I don't think I am unique when I list Ultravox's album 'Vienna' among my favourites of all time, but it is, and it has been so since its release. I thought I owned all the singles taken from that album until I saw this one.
In Japan, they relegated the classic track 'Vienna' to the B-side and released 'New Europeans' as the A-side instead. This is interesting as the segue from the album has gone and the track starts 'clean'. These are the kind of details I love. That, and the unique artwork made this single an essential purchase for me.
My collection: 7" single no. 6213
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 17, 2019
Cost: 10 euro
Tracks: 'New Europeans' / 'Vienna'
Showing posts with label Ultravox. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ultravox. Show all posts
Tuesday, 3 December 2019
Sunday, 22 September 2019
Vienna 92 (The classic mix) - Ultravox
Sometimes you find a single and you wonder: what the hell went wrong here? I was already familiar with the fact that Ultravox had released a version of 'Vienna' in the Nineties, and I even heard it once, years ago, but to find the single was a different challenge.
So now that I have it, here are the facts. Ultravox split up in 1988 after the lack of success of their album 'U-vox'. Having not toured after the album, Ure concentrated on his solo career and Chris Cross retired from music altogether and returned to his former career as a psychotherapist. And then, Billy Currie decided to reform Ultravox in 1992, without any of the other original members. This single was their first product. One has to wonder what went on in Billy Currie's mind: 'Oh, let's re-record the biggest hit Ultravox ever had, but with weaker vocals and cheaper instruments'. Or something like that. Its only redeeming quality in the drum beat, which is slightly original when compared to the original (and better) version. Predictably, the single failed to chart.
Undeterred, this version of Ultravox with vocalist Tony Fenelle recorded the album 'Revelation' (which it wasn't) and in 1994 the album 'Ingenuity' (well... no). The band dissolved again in 1996. When the "classic" line-up of Midge Ure, Billy Currie, Warren Cann and Chris Cross reformed in 2012 for the album 'Brilliant', the results were lots better.
My collection: 7" single no. 6172
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 21, 2019
Cost: 4 euro
Tracks: 'Vienna 92 (the classic mix)' / 'Systems of love'
So now that I have it, here are the facts. Ultravox split up in 1988 after the lack of success of their album 'U-vox'. Having not toured after the album, Ure concentrated on his solo career and Chris Cross retired from music altogether and returned to his former career as a psychotherapist. And then, Billy Currie decided to reform Ultravox in 1992, without any of the other original members. This single was their first product. One has to wonder what went on in Billy Currie's mind: 'Oh, let's re-record the biggest hit Ultravox ever had, but with weaker vocals and cheaper instruments'. Or something like that. Its only redeeming quality in the drum beat, which is slightly original when compared to the original (and better) version. Predictably, the single failed to chart.
Undeterred, this version of Ultravox with vocalist Tony Fenelle recorded the album 'Revelation' (which it wasn't) and in 1994 the album 'Ingenuity' (well... no). The band dissolved again in 1996. When the "classic" line-up of Midge Ure, Billy Currie, Warren Cann and Chris Cross reformed in 2012 for the album 'Brilliant', the results were lots better.
My collection: 7" single no. 6172
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 21, 2019
Cost: 4 euro
Tracks: 'Vienna 92 (the classic mix)' / 'Systems of love'
Saturday, 12 November 2011
All stood still - Ultravox
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623153651im_/http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q3in74dVT98/Tr6lAd8maFI/AAAAAAAALj4/6pFvv-1DjeU/s200/ultravox4.jpg)
I finally bought the single in 1995. I don't know why I waited so long, I do know I wanted to have it years earlier. But as always, back in 1981 I didn't have the money and in later years I never saw the single. So it was good to finally get hold of it in a second hand shop in London.
My collection: 7" single no. 2348
Found: Record Exchange, London, June 26, 1995
Cost: 30p
Tracks: 'All stood still' / 'Alles klar'
Sunday, 30 January 2011
Vienna / The voice - Ultravox
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623153651im_/http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/TUVtG-fhCUI/AAAAAAAAKpA/v2VzOZu5V8Y/s200/ultravox16.jpg)
This 'Old gold' single brings together two of their biggest hits: 'Vienna' and 'The voice'. The band has reformed two years ago, did two very successful tours in 2009 and 2010 and this year they are planning to release a whole new album. There is a God.
My collection: 7" single no. 5012
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 29, 2011
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Vienna' / 'The voice'
Friday, 28 August 2009
Passing stranges - Ultravox
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623153651im_/http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/SphM0HpnfLI/AAAAAAAAFGo/CqX8kMicRY4/s200/ultravox15.jpg)
The B-side 'Face to face' was recorded live in St. Albans on August 16, 1980 and was never recorded in studio by the band.
My collection: 7" single no. 2542
Found: Record Exchange, November 1, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Passing strangers' / 'Face to face (recorded live)'
Sunday, 2 August 2009
Same old story - Ultravox
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623153651im_/http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/SnX8EwZkebI/AAAAAAAAEjs/ISvc7UbHeG4/s200/ultravox14.jpg)
The single wasn't a big hit for the band, peaking at number 31 in the UK singles chart. This limited edition version of the single is a nice item: the outer pvc sleeve has stripes on it, with which you can make the inner sleeve 'invisible', i.e. just a green square and no letters.
