Sunburst Finish (album)

Last updated

Sunburst Finish
Be Bop Deluxe Sunburst Finish.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 1976
Studio Abbey Road Studios, London; Air Studios, London
Genre
Length39:47
Label Harvest
Producer
Be-Bop Deluxe chronology
Futurama
(1975)
Sunburst Finish
(1976)
Modern Music
(1976)
Singles from Sunburst Finish
  1. "Ships in the Night"
    Released: February 1976
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Sunburst Finish is the third studio album by English rock band Be-Bop Deluxe, released in February 1976. [2] It was recorded in Abbey Road Studios, London. [3]

Contents

The album contains what would become one of their few forays into chart success; the February 1976 single "Ships in the Night", which reached number 23 in the UK Singles Chart.

Keyboardist Andy Clark, who had served as a temporary member during Be-Bop Deluxe's 1975 Futurama tour, joined the band as a full member for this album. He remained until the band was dissolved by Bill Nelson in 1978 and would be the only member of Be-Bop Deluxe apart from Bill Nelson to become part of Bill Nelson's Red Noise .

The album marked the production debut of John Leckie, who would later produce artists such as Simple Minds, XTC, The Stone Roses and Radiohead. [4] It was re-released in early 1991 with three bonus tracks. [1]

Q Magazine described it as the band's 'finest hour' where 'Bill's lyrical excesses are held in check while the band belt out track after track of uniquely futuristic pop'. [1]

Musical style

The music of Sunburst Finish has been classified as art rock, [5] pop rock [6] and progressive pop. [7]

Track listing

All songs written by Bill Nelson.

  1. "Fair Exchange" – 4:49
  2. "Heavenly Homes" – 3:36
  3. "Ships in the Night" – 4:03
  4. "Crying to the Sky" – 3:57
  5. "Sleep That Burns" – 5:16
  6. "Beauty Secrets" – 2:47
  7. "Life in the Air Age" – 3:59
  8. "Like an Old Blues" – 3:27
  9. "Crystal Gazing" – 3:24
  10. "Blazing Apostles" – 4:29
  11. "Shine" (Reissue bonus track)
  12. "Speed of the Wind" (Reissue bonus track)
  13. "Blue as a Jewel" (Reissue bonus track)

Personnel

Be-Bop Deluxe

with:

Cover photograph

John Thornton photographed the cover [8] based on a concept by Mike Doud. [9] The model was Nicky Howarth Dwek.

Related Research Articles

<i>Three Imaginary Boys</i> 1979 studio album by The Cure

Three Imaginary Boys is the debut studio album by English rock band The Cure, released on 11 May 1979 by Fiction Records. It was later released in the United States, Canada, and Australia with a different track listing as a compilation album titled Boys Don't Cry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Nelson (musician)</span> Musical artist

William Nelson is an English singer, guitarist, songwriter, producer, painter, video artist, writer and experimental musician. He rose to prominence as the chief songwriter, vocalist and guitarist of the rock group Be-Bop Deluxe, which he formed in 1972. Nelson has been described as "one of the most underrated guitarists of the seventies art rock movement". In 2015, he was recognised with the Visionary award at the Progressive Music Awards.

<i>Wild Life</i> (Wings album) 1971 studio album by Wings

Wild Life is the debut studio album by the British–American rock band Wings and the third studio album by Paul McCartney after the breakup of the Beatles. The album was recorded in eight days, from 25 July to 2 August 1971, at EMI Studios by McCartney, his wife Linda, session drummer Denny Seiwell, whom they had worked with on the McCartneys' previous album Ram, and guitarist Denny Laine, formerly of the English rock band the Moody Blues. It was released by Apple Records on 7 December in the UK and US, to lukewarm critical and commercial reaction.

<i>Night Time</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Killing Joke

Night Time is the fifth studio album by English post-punk band Killing Joke, released in February 1985 by E.G. through Polydor Records and produced by Chris Kimsey.

<i>Discovery</i> (Mike Oldfield album) 1984 studio album by Mike Oldfield

Discovery is the ninth studio album by English multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Mike Oldfield, released on 25 June 1984 on Virgin Records. It comprises a number of pop songs, most notably the single "To France", as well as the instrumental "The Lake".

Simon Andrew Clark is an English keyboard and synthesizer player best known for working alongside guitarist Bill Nelson in art rock band Be-Bop Deluxe and their synthpop offshoot Red Noise. One of his earlier involvements in music was as member of a progressive rock band from Sheffield, Yorkshire, called Mother's Pride.

<i>The Grateful Dead</i> (album) 1967 studio album by Grateful Dead

The Grateful Dead is the debut album of the Grateful Dead. It was released by Warner Bros. Records in March 1967. According to the biographies of both bassist Phil Lesh and drummer Bill Kreutzmann, the band released the album as San Francisco's Grateful Dead.

