The single went on to sell over half a million copies in the UK. The album contains 4 UK Top 40 singles All Stood Still, Passing Strangers and Sleepwalk (which is being issued on 12” for the first time as part of Record Store Day 2020) and the title track ‘Vienna’ which reached No.2 in the UK and Top 10 in seven countries around the world. Produced by legendary German producer Conny Plank (Neu!, Kraftwerk), it reached number 3 in the UK album chart and top ten in Australia, New Zealand and several European countries. Not the case here as Vienna might mean nothing to me/Midge (sorry – again…), but it means a lot to a lot of people which makes the repackage most worthwhile.Vienna, Ultravox’s first album with Midge Ure (Vocals/Guitar) was originally released in July 1980. Especially when it comes to the add ons that only a mother could love.
We might sometimes question the value of rehashing an album as it reaches a milestone and forty years is some mark. Naturally, plenty of Vienna gets a live airing although the occasional Casio clicks and pops betray the sound as ‘of an era’ as bands got to grip with the electronic options and boundaries. There are fizzing versions of Slow Motion and Quiet Men and Hiroshima Mon Amour fits more comfortably of the new lush sound. The live set (has a “Hello St Albans!” been edited out?) sees the new mixing with the old as we shift towards a new era. Not quite Joy Division raw, but a step down from the polished album production. Yes, they probably sound just as the band sounded in whatever warehouse space they were working in. How valued the cassette recordings of live rehearsals are, will depend on the passion for having the need to hear what might never have been intended to see the light of day. We do get his mixes too on a number of B-sides including Passionate Reply which is only a wink away from The Thin Wall in its busy rhythm. How Wilson’s new mix differs or what it adds to what we already know and love is not the easiest thing to detect on a pre release stream. The floodgates opened and I was suddenly seeking music by Kraftwerk and the like. All Stood Still, Passing Strangers and Vienna itself all still sitting (amongst a pile of subsequent releases) in the U’vox clear vinyl section of the collection. Having dipped my toes, I became committed to the clear vinyl cause. Then there was the mysterious Teutonic Mr X and its clipped vocal that provided the point in the Venn diagram where Foxx Ultravox overlapped with the new sound. A thundering bassline and very much on the button with the pauses for some knob-twiddling electronic and industrial atmospherics and that undulating squeal. Furthermore, on hearing the album, I was struck by what a great opening instrumental Astradyne was. Ultravox meant nothing to me (sorry…), but after one listen to Sleepwalk I was down to the local record store (Vibes in Bury for the record) bagging a copy of the single on clear vinyl to boot. And how could we fail to be impressed with Midge’s razor-sharp ‘tache and sidies and fashion sense that would be hijacked by the new romantics. I’m sure, but don’t quote me, that they were introduced as a band with a new singer. Meanwhile, Ultravox had hit my radar after an appearance on Top Of The Pops in the Summer of 1980. We had the same ticket and seat number but somehow he’d been allowed in with his ticket that was for the following night’s gig… Incidentally, one punter thought I was sat in his seat. Such as the fact that I thought I saw this tour but it was actually the Rage In Eden tour in ’81 when I went to Ultravox at the Manchester Apollo. Grand memories for, as they say, I was there so excuse any rose-tinted nostalgic references. There’s also a recording of the 1980 St Albans gig. Six CDs and a DVD or a four-disc clear vinyl option that include the original 1980 analogue master, a new stereo mix by Steven Wilson (who will no doubt be waxing lyrical when we get to the 1980 portion of his The Album Years podcast) and rarities (singles, B-sides and cassette recordings of live rehearsals) and contributions from band members. The 40th Anniversary version of Vienna by Ultravox with all the trimmings goes under the microscope.
0 kommentar(er)
