Visions in Blue

Last updated

"Visions in Blue"
Ultravox Visions in Blue single cover.jpg
Single by Ultravox
from the album Quartet
B-side
Released11 March 1983
Recorded1982
Studio AIR (Salem, Montserrat)
Length4:13 (single edit)
4:38 (album version)
Label Chrysalis
Songwriter(s) Warren Cann, Chris Cross, Billy Currie, Midge Ure
Producer(s) George Martin
Ultravox singles chronology
"Hymn"
(1982)
"Visions in Blue"
(1983)
"We Came to Dance"
(1983)

"Visions in Blue" is Ultravox's third single from the Quartet album, recorded in AIR Studios in Montserrat and released on Chrysalis Records on 11 March 1983. The single peaked at #15 in the UK charts on 26 March. [1] [2] [3] A video was produced, but was banned by the BBC and MTV due to brief nudity; an edited version was later provided for broadcast on Top of the Pops . [3]

Contents

The track also appears in live form on the CD version of Ultravox's 1983 in-concert album, Monument . The 12" version of "Visions in Blue" also contains an edited version of the same Monument performance of "Reap the Wild Wind". [3]

Critical reception

David Hepworth of Smash Hits reviewed the song negatively, saying it "sounded awfully dirge-like." [4]

Track listing

7" version

  1. "Visions in Blue" [single edit] – 4:13
  2. "Break Your Back" – 3:31

12" version

  1. "Visions in Blue" - 4:38
  2. "Reap the Wild Wind (live 6 Dec 82 at Hammersmith Odeon) " – 3:53
  3. "Break Your Back" – 3:31

Covers

The track has been covered by UK ebm/synthpop act Stok:holm and appears on their 2013 album City Lights.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rage Hard</span> 1986 single by Frankie Goes to Hollywood

"Rage Hard" is the fifth single by English pop band Frankie Goes to Hollywood. It was released on 25 August 1986 as the first single from their second album Liverpool. The song reached number 4 in the UK Singles Chart and number 1 in Germany and it was also a massive success in other countries.

<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">Kim Wilde</span> English pop singer (born 1960)

Kim Wilde is an English pop singer. She first gained success in 1981 with her debut single "Kids in America", which peaked at No. 2 in the UK. In 1983, she received the Brit Award for Best British Female solo artist. In 1986, she had a UK No. 2 hit with a reworked version of the Supremes' song "You Keep Me Hangin' On", which also topped the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1987. Between 1981 and 1996, she had 25 singles that charted within the Top 50 of the UK Singles Chart. Her other hits include "Chequered Love" (1981), "You Came" (1988), and "Never Trust a Stranger" (1988). In 2003, she collaborated with Nena on the song "Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime", which topped the Dutch and Austrian charts.

<i>Metamatic</i> 1980 studio album by John Foxx

Metamatic is the debut solo album by John Foxx, released in 1980. It was his first solo project following his split with Ultravox the previous year. A departure from the mix of synthesizers and conventional rock instrumentation on that band's work, Metamatic was purely electronic in sound. The name 'Metamatic' comes from a painting machine by kinetic artist Jean Tinguely, first exhibited at the Paris Biennial in 1959. The album peaked at #18 on the UK Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Is There Something I Should Know?</span> 1983 single by Duran Duran

"Is There Something I Should Know?" is the eighth single by English new wave band Duran Duran, released on 14 March 1983.

<i>Porcupine</i> (album) 1983 studio album by Echo & the Bunnymen

Porcupine is the third studio album by the English post-punk band Echo & the Bunnymen. First released on 4 February 1983, it became the band's highest-charting release when it reached number two on the UK Albums Chart despite initially receiving poor reviews. It also reached number 137 on the American Billboard 200, number 85 on the Canadian RPM 100 Albums and number 24 on the Swedish chart. In 1984, the album was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry. The album includes the singles "The Back of Love" and "The Cutter."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Backfired</span> 1981 single by Debbie Harry

"Backfired" is the debut solo single from American singer and Blondie vocalist Debbie Harry. Released in 1981, it was taken from her debut solo studio album, KooKoo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Break My Stride</span> 1983 single by Matthew Wilder

"Break My Stride" is a song performed by American recording artist Matthew Wilder. It was released in August 1983 as the lead single from his debut album, I Don't Speak the Language, and became a major worldwide hit single for him in late 1983 and spring 1984, reaching number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Cash Box Top 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Let Him Steal Your Heart Away</span> 1983 single by Phil Collins

"Don't Let Him Steal Your Heart Away" is a song by Phil Collins from his second solo album Hello, I Must Be Going!. The song was the third single released from the album in the UK and charted at No. 45. It is notable for its 3D sleeve. The song was written around 1978-1979 during sessions for Face Value.

