Visage (Visage album)
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Visage is the eponymous debut studio album by the British new wave band Visage. It was recorded at Genetic Sound Studios in Reading, Berkshire and released on 10 November 1980 by Polydor Records.
Release
Visage was released on 10 November 1980. It reached No. 13 in the UK and was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry in March 1981.[1][2] "Fade to Grey" was released as a single and became a hit, reaching No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart and Top 10 positions in Europe, including No. 1 in Germany and Switzerland. Further singles, "Mind of a Toy" and the title track "Visage" were also UK Top 30 hits.
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Robert Christgau | B–[4] |
In his retrospective review, Dan LeRoy of AllMusic wrote "this is the music that best represents the short-lived but always underrated new romantic movement", calling it "a consistently fine creation".[3]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Visage (Billy Currie, Rusty Egan, Dave Formula, John McGeoch, Steve Strange and Midge Ure), except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Visage" | 3:53 | |
| 2. | "Blocks on Blocks" | 4:00 | |
| 3. | "The Dancer" | Egan, Ure | 3:40 |
| 4. | "Tar" | Barry Adamson, Currie, Egan, Formula, McGeoch, Strange, Ure | 3:32 |
| 5. | "Fade to Grey" | Currie, Chris Payne, Ure | 4:02 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Malpaso Man" | 4:14 |
| 7. | "Mind of a Toy" | 4:28 |
| 8. | "Moon Over Moscow" | 4:00 |
| 9. | "Visa-age" | 4:20 |
| 10. | "The Steps" | 3:14 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Fade to Grey (Dance Mix)" | 6:41 |
Personnel
- Visage
- Steve Strange – lead vocals, production
- Midge Ure – guitar, synthesizer, backing vocals, production
- John McGeoch – guitar, saxophone, backing vocals, production
- Dave Formula – synthesizer, production
- Billy Currie – electric violin, synthesizer, production
- Rusty Egan – drums, electronic percussion, backing vocals, production
- Debbie McGee - magician's assistance
- Additional personnel
- Barry Adamson – bass guitar on "Visage", "Blocks on Blocks" and "Tar", composing credits on "Tar"
- Chris Payne – synthesizer and composing credits on "Fade to Grey"
- Cedric Sharpley – drums, electronic drums programming on "Fade to Grey"
- Brigitte Arens – voice on "Fade to Grey"
- Technical
- John Hudson – recording, engineering, mixing
Chart performance
| Chart | Peak position |
Certification |
|---|---|---|
| Austria[5] | 11 | - |
| France[6] | 2 | Gold (100,000)[7] |
| Germany[8] | 1 | Gold (250,000)[9] |
| New Zealand[10] | 14 | - |
| Sweden[11] | 22 | - |
| United Kingdom[1] | 13 | Silver (60,000)[2] |
References
- ^ a b "Visage | Artist | Official Charts". Official Charts. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
- ^ a b "Certified Awards". BPI. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
- ^ a b LeRoy, Dan. "Visage – Visage | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
- ^ Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Visage". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
- ^ "Discographie Visage". austriancharts.at (in German). Retrieved 26 June 2009.
- ^ "Tous les Albums classés par Artiste". www.infodisc.fr (in French). Retrieved 12 August 2009.
- ^ "Les Certifications (Albums) du SNEP (Bilan par Artiste)". www.infodisc.fr (in French). Retrieved 25 September 2012.
- ^ "Suche nach "visage"". www.officialcharts.de (in German). Retrieved 25 September 2012.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank". www.musikindustrie.de (in German). Retrieved 31 May 2010.
- ^ "Discography Visage". charts.org.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
- ^ "Discography Visage". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 12 August 2009.