| Happy Families Too... | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 3 November 2013 [1] 7 April 2014 (Cherry Red release) [2] | |||
| Length | 72:31 | |||
| Label | Blanc Check Records (2013) Cherry Red (2014) | |||
| Blancmange chronology | ||||
| ||||
Happy Families Too... is the fifth studio album by English band Blancmange. A re-recording of the band's 1982 debut album Happy Families , the album was originally made available at Blancmange concerts in November 2013, before receiving a wider release via Cherry Red in April 2014. [1] [2]
In November 2013, Blancmange embarked on a UK tour to perform the Happy Families album in its entirety for the first time live. [1] [3] To coincide with the tour, the band re-recorded the album and made it available to purchase at venues during the tour. [4] While the album involved original band member Stephen Luscombe, he did not join the band on tour for health reasons. [1] The album's wider release in 2014 featured an additional five tracks, including four remixes and a re-recording of the 1982 B-side "Running Thin". [2]
In 2013, Arthur said in a press release for the album: "I wanted to approach the songs using today's technology. Rather than just dust off the old songs, I wanted to bring something fresh to the project and make it a contemporary reworking rather than an exact imitation." [1]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [5] |
| Louder Than War | 8.5/10 [6] |
| Q | [7] |
| Record Collector | [8] |
| The Yorkshire Times | favourable [9] |
Upon release, David Jeffries of AllMusic considered the album to be "delivered with a modern boom for the bass along with some other minor touches that hardcore fans will enjoy". He concluded: "Happy Families Too is unnecessary, admirable, or awesome depending on your viewpoint, but that third classification is certain for anyone who adored the original." [5] Paul Scott-Bates of Louder Than War wrote: "Happy Families was the sort of album that had timeless tracks that maybe needed a bit of a dusting down, and with Happy Families Too the boys have succeeded admirably." [6] In Q John Aizlewood said that although the duo had been overlooked in favour of the Pet Shop Boys and Soft Cell, their reputation had improved over time, and "their quiet insistence on boundary pushing leaves them more untouched by time than their peers". [7] Mark Elliott of Record Collector commented: "Purists will enjoy a new take on tracks that nudge them in a fresh direction, while simultaneously exorcising the memory of the sometimes tinny original production." [8]
All tracks are written by Neil Arthur and Stephen Luscombe
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Can't Explain" | 4:23 |
| 2. | "Feel Me" | 5:34 |
| 3. | "I've Seen the Word" | 3:03 |
| 4. | "Wasted" | 4:57 |
| 5. | "Living on the Ceiling" | 3:38 |
| 6. | "Waves" | 4:21 |
| 7. | "Kind" | 4:04 |
| 8. | "Sad Day" | 4:26 |
| 9. | "Cruel" | 4:32 |
| 10. | "God's Kitchen" | 3:00 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Running Thin" | 2:42 |
| 12. | "Feel Me" (Greg Wilson & Derek Kaye Remix) | 8:22 |
| 13. | "Living on the Ceiling" (Vince Clarke Remix) | 6:13 |
| 14. | "Cruel" (Komputer Remix) | 7:38 |
| 15. | "God's Kitchen" (Komputer Remix) | 5:37 |
Blancmange
Additional musicians
Production
Other
Blancmange are an English synth-pop band formed in Harrow, London, in 1979. The band were a duo for much of their career, composed of Neil Arthur (vocals) and Stephen Luscombe (keyboards). They came to prominence in the early 1980s, releasing four UK top-20 singles: "Living on the Ceiling", "Waves", "Blind Vision" and "Don't Tell Me". They released three studio albums during that decade: Happy Families (1982), Mange Tout (1984) and Believe You Me (1985).
Believe You Me is the third studio album by the English synth-pop duo Blancmange, released on 11 October 1985 by London Records. A remastered edition was released by Edsel Records in 2008 which featured the album along with four bonus tracks.
Mange Tout is the second studio album by the English synth-pop duo Blancmange, released in May 1984 by London Records. It was Blancmange's most successful studio album, peaking at number eight on the UK Albums Chart and was certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on 25 January 1985 for sales in excess of 100,000 copies. The album contained four UK top-40 singles, two of which reached the top 10. The fourth single to be released and final track on the album is a cover version of ABBA's song "The Day Before You Came".
Happy Families is the debut studio album by English synth-pop band Blancmange, released on 24 September 1982 by London Records. It peaked at No. 30 on the UK Albums Chart, aided by the success of the album's third single, "Living on the Ceiling", released the following month, which became Blancmange's breakthrough hit, reaching No. 7 in the UK Singles Chart. A re-recorded version of the album, titled Happy Families Too..., was released in 2013.
"Living on the Ceiling" is a song by English synth-pop band Blancmange. It was released as the band's third single in 1982, taken from their debut studio album Happy Families. It became the band's first UK Top 40 hit, peaking at No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart and being certified Silver by the BPI for sales in excess of 200,000 copies. The single also reached No. 5 on the Australian Singles Chart.
