U-Vox
U-Vox is the eighth studio album by British new wave band Ultravox, released on 9 October 1986 by Chrysalis Records. It was the band's fifth album during the Midge Ure era, and the final one featuring the band's 1979 lineup, with the exception of Warren Cann, for nearly 26 years. Following their 1987 dissolution and 1992 reformation, Ultravox's next two albums would each feature a new five-piece lineup, with keyboardist Billy Currie being the only remaining member from the previous incarnation in both instances; the Ure-era lineup would eventually reform in 2008. It was also the last Ultravox album to reach the top 10 of the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number nine.
U-Vox | ||||
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Studio album by Ultravox | ||||
Released | 9 October 1986 | |||
Recorded | 1986 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 42:49 | |||
Label | Chrysalis | |||
Producer |
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Ultravox chronology | ||||
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Singles from U-Vox | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic |
Background
Despite reaching the UK top 10, the album was not as successful as the previous Ultravox albums from the 1980s and contained no top-20 singles (with "Same Old Story" and "All Fall Down" reaching numbers 31 and 30, respectively). In addition, drummer Warren Cann was unceremoniously dumped by the band before recording the album, being replaced by Mark Brzezicki from Big Country. The sound developed the movement away from electronic rock started by Lament further and some unusual instrumentation was used, such as the Celtic sound of "All Fall Down" with instrumentation by The Chieftains. The album's final track, "All in One Day", was arranged and conducted by George Martin.
U-Vox was the last Ultravox album with Midge Ure before the band split after the tour in 1987. Future incarnations of the band in the 1990s would feature keyboardist Billy Currie as the lone original member, though the classic line-up of the band (including Cann and Ure) would reconvene in 2008 for a tour and recorded a new album, Brilliant, which was released in 2012.
EMI Gold remastered and reissued U-Vox on CD in 2000, with bonus tracks, alongside the other re-releases of the Ultravox catalogue. A remastered two-disc version was issued in 2009, which featured the original nine-track album on CD one and several B-sides, mixes and demos on CD two.
Track listing
All songs written by Chris Cross, Billy Currie, and Midge Ure.
- "Same Old Story" – 4:38
- "Sweet Surrender" – 4:34
- "Dream On" – 4:47
- "The Prize" – 5:37
- "All Fall Down" – 5:09
- "Time to Kill" – 4:26
- "Moon Madness" – 3:28
- "Follow Your Heart" – 4:53
- "All in One Day" – 5:09
Bonus tracks on 2000 CD re-release (7243 5 25611 2 4):
- "3" (B-side of Same Old Story) – 4:01
- "All in One Day (Instrumental)" (B-side extra of Same Old Story (12" version)) – 6:12
- "Dreams?" (B-side of All Fall Down) – 2:32
- "All Fall Down (Instrumental)" (B-side extra of All Fall Down (12" version)) – 5:34
- "Stateless" (B-side of All in One Day) – 2:51
Tracks on CD 2 of the 2009 Remastered Definitive Edition (5099996802526):
- "Same Old Story (Extended Version)" – 7:00
- "3" – 4:01
- "All In One Day (Instrumental)" – 6:13
- "All Fall Down (Extended Version)" – 7:41
- "Dreams?" – 2:31
- "All Fall Down (Instrumental)" – 5:36
- "Dream On (Recorded Live At Wembley Arena, 06 Nov 1986)" – 3:50
- "The Prize (Recorded Live At Wembley Arena, 06 Nov 1986)" – 4:58
- "All Fall Down (Recorded Live At Wembley Arena, 06 Nov 1986)" – 5:41
- "Stateless" – 2:52
- "Same Old Story (Recorded Live At Glasgow Barrowlands, 01 Nov 1986)" – 4:32
- "Sweet Surrender (Recorded Live At Glasgow Barrowlands, 01 Nov 1986)" – 3:02
- "All In One Day (Recorded Live At Glasgow Barrowlands, 01 Nov 1986)" – 6:46
- "Time To Kill (Recorded Live At Glasgow Barrowlands, 01 Nov 1986)" – 2:53
- "All In One Day (Work In Progress Mix)" – 6:31
Personnel
Ultravox
- Mark Brzezicki - drums
- Chris Cross - bass, synthesizer, backing vocals
- Billy Currie - keyboards, violin, synthesizer
- Midge Ure - guitar, lead vocals
Guest musicians
- Beggar & Co Horns – brass on "Same Old Story"
- Carol Kenyon – backing vocals on "Same Old Story" and "The Prize"
- Kevin Powell – bass on "Sweet Surrender"
- Derek Watkins, Gary Barnacle, John Thirkell, Pete Thoms – brass on "The Prize"
- The Chieftains – featured on "All Fall Down"
- George Martin – arranger and conductor on "All in One Day"
Charts
Chart (1986) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[2] | 92 |
European Albums (Music & Media)[3] | 47 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[4] | 49 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[5] | 16 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[6] | 29 |
UK Albums (OCC)[7] | 9 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United Kingdom (BPI)[8] | Gold | 100,000^ |
^shipments figures based on certification alone |
References
- Ogg, Alex. U-Vox at AllMusic
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. p. 317. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- "European Hot 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3 no. 43. 1 November 1986. p. 31. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 3 July 2019 – via American Radio History.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Ultravox – U-Vox" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
- "Swedishcharts.com – Ultravox – U-Vox". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
- "Swisscharts.com – Ultravox – U-Vox". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
- "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
- "British album certifications – Ultravox – U-Vox". British Phonographic Industry. 9 October 1986. Retrieved 3 July 2019. Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type U-Vox in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.