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On the Record (The Artists and their music) 2006 Archive: (December) (November) (October) (September) (August) (July) (June) (March)
Subject: China Crisis
Written By: whistledog on 08/09/06 at 11:06 am
China Crisis were a British pop group who came to fame in the 80s
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000026GLV.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
-- BIOGRAPHY --
Gary Daly - Vocals, keyboards
Eddie Lundon - Guitar, vocals
Garry "Gazza" Johnson - Bass guitar
Kevin Wilkinson - Drums and percussion
Brian McNeill - Keyboards
Dave Reilly - Percussion
Founded in Liverpool, England by Gary Daly and Eddie Lundon. The two started working together in 1979 after leaving school.
China Crisis debuted in 1981 with the single "African and White", then followed another single "Scream down at me" in 1982. Both these releases were on a small Liverpool independent label, Inevitable Records. The band was then signed by Virgin Records who re-released "African and White", which then became a minor UK hit, reaching number 45 in the singles chart. The debut album "Difficult shapes and passive rhythms, Some people think it's fun to entertain" surfaced in late 1982 and hit the number 21 spot in November. Production credits were shared by Pete Walsh, Steve Levine, Gil Norton and Jeremy Lewis. At this stage the band consisted of Gary Daly (vocals, synths and bass guitar), Eddie Lundon (guitar and vocals) and Dave Reilly (percussion). The album spawned two more singles "No more blue horizons" and "Christian", the latter peaking at number 12 in the UK singles chart.
In 1983 the singles "Tragedy and mystery" (UK no. 46) and "Working with fire and steel" (UK no. 48) preceeded the second album, "Working with fire and steel, Possible pop songs volume two", this time with Mike Howlett behind the wheel. The album was released in November. At this stage Kevin Wilkinson (drums) and Gary "Gazza" Johnson (bass) had joined the band. The third single from the album, "Wishful Thinking" became China Crisis' biggest hit, reaching number 9 in the UK and charting all over Europe. It was voted most popular song of the week on the swedish radio show "Poporama" in the spring of 1984. Later in the spring "Hanna Hanna" reached no. 44 in the UK charts.
With a growing reputation after the success of "Working with fire and steel", China Crisis attracted the interest of Steely Dan founding member, Walter Becker who came to produce their third album "Flaunt the imperfection", released in april 1985. The album was to be the bands greatest success to this date, reaching no. 9 in the UK charts and sending them on an extensive tour. Featured singles are: "Black Man Ray" (UK no. 14), possibly their best song. "King in a Catholic Style" (UKno. 19) with a very entertaining video clip to back it. "You Did Cut Me" (UK no. 54) and "The Highest High". At the time of the release of "You Did Cut Me" (September 1985) a video, "Showbiz Absurd", was released, including the promo clips for "Christian", "Working with Fire and Steel", "Wishful Thinking", "Hanna Hanna", "Black Man Ray" and "King in a Catholic Style".
With Brian McNeill (keyboards) having joined the band, they recorded "What Price Paradise" with Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley producing. The album was released in November 1986 and reached no. 63 in the UK. The album is in my opinion the bands best to this date, sadly underated by critics and the public. "Arizona Sky" (UK no. 47, november 1986) and "Best Kept Secret" (UK no. 36, early 1987) was the only singles from this album.
After a lengthy absence from the limelight, China Crisis resurfaced in May 1989 with the single "Saint Saviour Square". The single's lack of success didn't help rocket the following album "Diary of a Hollow Horse" to any commercial heights. With Walter Becker back as main producer (8 of 11 songs) and recorded on Hawaii, in Los Angeles, New York and London it has the scent of summer and Steely Dan! In retrospect a very good album. Mike Thorne produced the remaining tracks including both singles off the album "Saint Saviour Square" and "Red letter day".