Suitcase (1994) is the debut solo album by Neil Arthur.
Blanc Burn is the fourth studio album by English synth-pop duo Blancmange, released on 7 March 2011 by Proper Records. It was Blancmange's first album of new material in a quarter of a century, following 1985's Believe You Me.
"Lose Your Love" is a song by English synth-pop duo Blancmange, released in October 1985 as the second single from their third studio album Believe You Me (1985). It was written by Neil Arthur and Stephen Luscombe, and produced by Stewart Levine. "Lose Your Love" reached No. 77 in the UK, which was the duo's first single to fail to reach the Top 40 since 1982's "Feel Me". In the United States, it was a dance hit, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs Chart.
Unfurnished Rooms is the ninth studio album by English band Blancmange, released in 2017. It was produced by Neil Arthur and Benge, and reached No. 40 on the UK Independent Albums Chart.
"What's Your Problem" is a song by the English synth-pop duo Blancmange, released on 27 August 1985 as the lead single from their third studio album Believe You Me (1985). It was written by Neil Arthur and Stephen Luscombe, and produced by Stewart Levine. "What's Your Problem" reached No. 40 in the UK and No. 30 in Ireland. A music video was filmed to promote the single, which received heavy action play on the European music TV channel Music Box.
"I Can See It" is a song by English synth-pop duo Blancmange, released in April 1986 as a non-album single. The song is a re-recorded version of "Why Don't They Leave Things Alone?", which appeared on the duo's third studio album Believe You Me (1985). It was written by Neil Arthur and Stephen Luscombe, and produced by Greg Walsh. "I Can See It" reached number 71 in the UK Singles Chart and remains the duo's last appearance in the chart. Shortly after the single's release, Blancmange decided to disband.
"Feel Me" is a song by the English synth-pop duo Blancmange, released on 23 July 1982 as the second single from their debut studio album Happy Families (1982). It was written by Neil Arthur and Stephen Luscombe, and produced by Mike Howlett. "Feel Me" reached No. 46 in the UK and remained on the charts for five weeks.
"Waves" is a song by English synth-pop duo Blancmange, released on 21 January 1983 as the fourth and final single from their debut studio album Happy Families (1982). Written by Neil Arthur and Stephen Luscombe, and produced by Mike Howlett, "Waves" reached No. 19 in the UK and remained in the charts for nine weeks.
"Don't Tell Me" is a song by English synth-pop duo Blancmange, released in March 1984 as the third single from their second studio album Mange Tout (1984). Written by Neil Arthur and Stephen Luscombe, and produced by Peter Collins, "Don't Tell Me" reached No. 8 in the UK and remained in the charts for ten weeks. A music video was filmed in Valencia to promote the single.
"Blind Vision" is a song by English synth-pop band Blancmange, released in April 1983 as the lead single from their second studio album Mange Tout (1984). Written by Neil Arthur and Stephen Luscombe, and produced by John Luongo, "Blind Vision" reached No. 10 in the UK and remained in the charts for eight weeks. A music video was filmed to promote the single, which received light rotation on MTV.
"That's Love, That It Is" is a song by the English synth-pop duo Blancmange, released on 18 November 1983 as the second single from their second studio album Mange Tout (1984). It was written by Neil Arthur and Stephen Luscombe, and produced by John Luongo. "That's Love, That It Is" reached No. 33 in the UK and remained in the charts for eight weeks. In January 1985, the song, paired with "Game Above My Head", reached No. 16 on the US Billboard Hot Dance/Disco chart.
Wanderlust is the tenth studio album by British synth-pop band Blancmange, released in 2018. It was produced by Neil Arthur and Benge, and reached No. 22 on the UK Independent Albums Chart. The single "Not a Priority" features Hannah Peel on backing vocals.
Semi Detached is the sixth studio album by British Synth-pop band Blancmange, released in 2015. The album was the first to be created without the involvement of original member Stephen Luscombe due to his health problems. Neil Arthur commenced writing material for the album in 2013-14, with recording taking place during 2014. The album reached No. 22 in the UK Independent Albums Chart.
Nil by Mouth is the seventh studio album by English band Blancmange, released in 2015. The album is made up of instrumental tracks, including a 2005 re-recording of "Holiday Camp", a Blancmange track from the 1980 EP Irene & Mavis.
"God's Kitchen" is a song by English synth-pop duo Blancmange, released in March 1982 as a double A-side with "I've Seen the Word". It was the lead single from the duo's debut studio album Happy Families (1982). "God's Kitchen" and "I've Seen the Word" was written by Neil Arthur and Stephen Luscombe, and produced by Mike Howlett. The single reached No. 65 in the UK and remained on the charts for two weeks.
