, singer, keyboard player, and songwriter...
except as mentioned.
Original release: CHR 1296Side A:
Side B:
|
U.S. release: DIDX 397Side A:
Side B:
|
2000 CD re-release: 7243 5 25523 0 6
- "Astradyne" – 7:07
- "New Europeans" – 4:01
- "Private Lives" – 4:06
- "Passing Strangers" – 3:48
- "Sleepwalk" – 3:10
- "Mr. X" – 6:33
- "Western Promise" – 5:18
- "Vienna" – 4:53
- "All Stood Still" – 4:21
Bonus tracks:
- "Waiting" – 3:51
- "Passionate Reply" – 4:17
- "Herr X" – 5:49
- "Alles Klar" – 4:53
- "Vienna" [video]
Disc One
- "Astradyne" – 7:07
- "New Europeans" – 4:01
- "Private Lives" – 4:06
- "Passing Strangers" – 3:48
- "Sleepwalk" – 3:10
- "Mr. X" – 6:33
- "Western Promise" – 5:18
- "Vienna" – 4:53
- "All Stood Still" – 4:21
Disc Two
- "Sleepwalk (Early Version)" - 3:23
- "Waiting" (B-side of Sleepwalk) – 3:51
- "Face To Face (Live)" (B-side of Passing Strangers) – 6:04
- "King's Lead Hat (Live)" (B-side extra of Passing Strangers (12" version)) – 4:06 (written by Brian EnoBrian EnoBrian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
) - "Passionate Reply" (B-side of Vienna) – 4:17
- "Herr X" (B-side extra of Vienna (12" version)) – 5:49 (German version of "Mr. X")
- "All Stood Still (Extended 12" Version)" – 5:08
- "Alles Klar" (B-side of All Stood Still) – 4:53
- "Keep Talking" (Cassette recording during rehearsals) – 6:23
- "Sleepwalk (Live)" - 3:43
- "All Stood Still (Live)" - 4:35
- Track 3 recorded live at St. Albans, 16 Aug 1980.
- Track 4 recorded live at The Lyceum, 17 Aug 1980.
- Tracks 10-11 recorded live in rehearsals at The Lyceum, 17 Aug 1980.
Personnel
- Warren CannWarren CannWarren Reginald Cann is a drummer and drum machine programmer, best known as a member of the British New Wave band Ultravox.-Early life:...
- drums, percussion, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Mr. X" and "Herr X" - Chris CrossChris CrossChris Cross is the bass guitarist in the band Ultravox.-Early years:Cross went to Belmont Secondary Modern School, William Forster Comprehensive...
- bass, synthesizer, backing vocals - Billy CurrieBilly CurrieBilly Currie is an English violist, violinist, pianist, keyboardist, and songwriter...
- keyboards, violin, synthesizer (ARP OdysseyARP OdysseyThe ARP Odyssey was an analog synthesizer introduced in 1972. Responding to pressure from Moog Music to create a portable, affordable "performance" synthesizer, ARP scaled down its popular 2600 synthesizer and created the Odyssey, which became the best-selling synthesizer they made.The Odyssey is...
) - Midge UreMidge UreJames "Midge" Ure, OBE is a Scottish guitarist, singer, keyboard player, and songwriter...
- guitar, synthesizer, lead vocals (except "Mr. X" and "Herr X") - Conny PlankConny PlankKonrad "Conny" Plank was a German record producer and musician. He was born in Hütschenhausen. His creativity as a sound engineer and producer helped to shape some of the most important and innovative recordings of postwar European popular music, covering a wide range of genres including...
- co-production - Brian Griffin & Brian Aris - band photography
External links
- Ultravox: The Story: interview with Warren Cann by Jonas Wårstad