Laughter, Tears and Rage

Infobox Album
Name = Laughter, Tears And Rage
Type = album
Artist = Act


Released = start date|1988|6|27
Recorded = 1988
Genre = Synth Pop
Length = 57m:30s
Label = ZTT - ZQLP 1
Producer = Trevor Horn, Act, Stephen Lipson
Reviews = * Allmusic Rating|2|5 [http://wm05.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?sql=10:3nfrxqw0ldte Link]
Last album =
This album = "Laughter, Tears and Rage"
(1988)
Next album = "Laughter, Tears and Rage - The Anthology"
(2004)
Misc = Singles
Name = Laughter, Tears and Rage
Type = album
Single 1 = Snobbery And Decay
Single 1 date = start date|1987|5|5
Single 2 = Absolutely Immune
Single 2 date = start date|1987|9|7
Single 3 = Chance
Single 3 date = start date|1988|2
Single 4 = I Can't Escape From You
Single 4 date = start date|1988|3|7

Laughter, Tears and Rage was the sole album produced by Act - the short musical collaboration between Thomas Leer and ex-Propaganda vocalist Claudia Brücken. Originally scheduled to be titled "Name Dropping: Songs For Young Sinners" [ [http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?what=R&obid=106515 Snobbery And Decay sleeve which mentions "Name Dropping"] ] it was released start date|1988|6|27, by ZTT Records. The album was deleted by ZTT in the early 90s. It was eventually reissued as a 3-CD box set entitled "Laughter, Tears and Rage - The Anthology" in 2004.

The album featured three singles, "Absolutely Immune", "I Can't Escape From You" and "Snobbery And Decay". None of these set the charts alight with lead single "Snobbery and Decay" reaching #60 upon release. A fourth single, "Chance" was withdrawn the day of release due to unauthorised samples.

Like most ZTT releases, the LP and CD releases differed quite a lot in track listing. The LP and cassette were both released as 12 tracks, while the CD was 14. However, a number of tracks were exclusive to each format. "Short Story" and "Theme From Laughter" were LP only, while "Poison" and "Bloodrush" were issued only on CD and cassette, and "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" and "The 3rd Planet" were CD only.

Track listing

LP: ZTT / ZQLP1 flagicon|UK

All tracks by Leer/Brücken unless otherwise noted.

# "Absolutely Immune" - 4:37
# "Chance" - 4:22
# "Laughter" - 3:58
# "I Can't Escape From You" - 3:06
# "Short Story" - 0:32
# "Under The Nights Of Germany" - 4:35
# "Gestures" - 4:00
# "A Friendly Warning" (Leer/Brücken/Dempsey) - 3:25
# "Certified" - 4:30
# "Where Love Lies Bleeding" - 3:20
# "Theme From Laughter" - 1:02
# "Snobbery And Decay" - 4:05

CD: ZTT / ZQCD1 flagicon|UK

# "Absolutely Immune" - 4:37
# "Chance" - 4:22
# "Laughter" - 3:58
# "I Can't Escape From You" - 3:06
# "Poison" - 3:59
# "Under The Nights Of Germany" - 4:35
# "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" (Morrissey/Marr) - 3:53
# "The 3rd Planet" - 4:26
# "Gestures" - 4:00
# "Bloodrush" - 4:12
# "A Friendly Warning" (Leer/Brücken/Dempsey) - 3:25
# "Certified" - 4:30
# "Where Love Lies Bleeding" - 3:20
# "Snobbery And Decay" - 4:05

References