Pure (Midge Ure album)

Last updated

Pure
Midge Ure Pure album.jpeg
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 16, 1991 (1991-09-16)
Genre Pop
Label Arista Records
Producer Midge Ure
Midge Ure chronology
Answers to Nothing
(1988)
Pure
(1991)
Breathe
(1996)

Pure, released 16 September 1991, is the third solo album by former Ultravox frontman Midge Ure. It was the first release by Ure with a new record label BMG-Arista. The first single "Cold Cold Heart" reached number 17 on the UK Singles Chart in August 1991. [1] "I See Hope in the Morning Light" and "Let It Go?" were also released as singles. [2] The album has a blend of ethnic rhythms and clean album-oriented rock pop, pervaded by catchy hooks.

Contents

Background

It took Midge Ure two years to hammer together the material for Pure, both at his home studio in London and in the basement in his house on the Caribbean island of Montserrat, once he cleared away the damage wrought by the passing of Hurricane Hugo.

The album opens with "I See Hope in the Morning Light", a mixture of African rhythms and a gospel choir coupled with Uilliean pipes played by Paddy Moloney.

"With 'I See Hope', I liked the idea of the choir, something that was kind of inspirational but not about religion or God" Midge remembered 1991. "I wanted that kind of rousing tingle-up-the-spine feel that you get from inspirational songs, but inspirational about life rather than afterlife. The idea of getting through difficult periods in your life and coming out the other end, feeling slightly elated." [3]

"I See Hope in the Morning Light'", was written about the possible release of Nelson Mandela, and recorded as a celebration. Ure said: "I hit a block and didn't finish the song until way after his release. That's the way it happens sometimes." [4]

The song "Tumbling Down" was inspired by the fall of the Berlin Wall 1989.

Midge Ure filmed the promo-videos to "Cold, Cold Heart" and "I See Hope" in Los Angeles.

Midge explained 1991:

"If there is a theme running through the album, it is the highs and lows of love, but different aspects of love. I was one who always said I was really bored with love songs, banal love songs, and I thought it would be interesting to sit down and write a variety of songs about love. Not necessarily romantic slushy stuff, but about the twists and the hard parts and the nasty bits people try to brush under the carpet." [5]

"Let it Go?" question the idea of personal responsibility in the face of the worlds mountain of problems. Midge explained 1991:

"I suppose it is hitting at apathy. There is a lot of flag-flying about how good we are, all this talk about jumping in and helping at every turn. Everyone is saying we should do this, we should all get together, but even when you are in the middle of doing all that stuff, you can have a nagging doubt in your mind. You are thinking should I be doing this? Is it right? Is it my responsibility? And then there just the sheer apathy of thinking 'Oh well', somebody else will sort it out." [6]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Midge Ure except where noted

No.TitleLength
1."I See Hope In The Morning Light" (Ure, Danny Mitchell)5:42
2."Cold, Cold Heart"4:30
3."Pure Love"3:43
4."Sweet 'n' Sensitive Thing"3:56
5."Let It Go?"6:22
6."Rising" (Ure, Mitchell, Katherine Stephenson)5:25
7."Light In Your Eyes"3:31
8."Little One" (Ure, Danny Mitchell)5:00
9."Hands Around My Heart"4:30
10."Waiting Days" (Ure, Mitchell, Katherine Stephenson)4:32
11."Tumbling Down"2:49

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ultravox</span> British new wave band

Ultravox were a British new wave band, formed in London in April 1974 as Tiger Lily. Between 1980 and 1986, they scored seven Top Ten albums and seventeen Top 40 singles in the UK, the most successful of which was their 1981 hit "Vienna".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midge Ure</span> Scottish musician (born 1953)

James "Midge" Ure is a Scottish musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. His stage name, Midge, is a phonetic reversal of Jim, a hypocorism of his given name. Ure enjoyed particular success in the 1970s and 1980s in bands including Slik, Thin Lizzy, Rich Kids and Visage, and as the second frontman of Ultravox. In 1984, he co-wrote and produced the charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?", which has sold 3.7 million copies in the UK. The song is the second-highest-selling single in UK chart history. Ure co-organised Band Aid, Live Aid and Live 8 with Bob Geldof. He acts as a trustee for the charity and also serves as an ambassador for Save the Children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vienna (Ultravox song)</span> 1981 single by Ultravox

"Vienna" is a song by British new wave band Ultravox, released on 9 January 1981 by Chrysalis Records as the third single and the title track from their fourth studio album of the same name. Featuring Midge Ure on lead vocals, the new wave ballad is regarded as a staple of the synth-pop genre that was popularised in the early 1980s and remains both the band's signature song and their most commercially successful release.

<i>Systems of Romance</i> 1978 studio album by Ultravox

Systems of Romance, released on 8 September 1978, is the third album by British new wave band Ultravox. It was the final recording for the group with original lead singer, lyricist and co-composer John Foxx, and their first album without guitarist Stevie Shears, who had left the band. Shears was replaced by Robin Simon, making his first and only appearance on an Ultravox album. Though not a commercial success, Systems of Romance had a significant influence on the electropop music that came after it.

<i>The Anvil</i> (album) 1982 studio album by Visage

The Anvil is the second studio album by the British synth-pop band Visage, released in March 1982 by Polydor Records. The album reached No. 6 in the UK and was certified "Silver" by the British Phonographic Industry in April 1982.

