That hit record was the title track and third single release from the Vienna album, and interestingly, was not a track that Chrysalis were originally keen on releasing. Their newfound compass directed them on a whole new course, one that saw them deliver a hit record in January 1981, charting at No.2 in the UK charts, only marginally losing out on the top slot to Joe Dolce’s novelty record, ‘Shaddap You Face’, and going on to sell over half a million copies in the UK alone, while making the Top 10 in seven countries around the world. Midge fit the requirements perfectly, with vocal talents, keyboard skills and not least, some great chops on his guitar, coupled (at the time) with a Vox AC30. It would seem that luck and destiny had changed, however, when Rusty Egan (of the Rich Kids) introduced Midge Ure to Billy Currie – they had of course been working on songs that were to become ‘Visage.’ It’s probably fair to say the rest is history. Today, the music remains amongst the most timeless out there, yet back in 1979, the band having just completed their US tour, it was probably hard to determine which wet and cobbled street Ultravox might set foot upon, once they returned home, and not least, in which direction they might travel, if at all.ĭropped by Island records, and minus a lead vocalist, you’d be forgiven for deeming the band spent, with absolutely no evidence of any kind of pending future. The album features 4 UK charting singles (including 3 which were Top 40) ‘All Stood Still’, ‘Passing Strangers’ and ‘Sleepwalk’ (which was recently reissued as part of Record Store Day 2020), as well as the title track ‘Vienna’.Ĥ0 years on, TEC takes the opportunity to look back and examine the seminal album that not only launched Ultravox into the mainstream, but introduced what we have come to know as the ‘classic’ line-up. Produced by the legendary German producer Conny Plank (Neu!, Kraftwerk), whom had worked with the band previously, (and would work with them again on 1981’s Rage in Eden), it reached No.3 in the UK album chart and the top ten in Australia, New Zealand and several European countries. Ultravox’s Vienna album was originally released on Chrysalis Records on the 11th July 1980.
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