Vienna (album)

Infobox Album
Name = Vienna
Type = Album
Artist = Ultravox


Released = 11 July, 1980
Recorded = RAK Studios, London, 1980
Genre = New Wave
Synthpop
Length = 43:37
Label = Chrysalis Records
Producer = Conny Plank, Ultravox
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:8earqjkbojfa link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|2|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ultravox/albums/album/212496/review/5945641/vienna link]
Last album = "Systems of Romance"
(1978)
This album = "Vienna" (1980)
Next album = "Rage in Eden"
(1981)
Misc = Singles
Name = Vienna
Type = studio
single 1 = Sleepwalk
single 1 date = 1980
single 2 = Passing Strangers
single 2 date = 1980
single 3 = Vienna
single 3 date = 1981
single 4 = All Stood Still
single 4 date = 1981

"Vienna" is the fourth studio LP by the Synthpop band Ultravox, first released on 11 July 1980. The album peaked at #3 in the UK charts and was the first Ultravox release to enter the UK top ten.

Background

For "Vienna", the band decided to once again work with renowned producer Conny Plank as they did on their previous album Systems of Romance. The tracks were mixed at Plank's studio near Cologne, Germany.

This release signalled a change in direction for Ultravox, being the first album with Midge Ure as frontman and also the first to be released under Chrysalis Records. Many different styles are in use on the album; "Astradyne" is a long instrumental featuring sweeping, majestic synthesizer arrangements throughout, while "Mr. X" is a much more sparse and simplistic affair. The lyrics to the album's songs were mainly written between Ure and drummer Warren Cann, who also takes a rare lead vocal on "Mr. X".

The album was remastered and re-issued on CD in 2000 under the EMI Gold label. This release also includes a selection of b-sides from the album's singles as bonus tracks and the music video for the "Vienna" single.

The definitive version of the Vienna album (released Sept 22nd 2008) is a double remastered CD including rare and previously unreleased tracks on the 2nd CD.

ingles

Four singles were released from the album from 1980 to 1981, the most prominent one being the title track which hit #2 in the UK charts.

# "Sleepwalk" (16 June 1980, #29 UK)
# "Passing Strangers" (15 October 1980, #57 UK)
# "Vienna" (15 January 1981, #2 UK)
# "All Stood Still" (26 May 1981, #8 UK)

Chart positions

* The Netherlands - #1 [ [http://www.ultravox.org.uk/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=15;t=000461#000003 Welcome to the Ultravox Forum: Ultravox & related - chart runs ] ]
* United Kingdom - #3 [ [http://www.everyhit.co.uk everyHit.com - UK Top 40 Chart Archive, British Singles & Album Charts ] ]
* Sweden - #6 [ [http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Ultravox&titel=Vienna&cat=a Ultravox - Vienna - austriancharts.at ] ]
* Norway - #18 [ [http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Ultravox&titel=Vienna&cat=a Ultravox - Vienna - austriancharts.at ] ]
* West Germany - #22

The album was certified Platinum by the BPI on February 9th, 1981. [ [http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=25567 Platinum Awards Content ] ]

Track listing

All songs written by Warren Cann, Chris Cross, Billy Currie, Midge Ure.

2000 CD re-release: 7243 5 25523 0 6

# "Astradyne" – 7:07
# "New Europeans" – 4:01
# "Private Lives" – 4:06
# "Passing Strangers" – 3:48
# "Sleepwalk" – 3:10
# "Mr. X" – 6:33
# "Western Promise" – 5:18
# "Vienna" – 4:53
# "All Stood Still" – 4:21Bonus tracks:

10. "Waiting" – 3:51
11. "Passionate Reply" – 4:17
12. "Herr X" – 5:49
13. "Alles Klar" – 4:53
14. "Vienna" [video]

Remastered Definitive Edition

Disc One

# "Astradyne" – 7:07
# "New Europeans" – 4:01
# "Private Lives" – 4:06
# "Passing Strangers" – 3:48
# "Sleepwalk" – 3:10
# "Mr. X" – 6:33
# "Western Promise" – 5:18
# "Vienna" – 4:53
# "All Stood Still" – 4:21

Disc Two

# "Sleepwalk (Early Version)"
# "Waiting" – 3:51
# "Face to Face (Live)" – 6.04
# "Kings Lead Hat (Live)" – 4.06
# "Passionate Reply" – 4:17
# "Herr X" – 5:49
# "All Stood Still (12" Version)" – 5:08
# "Alles Klar" – 4:53
# "Keep Talking" – 6.23
# "Sleepwalk (Live)"
# "All Stood Still (Live)"
* Track 3 recorded live at St. Albans, 16 Aug 1980.
* Track 4 recorded live at The Lyceum, 17 Aug 1980.
* Tracks 10-11 recorded live in rehearsals at The Lyceum, 17 Aug 1980.

Personnel

* Warren Cann - drums, percussion, backing vocals, lead vocals on tracks 6 and 12
* Chris Cross - bass, synthesizer, backing vocals
* Billy Currie - keyboards, violin, synthesizer
* Midge Ure - guitar, synthesizer, lead vocals (except tracks 6 and 12)
* Conny Plank - co-production
* Brian Griffin - cover photography

References

External links

* [http://www.ultravox.org.uk/images-history/Ultravox-History_Screen_v1.0.pdf "Ultravox: The Story"] : interview with Warren Cann by Jonas Wårstad