<i>Rage in Eden</i> 1981 studio album by Ultravox

Rage in Eden is the fifth studio album by British new wave band Ultravox, released on 11 September 1981 through Chrysalis Records. The album reached #4 in the UK album charts and was certified Gold by the BPI for sales in excess of 100,000 copies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Brzezicki</span> English musician

Mark Michael Brzezicki is an English musician, best known as the drummer for the Scottish rock band Big Country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If I Was</span> 1985 single by Midge Ure

"If I Was" is a song by Scottish musician Midge Ure. It was co-written by Ure and Danny Mitchell and released as the first single from Ure's debut solo studio album, The Gift (1985). The song reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart for one week in September 1985. The track also reached number one in Ireland and peaked within the top 20 in eight other countries.

<i>In the Running</i> Album by Howard Jones

In the Running is the fifth album by British pop musician Howard Jones, released in 1992. It was his last original studio album recorded on the Warner/Elektra label. It contains the US Top 40 hit "Lift Me Up". An acoustic tour took place in 1992 with Howard on grand piano, accompanied by Carol Steele on percussion.

<i>U-Vox</i> 1986 studio album by Ultravox

U-Vox is the eighth studio album by British new wave band Ultravox, released on 13 October 1986 by Chrysalis Records. It was the band's fifth album during the Midge Ure era, and the final one featuring the band's 1979 lineup, with the exception of Warren Cann, for nearly 26 years. The Ure-era lineup would eventually reform in 2008. It was also the last Ultravox album to reach the top 10 of the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number nine.

<i>The Gift</i> (Midge Ure album) 1985 studio album by Midge Ure

The Gift is the debut solo studio album by Scottish musician Midge Ure, released on 7 October 1985 by Chrysalis Records. It was released while his band Ultravox were taking a break; the band would go on to release U-Vox (1986) before breaking up. The album reached No. 2 in the UK Albums Chart partly due to the large attention drawn to it by the single "If I Was" which reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart in September 1985. "That Certain Smile" was released as the second single in November 1985, and "Wastelands" was released as the third single in January 1986.

<i>Answers to Nothing</i> 1988 studio album by Midge Ure

Answers to Nothing is the second solo studio album by Scottish musician Midge Ure, released in August 1988 by Chrysalis Records. It was the first release by Ure following the demise of Ultravox.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No Regrets (Tom Rush song)</span> 1968 single by Tom Rush

"No Regrets" is a song by folk and blues singer/songwriter Tom Rush. It is the final song on his 1968 album The Circle Game and was released as a single in the UK in January 1968 and in the US in April. It peaked at number 57 on the UK BMRB Breakers, an official extension of the UK Singles Chart.

<i>The Best of Ultravox</i> 2003 greatest hits album by Ultravox

The Best of Ultravox is the seventh compilation by Ultravox, released on EMI Gold records, in 2003, being one of the more recent compilation albums of the band. The songs of the disc are from the success era of the band, in the 1980s, while Midge Ure was the singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Man of the World (song)</span> 1969 single by Fleetwood Mac

"Man of the World" is a song recorded by Fleetwood Mac in 1969, and composed by vocalist and lead guitarist Peter Green. After the group signed to Immediate Records that year, the label collapsed shortly after the single's release. As such, "Man of the World" is the only Fleetwood Mac single under the Immediate Records label.

"Breathe" is a song by Scottish singer Midge Ure released on 22 March 1996 as the first single from his album Breathe.

Jules Shear is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. His discography consists of 12 studio albums, 2 compilations, 2 EPs, and 8 singles. In addition to his work with Funky Kings, Jules and the Polar Bears, Reckless Sleepers, and Shear Shazar, his compositions have been recorded by many other artists.

<i>If I Was: The Very Best of Midge Ure & Ultravox</i> 1993 greatest hits album by Midge Ure and Ultravox

If I Was: The Very Best of Midge Ure & Ultravox is a 1993 compilation album by Scottish musician Midge Ure, featuring songs from his solo career and as part of the new wave and synthpop band Ultravox, along with Ure's collaborations with Mick Karn, Phil Lynott, Visage, and charity supergroup Band Aid.

<i>Breathe</i> (Midge Ure album) 1996 studio album by Midge Ure

Breathe, a 1996 album by Midge Ure, was the fourth solo release for the former Ultravox frontman. The album, produced by Richard Feldman, was released first in Continental Europe, followed by the U.K. and U.S.

<i>Move Me</i> (Midge Ure album) 2000 studio album by Midge Ure

Move Me, released 25 September 2000, is the fifth solo album by former Ultravox frontman Midge Ure. Ure produced, arranged and recorded it almost entirely at home. It was released by BMG Records in continental Europe and was not released in the UK until 14 May 2001 by Curb Records. It was also released in the U.S. by Koch Records.

References

  1. "Charts".
  2. "discogs".
  3. Interview from the Biography of Midge Ure: Pure CD, Arista BMG, Advance Special Edition Promo Boxset, released 1991.
  4. sleeve notes.
  5. Interview from the Biography of Midge Ure: Pure CD, Arista BMG, Advance Special Edition Promo Boxset, released 1991.
  6. Interview from the Biography of Midge Ure: Pure CD, Arista BMG, Advance Special Edition Promo Boxset, released 1991.