Set (Thompson Twins album)

Infobox Album | Name = Set
Type = Album
Artist = Thompson Twins


Released = 1982
Recorded = 1982
Genre = Alternative, Post-punk
Reviews =
Last album = "A Product of ... (Participation)" (1981)
This album = "Set" (1982)
Next album = "In the Name of Love" (1982) |

"Set" is the second album recorded by English pop group Thompson Twins. Released in February 1982, it was the second album they recorded for their own "T Records" imprint on the Fame/EMI label.

Compared to their first album, "A Product of ... (Participation)", "Set" featured a more polished sound thanks to producer Steve Lillywhite, and it was received positively by the British music press. Keeping true to form with their shifting lineup, Thompson Twins had now swelled to seven members, adding Matthew Seligman on bass guitar to free up Tom Bailey for full frontman duties and keyboards. Former sax player Jane Shorter was replaced by Alannah Currie, who was Bailey's girlfriend at the time (they remained partnered until 2004). Three of the songs featured on "Set" do not feature Bailey on lead vocals, but rather are sung by Joe Leeway. While not an official member of the band, Thomas Dolby was also on hand to lend additional keyboards to three of the tracks.

While the album was given praise in the press, the band found itself on the verge of yet another personnel change. The album track "In the Name of Love" was written by Bailey simply as album filler, but it wound up being such a strong track that it was chosen as the lead-off single from the album. While not a notable presence in the pop charts, the single was released in the United States as a club single, and from there it went straight to number one on "Billboard" magazine's dance chart, where it remained unseated for five weeks (from May 22 to June 19, 1982).

The success of the track opened many doors for the band, who suddenly had the potential to be more than just an underground sensation. Together with the band's manager, John Hade, Bailey reinvented the band as a trio, keeping Currie and Leeway while firing the others.

"Set" was also released in the United States on the Arista label as "In the Name of Love", which saw three of the album's tracks replaced by two songs from the band's first album, "A Product of ... (Participation)".

September 2008 sees the release of Set and its predecessor "A Product Of...Participation" as a double CD for the first time.

Personnel

*Tom Bailey - vocals, synths, percussion, piano
*Chris Bell - drums
*Alannah Currie - percussion, sax
*Peter Dodd - guitar, synths, percussion
*Joe Leeway - congas, vocals, percussion
*John Roog - guitar
*Matthew Seligman - bassalso featuring
*Thomas Dolby - additional synths

Track listing

#"In the Name of Love"
#"Living in Europe"
#"Bouncing"
#"Tok Tok"
#"Good Gosh"
#"The Rowe"
#"Runaway"
#"Another Fantasy"
#"Fool's Gold"
#"Crazy Dog"
#"Blind"

ee also

*Thompson Twins discography