In August 1990 the first China Crisis compilation album was released, "Collection, The very best of China Crisis". Featuring almost exclusively singles, a lot of essential material is left out from this offering. Though, this compilation was released also as a limited edition double CD featuring some of their best B-sides on the second disc. This double compilation is a truly wonderful sum up of their career from 1981 to 1989. A remix of "African and White" preceeded the album as a single. This remix by Steve Proctor gave the song a completely new flavour, excellent!
"Diary - a collection" from 1992 features a few more album tracks and B-sides and is a more interesting compilation than the first one. This one also has some nice liner notes. After Virgin wanting only Daly and Lundon to stay on the paylist, China Crisis left Virgin since the band was so important to the members after playing together for eight years. The band actually split at this point in time because of financial reasons, being a pop band without a contract didn't pay any bills for the five family men.
In September 1994 China Crisis returned, now with Terry Adams and Mark Phythian being new additions. Kevin, Gazza and Brian no longer with the band. Kevin and Gazza contribute to one song each though and one song, "Hard to be Around", is dedicated to Kevin. The album, "Warped by Success" is far from their best moments but still a welcome return. A few songs show that they still have the ability to write wonderful pop songs, the only (?) single "Everyday the Same", "Without the Love" and "Hard to be Around" in particular.
Following another change of record company now being with former OMD member Paul Humphrey's label Telegraph Records, China Crisis set off to record a live album, "Acoustically yours". Released in the autumn of 1995 to critical aclaim, it showed a China Crisis as brilliant as ever, being confident about the power in the songs. Showing that though the sound on some of their earlier offerings are quite dated, their songs are not! Most of their "greatest" hits are here and a some more recent songs all in splendidly revamped versions. The highlights are "Wishful Thinking", "It's Everything", "Black Man Ray" and "Diary of a Hollow Horse". The album was recorded at the Neptune theatre in Liverpool and a tour followed.
"Black Man Ray" was the single of the album, released in 1996. On the single there was a version from the Neptune theatre show of "Here come a Raincloud" (from "Working...") that features Pete Coyle from The Lotus Eaters on vocals.
-- ALBUMS --
Year 1982 1983 1985 1986 1989 1990 1992 1994 1995
Album Title Difficult Shapes and Passive Rhythms Working With Fire and Steel Flaunt the Imperfection What Price Paradise Diary of A Hollow Horse China Crisis Collection Diary: A Collection Warped By Success Acoustically Yours
United Kingdom #21 #20 #9 #63 #58 #32 -- -- --
Canada -- #36 #21 #86 -- -- -- -- --
United States -- -- #171#114---- -- -- --
-- HIT SINGLES --
China Crisis never had a hit single in America
Year 1982 1983 1983 1983 1984 1984 1985 1985 1985 1986 1987 1989 1989
Song Title African and White Christian Tragedy and Mystery Working With Fire and Steel Wishful Thinking Hanna Hanna Black Man Ray King in A Catholic Style You Did Cut Me Arizona Sky Best Kept Secret Saint Saviour Square Red Letter Day
United Kingdom #45 #12 #46 #48 #9 #44 #14 #19 #54 #47 #36 #81 #84
Canada -- -- --------#54---- -- -- -- --
-- MUSIC VIDEOS --
Arizona Sky | Black Man Ray | Christian | Hanna Hanna | King in A Catholic Style | Tragedy and Mystery | Wishful Thinking | Working With Fire and Steel
Subject: Re: China Crisis
Written By: Dominic L. on 08/09/06 at 12:15 pm
Looks cheezy. I wonder if they're any good?
Subject: Re: China Crisis
Written By: Paul on 08/13/06 at 4:56 pm
Looks cheezy. I wonder if they're any good?
A lot of their stuff is very good (not sure about the 'cheesy' factor!), but I suggest you go no further than their '85 efforts...
Subject: Re: China Crisis
Written By: Satish on 08/15/06 at 5:44 pm
I love "Black Man Ray"! It's one of my favourite songs! It's just so beautiful and delicate.
Copyright 1995-2007, by Charles R. Grosvenor Jr.