My collection: 7" single no. 2457
Found: Record fair, September 9, 1995
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Same old story' / '3'
Friday, 10 July 2009
Love's great adventure - Ultravox
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623153651im_/http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/SlcAY1LQ29I/AAAAAAAAD_E/KnIiXgp-Zc8/s200/ultravox13.jpg)
The style of this single is different from any of their preceding singles from the album 'Lament', aiming for a more lightweight, pop-oriented approach. The music video features the band members in a humorous parody of Indiana Jones, with Midge Ure being chased across deserts and forests by a ruthless treasure hunter. Midge Ure stated in his autobiography 'If I was' that the aim of the single and its video was to promote Ultravox as having a sense of humour, away from the seriousness of their previous releases.
Once again, I bought this single in a clear vinyl edition. The gatefold sleeve also contained a booklet with a beautifully illustrated song lyric in the style of the front sleeve. Unfortunately, I found this edition some years after buying the original single and the booklet sleeved one with the disc pressed on black vinyl. So now I've got three copies of this single...
My collection: 7" single no. 247-1, 247-2, 3068
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1984 / Disco Market, Den Haag, 1984 / House of Rhythm, London, 1999
Cost: 6 guilders / 3,5 guilders / 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Dancing with tears in my eyes' / 'White China (live)'
Wednesday, 1 July 2009
Lament - Ultravox
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623153651im_/http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/Skt-tI8r4pI/AAAAAAAAD04/G7Qm8tItzcU/s200/ultravox12.jpg)
However, the title track was a melancholy ballad, accompanied by a music video featuring the band on a remote Scottish island. The single peaked at number 22 in the UK singles chart. This single was released, like many previous singles, on clear vinyl, housed in a gatefold sleeve.
My collection: 7" single no. 1005
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1989
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Lament' / 'Heart of the country (instrumental)'
Monday, 1 June 2009
One small day - Ultravox
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623153651im_/http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/SiPeVht2lyI/AAAAAAAADMQ/bowynRQTHyg/s200/ultravox11.jpg)
The single still made number 27 in the UK singles chart and number 16 in Ireland. But in Europe, the single did not chart. I finally bought the single in 1999, simply because of the fact that I have most of the band's singles - and this one was pressed on clear vinyl. The instrumental B-side is an intriguing piece, anyway.
My collection: 7" single no. 3062
Found: House of Rhythm, London, May 9, 1999
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'One small day' / 'Easterly'
Friday, 22 May 2009
Dancing with tears in my eyes - Ultravox
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623153651im_/http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/Shbw-0cxxDI/AAAAAAAAC_A/TaKIjKosyKA/s200/ultravox9.jpg)
'Dancing with tears in my eyes' was the second single from 'Lament', Ultravox's seventh studio album, released in 1984. The single effectively put Ultravox back on the map, peaking at number 3 in the UK single charts, and reaching the top 10 in many European countries. In the Netherlands, it peaked at number 6.
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623153651im_/http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/ShbxFi4Mg0I/AAAAAAAAC_I/h3SSM5jAZEs/s200/ultravox10.jpg)
My collection: 7" single no. 235
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1984
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Dancing with tears in my eyes' / 'Building'
Sunday, 10 May 2009
The thin wall - Ultravox
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623153651im_/http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/SgdIdvL4WbI/AAAAAAAACxc/6VwlSd5AuXY/s200/ultravox8.jpg)
I bought the single twice: the regular version on black vinyl in 1995, and a few years later the limited edition pressing on clear vinyl.
My collection: 7" single no. 2485 / no. 3228
Found: Record exchange, London, October 30, 1995 / London, 2004
Cost: 1 pound / 1 pound
Tracks: 'The thin wall' / 'I never wanted to begin'
Thursday, 29 January 2009
We came to dance - Ultravox
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623153651im_/http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/SYItTMHGTKI/AAAAAAAABOw/Q3Hog4PHtfI/s200/ultravox5.jpg)
With its demented synthesizer melody and its emotionally charged vocals, it's a bit weird that the lyrics are slightly naff. Still, I loved the track as a child and seized the opportunity a decade later to buy this single, pressed, like many more Ultravox singles, on clear vinyl.
My collection: 7" single no. 2187
Found: London, September 28, 1994
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'We came to dance' / 'Overlook'
Download: Album 'Quartet', including both tracks
Download: Album 'Quartet', including both tracks
Saturday, 10 January 2009
Sleepwalk - Ultravox
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623153651im_/http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/SWjZ6W4V9SI/AAAAAAAAA0E/1aOXOBTQflE/s200/ultravox2.jpg)
The single's B-side, 'Waiting' is an intriguing instrumental track. It was recently released on cd as part of a special disc celebrating the classic album that is 'Vienna'.
My collection: 7" single no. 2540
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, November 1, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Sleepwalk' / 'Waiting'
Download: here (password: UVXx8+Mu )
Monday, 1 December 2008
Vienna - Ultravox
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623153651im_/http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/STQgGrYYdVI/AAAAAAAAAP0/zHX2x0usPgo/s200/ultravox1.jpg)
I bought the single twice: once in 1981 and once in 1998. The latter was a clear vinyl version, released in the UK.
My collection: 7" single no. 82 / no. 3061
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1981 / Record Exchange, London, 1999
Cost: 2 guilders / 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Vienna' / 'Passionate reply'
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)