<i>Strangers in the Night</i> (Frank Sinatra album)

Strangers in the Night is a 1966 studio album by Frank Sinatra. It marked Sinatra's return to number one on the pop album charts in the mid-1960s, and consolidated the comeback he initiated in 1965. Combining pop hits with show tunes and standards, the album bridges classic jazz-oriented big band with contemporary pop. It became Sinatra's fifth and final album to reach number one on the US Pop Albums Chart. Additionally, the single "Strangers in the Night" reached number one on the pop single charts, while "Summer Wind" has become one of Sinatra best-known songs, making numerous film and television appearances in the years since its release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Be-Bop Deluxe</span> English rock band

Be-Bop Deluxe were an English rock band who achieved critical acclaim and moderate commercial success during the mid to late 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flesh for Lulu</span> English rock band

Flesh for Lulu were an English rock band formed in Brixton, London, England, active between 1982 and 1992. They reformed from 2013 to 2015 with a new lineup. Initially part of the post-punk scene, the band's sound shifted to reflect influences from pop music, country and western, rhythm and blues and blues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sister Morphine</span> Song by Marianne Faithfull

"Sister Morphine" is a song written by Marianne Faithfull, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Faithfull released the original version of the song as the B-side to her Decca Records single "Something Better" on 21 February 1969. A different version was released two years later by the Rolling Stones for their 1971 album Sticky Fingers. Jagger produced the track.

Ian Walter Nelson – 23 April 2006) was an English new wave musician, and younger brother of Be-Bop Deluxe singer and guitarist Bill Nelson, whom he accompanied in different musical projects. He played mainly the saxophone.

Bill Nelson's Red Noise, or more simply Red Noise, was Bill Nelson's umbrella term for what effectively became a British new wave band formed by himself, his brother Ian (saxophone), Andy Clark (keyboards) and Rick Ford (bass). Dave Mattacks and Steve Peer (drums) both had brief stints in the band.

Simon Andrew David Fox is an English rock drummer, who played in different rock bands during the 1970s and the 1980s, most notably the progressive rock group Be-Bop Deluxe.

<i>Drastic Plastic</i> 1978 studio album by Be-Bop Deluxe

Drastic Plastic is the fifth and final album by English rock band Be-Bop Deluxe, released in February 1978.

<i>Axe Victim</i> 1974 studio album by Be-Bop Deluxe

Axe Victim is the debut album by English rock band Be-Bop Deluxe, released in June 1974.

<i>Futurama</i> (Be-Bop Deluxe album) 1975 studio album by Be-Bop Deluxe

Futurama is the second album by the band Be-Bop Deluxe, released in 1975 and generally classified musically as a progressive rock album.

<i>Cool Blues</i> 1980 live album by Jimmy Smith

Cool Blues is a live album by American jazz organist Jimmy Smith featuring performances recorded at Small's Paradise in New York City in 1958 but not released on the Blue Note label until 1980. The album was rereleased on CD with three bonus tracks recorded at the same performance.

<i>Sound-on-Sound</i> 1979 studio album by Bill Nelsons Red Noise

Sound-on-Sound is the sole album by English new wave band Bill Nelson's Red Noise, released in February 1979 by record label Harvest. Band leader Bill Nelson formed the group after the disbandment of Be-Bop Deluxe in 1978. The record was recorded with producer and engineer John Leckie, and marks a stylistic change for Nelson with its emphasis on synthesizers. His lyrics were inspired by science fiction and dystopian themes, which the musician tried to present in a humorous way. The album cover, featuring a bed-ridden robot, was photographed by Bishin Jumonji

<i>Modern Music</i> (Be-Bop Deluxe album) 1976 studio album by Be-Bop Deluxe

Modern Music is the fourth studio album by English rock band Be-Bop Deluxe. It was produced by band leader Bill Nelson and producer/engineer John Leckie. As AllMusic reviewer William Ruhlmann states in his review, "the album charted high in England and made the Top 100 in the U.S., but it was Be Bop's peak, not its breakthrough.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Dick, Charlie (5 March 1991). "Sunburst Finish (reissue)". Q Magazine. 55: 84.
  2. Be Bop Deluxe Discography Archived 2009-08-02 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Sunburst Finish album sleeve notes. Kevin Cann, 1990
  4. CLASSIC TRACKS: The Stone Roses 'Fools Gold', Sound on Sound, February 2005
  5. Staff (26 November 2018). "Bop Deluxe: Sunburst Finish - Album Of The Week Club Review". Classic Rock. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  6. Clayton-Lea, Tony (28 December 2018). "Be Bop Deluxe: Sunburst Finish review – Guitar-driven pop/rock with a sci-fi concept". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  7. Felt, Hunter (28 April 2005). "BE-BOP DELUXE: SUNBURST FINISH [REISSUE]". PopMatters. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  8. "Johnny Thornton". www.johnthornton.co.uk. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  9. "Sunburst Finish – Be Bop Deluxe – Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 October 2018.