Flaunt the Imperfection

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Flaunt the Imperfection
China Crisis - Flaunt the Imperfection-cover.jpg
Studio album by
China Crisis
Released29 April 1985 (1985-04-29)
StudioParkgate Studio (Battle, East Sussex)
Genre
Length43:04
Label Virgin
Producer Walter Becker
China Crisis chronology
Working with Fire and Steel – Possible Pop Songs Volume Two
(1983)		Flaunt the Imperfection
(1985)		 What Price Paradise
(1986)
Singles from Flaunt the Imperfection
  1. "Black Man Ray"
    Released: 4 March 1985
  2. "King in a Catholic Style"
    Released: 20 May 1985
  3. "You Did Cut Me"
    Released: 27 August 1985
  4. "The Highest High"
    Released: 11 November 1985 [1]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [2]

Flaunt the Imperfection is the third studio album by English new wave and synth-pop band China Crisis, released on 29 April 1985 by Virgin Records.

Contents

The album was produced by Steely Dan co-founder Walter Becker, who is credited as an official member of China Crisis on the record sleeve. Becker apparently requested to meet with the band after hearing their song "Papua" from their previous studio album Working with Fire and Steel – Possible Pop Songs Volume Two (1983). He was subsequently signed on as producer to begin work on the album with the assistance of Phill Brown, sound engineer with the Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix. [3]

The album is the most successful by the band, peaking at No. 9 on the UK Albums Chart and staying for 22 weeks. The singles "Black Man Ray" and "King in a Catholic Style" both reached the Top 20 in the UK Singles Chart. [3]

Critical reception

In his review, Stewart Mason of AllMusic notes that "the group's songwriting is much improved, [with] the failed instrumental experiments and tiresome dance workouts that occasionally marred their earlier albums replaced with a newfound melodic sophistication and lyrical acuity." [4]

Spin wrote, "There are no feigned gestures, showbiz tricks, or overly glossy sound here. China Crisis records lofty and meditative music at the risk of losing its dance-club appeal — something that limits this record's chances of being played by anything but adventurous stations and on college new-wave hours." [5]

Track listing

All tracks written by Gary Daly, Gary Johnson and Eddie Lundon. [6]

  1. "The Highest High" – 4:16
  2. "Strength of Character" – 2:50
  3. "You Did Cut Me" – 4:18
  4. "Black Man Ray" – 3:39
  5. "Wall of God" – 5:32
  6. "Gift of Freedom" – 4:38
  7. "King in a Catholic Style" – 4:32
  8. "Bigger the Punch I'm Feeling" – 4:21
  9. "The World Spins, I'm Part of It" – 4:12
  10. "Blue Sea" – 4:46

Personnel

China Crisis

Additional personnel

Charts

Certifications and sales

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ) [15] Gold7,500^
United Kingdom (BPI) [16] Gold100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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References

  1. ↑ "High Crisis" (PDF). Record Mirror . 9 November 1985. p. 6. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  2. ↑ Stewart Mason. "Flaunt the Imperfection - China Crisis | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  3. 1 2 "China Crisis's Flaunt The Imperfection: 30 Years Old Today". Movingtheriver.com. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  4. ↑ "Flaunt the Imperfection - China Crisis: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  5. ↑ Steve Matteo (October 1985). "Spins". Spin . No. 6. p. 31.
  6. 1 2 "China Crisis - Flaunt The Imperfection". Discogs.com. 1985. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  7. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  8. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0550". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  9. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – China Crisis – Flaunt the Imperfection" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  10. ↑ "Charts.nz – China Crisis – Flaunt the Imperfection". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  11. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – China Crisis – Flaunt the Imperfection". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  12. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  13. ↑ "China Crisis - Awards". AllMusic . Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  14. ↑ "Top Selling Albums of 1985 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand . Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  15. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – China Crisis – Flaunt the Imperfection". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  16. ↑ "British album certifications – China Crisis – Flaunt the Imperfection". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 3 February 2022.


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