<i>Quartet</i> (Ultravox album) 1982 studio album by Ultravox

Quartet is the sixth studio album by the British new wave band Ultravox. The album peaked at no.6 on the UK Albums Chart and was certified Gold by the BPI in December 1982 for 100,000 copies sold. It also peaked at #13 in Germany, and at #61 in the United States.

<i>Lament</i> (Ultravox album) 1984 studio album by Ultravox

Lament is the seventh studio album by British new wave band Ultravox, released on 6 April 1984 by Chrysalis Records. It was the last album featuring original drummer Warren Cann until the band's reunion album Brilliant in 2012. The album peaked at number eight on the UK Albums Chart and was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on 8 June 1984 for shipments of 100,000 copies. It also reached number 25 in Germany and number 115 in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Water on Glass</span> 1981 single by Kim Wilde

"Water on Glass" is the third single by British singer Kim Wilde from her self-titled album.

<i>Monument</i> (Ultravox album) 1983 live album by Ultravox

Monument, released in 1983, is a live album by the British band Ultravox. It is the soundtrack to the live video of the same name, recorded at the London Hammersmith Odeon during the band's 1982 "Monument" tour. The album peaked at no.9 on the UK album chart and was certified Gold by the BPI in January 1984 for 100,000 copies sold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reap the Wild Wind (song)</span> 1982 single by Ultravox

"Reap the Wild Wind" is Ultravox's first single from their sixth studio album Quartet, recorded at the AIR Studios in London and Montserrat and released on Chrysalis Records on 17 September 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We Came to Dance</span> 1983 single by Ultravox

"We Came to Dance" is the fourth and final single from Ultravox's sixth studio album Quartet, recorded at AIR Studios and released on Chrysalis Records on 27 May 1983. The single reached #18 on the UK charts on 18 June. This was the last of seven consecutive top-20 singles for the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dancing with Tears in My Eyes</span> 1984 single by Ultravox

"Dancing with Tears in My Eyes" is the second single from Lament, Ultravox's seventh studio album, released on 11 May 1984.

<i>Rare, Vol. 1</i> 1993 compilation album by Ultravox

Rare, Vol. 1 is the first of two B-side compilation albums by Ultravox. This release chronicles the B-sides of the singles from 1980 to 1983, spanning the Vienna, Rage in Eden and Quartet albums. Rare includes all B-side tracks throughout this period, with the exception of "I Never Wanted To Begin " which can be found at the end of the remastered Rage In Eden CD.

<i>Bite</i> (album) 1983 studio album by Altered Images

Bite is the third studio album by Scottish new wave band Altered Images, released on 17 June 1983 by Epic Records in the UK, and Portrait Records in the US. Produced by Mike Chapman and Tony Visconti, it features the UK top ten single "Don't Talk to Me About Love" as well as other singles: "Bring Me Closer", "Love to Stay" and "Change of Heart". It would be the band's last album for almost 40 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonas Blue</span> English DJ and record producer (born 1989)

Guy James Robin, known professionally as Jonas Blue, is an English DJ, songwriter, and record producer. He is well-known for his singles "Perfect Strangers", "Fast Car", "Mama", "By Your Side" and more.

References

  1. Betts, Graham (2006). Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2006, HarperCollins. ISBN   0-00-720077-3
  2. "The Official Charts Company - Ultravox - Visions in Blue". Official Charts . Retrieved 18 March 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 "Ultravox discography, Vladimir Kruglov". Archived from the original on 15 November 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
  4. Hepworth, David (17–30 March 1983). "Singles: Ultravox – "Visions in Blue" review" (PDF). Smash Hits . Vol. 5, no. 6. Peterborough: EMAP National Publications, Ltd. p. 29. ISSN   0260-3004. Archived from the original on 6 August 2018. Retrieved 15 November 2022 via World Radio History.