I was wondering how well known (if at all) this band was in America in the 80's. They were one of my favorites by far. Infact Midge Ure is still one of my all time favorite vocalists and I have all his solo stuff.




'This means nothing to me .....Oh Vienna.What a classic sigh.

Don't know about the US but the gorgeous Midge and his UV boys were huge here in OZ.  
Vienna is one of my all time favourite film clips, and I loved Midge's "If I Was".

I don't have any of their stuff on CD, only all my old cassettes - I have never spotted any CD's of theirs when on a hunt.  But I always keep my eyes out.

I was aware of Ultravox in the 80's (Vienna) but really didn't get turned on to them until 6 years ago.  I love "Reap The Wild Wind" and "Dancing With Tears In My Eyes."

I'm a fan of Ultravox, though the only song I can distinctly remember hearing played on the air here in the U.S. is "Reap the Wild Wind".  When I djed an 80s show at my college for a few years I made sure to include a number of other UV songs in my attempts to expose my listening public to less heard music.  I'd say my favorite songs by them are "Dancing With Tears in my Eyes" and "One Small Day".

Kryllith

I was a huge fan of Ultravox in the 80's but admit that now I only listen to them on occasion.  I think my favorite song by them is "Lament" (although most of their material was really good!).   :)

I grew up in So. Florida and only listened to mindless pop fluff (and to a certain degree still do) on the radio.  Didn't hear of Ultravox till I ordered the 'Living in Oblivion' set back in like '95.  I've heard at least five or six Ultravox songs by now and they're pretty good.

So, I'd say they were about as popular as parkas in So. Florida based on my experiences :-).

I have never heard a station here in Orange County or LA County play Ultravox. The defunct Y-107 used to play "Dancing With Tears In My Eyes," but, back in the day (1983-1986) I used to hear a lot of selections from Rage In Eden being played in Latin American stations like "The Voice" and "I Remember (Death In The Afternoon)" as well as all the above mentioned. I don't know how popular this band was here, but I'm willing to guess they were FAR more popular everywhere else BUT here (seeing as to how everyone here is nostalgic about bands like Loverboy or Huey Lewis And The News and all the Fluff Rock junk some people confuse with Metal...  :-/ )

Tarzan Boy

I really like Ultravox, i love Midge Ure voice! My favorite song is "Dancing with tears in my eyes".

I'm the guy with the Ultravox quote on his signiture!

I fell in love with Ultravox the first time I heard "Reap the Wild Wind" in 1982.  I still LOVE that song.  I have all their stuff from their golden New Romantic period, 1980-1985 (except a few rare mixes and live tracks).  

There is a prog rock camp of Ultravox fans who ONLY like the records with John Foxx (1976--1980).  Their early period is interesting music.  It has some great production from Brian Eno and Conny Plank.  However, it doesn't have the sweeping synthesizers and the melodrama I love so well.  Most of their albums have been reissued with bonus tracks which make them a worthwhile investment.  I don't think the "Vienna" album has bonus tracks, but "Rage In Eden," "Quartet," and "Lament" do.  

For newbies, "The Collection" (1985) is a good overview.  It was released with the single "Love's Great Adventure," which is so over the top it's almost self-parody!

The remix CD "Extended Ultravox" is excellent.  I like the remix of "Dancing with Tears in My Eyes" even better than the original.  There's a 12" of "Dancing..." which has a "Special Remix" of "One Small Day" on it.  This one is different from the one on "Extended Ultravox," and REALLY accentuates that great bass line.  I highly recommend it if you can find it!
The song "Vienna" owes a lot to Kraftwerk in its use of electronic percussion and violin.

If I had to pick a favorite Ultravox song, it would be "The Thin Wall" (from "Rage in Eden")

Speaking, though, of John Foxx, he has many solo albums under his belt.  He's no longer in the music biz, he's doing something with computers now.  Anyway, I was listening to his song "Endlessly" the other day, and it made me want to explore his music more after all these years!  8)

Ultravox were a brilliant band. I don't think I know anything about the John Foxx period, but songs like Vienna, Dancing with tears in my eyes, hymn and Love's great adventure were amazing.

Ure's solo stuff was okay but couldn't really get into it. I loved the song he wrote for Band Aid 'Do they know it's Christmas?'.

I loved Ultravox.  I don't ever remember hearing them on the radio in the Philadelphia area.  They were one of the bands I started to like by seeing a video on MTV (remember when they actually played videos).  Roxy Music and Nik Krenshaw fit into that category too.

I think the Plimsouls (a Million Miles Away) and Ultravox (Reap the Wild Wind) have a tad bit of a little similar sound.

I  never really heard of Ultravox until this past year. I have to say they are now one of my favorites. I love that song,"Dancing With Tears In My Eyes". :)