Visage (album)
Encyclopedia
Visage is the eponymous debut album from the British pop group Visage
, recorded at Genetic Sound Studios in Reading
and released by Polydor Records
on 10 November 1980. The album reached #13 in the UK and was certified "Silver" by the British Phonographic Industry in March 1981.
Morisson-O'Donnell Productions Ltd.
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 :...
, recorded at Genetic Sound Studios in Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
and released by Polydor Records
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
on 10 November 1980. The album reached #13 in the UK and was certified "Silver" by the British Phonographic Industry in March 1981.
Track listing
All songs composed by Visage (Currie/Egan/Formula/McGeoch/Strange/Ure), except where noted. CopyrightCopyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
Morisson-O'Donnell Productions Ltd.
Side one
- "Visage" – 3:53
- "Blocks on Blocks" – 4:00
- "The Dancer" (Ure/Egan) – 3:40
- "Tar" (Adamson/Currie/Egan/Formula/McGeoch/Strange/Ure) – 3:32
- "Fade to Grey" (Currie/Ure/Payne) – 4:02
Side two
- "Malpaso Man" – 4:14
- "Mind of a ToyMind Of A Toy"Mind of a Toy" is the third single by the British pop group Visage, released on Polydor Records in March 1981, and also the third to be taken from Visage's eponymous debut album...
" – 4:28 - "Moon Over Moscow" – 4:00
- "Visa-age" – 4:20
- "The Steps" – 3:14
Bonus track on CD reissue (One Way Records OW-34519)
- "Fade to Grey (Dance Mix)" – 6:41
Visage
- Steve StrangeSteve StrangeSteve Strange , is a Welsh pop singer, best known as the lead singer and frontman of the 1980s pop group Visage...
– lead vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Midge UreMidge UreJames "Midge" Ure, OBE is a Scottish guitarist, singer, keyboard player, and songwriter...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, background vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - John McGeochJohn McGeochJohn Alexander McGeoch, , was a Scottish guitarist who played with a number of bands of the post-punk era, including Magazine, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Visage and Public Image Ltd....
– guitar, saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, backing vocals - Dave FormulaDave FormulaDave Formula, , is an English keyboardist and film-soundtrack composer from Manchester, who played with the post-punk band Magazine, and New Romantic ensemble Visage during the end of the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s and in the "world music" band The Angel Brothers.-Early Years and St...
– synthesizer - Billy CurrieBilly CurrieBilly Currie is an English violist, violinist, pianist, keyboardist, and songwriter...
– electric violinElectric violinAn electric violin is a violin equipped with an electronic output of its sound. The term most properly refers to an instrument purposely made to be electrified with built-in pickups, usually with a solid body...
, synthesizer - Rusty EganRusty EganRusty Egan was the drummer for the British new wave band, The Rich Kids. They were founded by former Sex Pistol, Glen Matlock, bass guitarist and backing vocals, occasional lead vocals; with Steve New guitarist and backing vocals, occasional lead vocals; and fronted by Midge Ure guitarist, lead...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, electronic percussionElectronic drumAn electronic drum is an electronic synthesizer which mimics an acoustic drum kit.The electronic drum usually consists of a set of pads mounted on a stand in a disposition similar to an acoustic drum kit. The pads are discs with a rubber or cloth-like coating. Each pad has a sensor which generates...
, backing vocals
Additional musicians
- Barry AdamsonBarry AdamsonBarry Adamson is a British rock musician who has worked with rock bands such as Magazine, Visage, The Birthday Party, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and the electronic musicians Pan sonic and Depeche Mode. Adamson created the seven-minute opus "Useless " remix for the latter band in 1997...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
on "Visage", "Blocks on Blocks" and "Tar", composing credits on "Tar" - Christopher Payne – synthesizer and composing credits on "Fade to Grey"
- Cedric Sharpley – drums, electronic drums programming on "Fade to Grey"
- Brigitte Arens – woman's voice on "Fade to Grey"
Production
- Arranged By Visage
- Produced By Visage & Midge Ure
- Recorded, Engineered & Mixed By John Hudson
Singles
- "Tar" – 3:27 (Sept. 1979), did not chart
- "Fade to Grey" – 3:14 (Nov. 1980), UK #8
- "Mind of a ToyMind Of A Toy"Mind of a Toy" is the third single by the British pop group Visage, released on Polydor Records in March 1981, and also the third to be taken from Visage's eponymous debut album...
" – 3:39 (Mar. 1981), UK #13 - "Visage" – 3:47 (Jun. 1981), UK #21