A Flock of Seagulls (album)
A Flock of Seagulls | ||||
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Studio album by A Flock of Seagulls | ||||
Released | 30 April 1982 | |||
Recorded | Battery Studios, London, England Summer-Late Autumn, 1981 | |||
Genre | New wave, synthpop, post-punk, space rock | |||
Length | 39:45 | |||
Label |
Jive Cherry Red Records (2011 remaster) | |||
Producer | Mike Howlett, Bill Nelson | |||
A Flock of Seagulls chronology | ||||
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Singles from A Flock of Seagulls | ||||
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A Flock of Seagulls is the eponymous debut album by the new wave band A Flock of Seagulls. It was released in 1982 on Jive (see 1982 in music), and featured the international hit single "I Ran (So Far Away)", which reached the Top 10 in the US and New Zealand, as well as No. 1 in Australia. The song "Space Age Love Song" also managed to score radio play. On the success of the singles, the album reached No. 10 in the US.
Reception
Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Robert Christgau | A−[2] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [3] |
The album received good reviews upon its release and significant radio airplay.[4] [3] In his review for AllMusic, Tom Demalon gave the album 4.5 stars, calling it "great fun and a wonderful collection of new wave ear candy."
Prominent critic Robert Christgau was also happy with it, giving it an A- and saying that it is "so transparently, guilelessly expedient that it actually provides the hook-chocked fun most current pop bands only advertise." Other reviews pointed out the bands "pioneering sounds, compelling hooks and undeniably addictive gimmicks."[3]
The band, and particularly this album, were influential during the 1980s, for their image[5] and also for their production techniques, which at one point garnered the respect of record producer Phil Spector, who in the 1980s called the album "phenomenal."[6]
The album track, "D.N.A." won a Grammy Award in 1983 for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.
Track listing
All tracks written by Mike Score, Ali Score, Frank Maudsley and Paul Reynolds, except where noted.
Original UK LP | ||
---|---|---|
No. | Title | Length |
1. | "Modern Love Is Automatic" | 3:50 |
2. | "Messages" | 2:52 |
3. | "I Ran (So Far Away)" | 5:07 |
4. | "Space Age Love Song" | 3:48 |
5. | "You Can Run" | 4:26 |
6. | "Telecommunication" | 2:32 |
7. | "Standing in the Doorway" | 4:40 |
8. | "Don't Ask Me" | 2:46 |
9. | "D.N.A." | 2:31 |
10. | "Tokyo" | 2:54 |
11. | "Man Made" | 5:40 |
2011 remaster CD bonus tracks | ||
---|---|---|
No. | Title | Length |
12. | "Pick Me Up" | 3:07 |
13. | "Windows" | 3:30 |
14. | "Tanglimara" | 4:30 |
15. | "Intro" | 3:24 |
US track listing | ||
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No. | Title | Length |
1. | "I Ran (So Far Away)" | 5:07 |
2. | "Space Age Love Song" | 3:45 |
3. | "You Can Run" (Don Covay, Willie Dennis, A Flock of Seagulls) | 4:28 |
4. | "Don't Ask Me" | 2:46 |
5. | "Messages" | 2:51 |
6. | "Telecommunication" | 2:31 |
7. | "Modern Love Is Automatic" | 3:49 |
8. | "Standing in the Doorway" | 4:41 |
9. | "D.N.A." | 2:30 |
10. | "Man Made" | 5:38 |
Personnel
- A Flock of Seagulls
- Mike Score – lead vocals, keyboards, additional rhythm guitar
- Paul Reynolds – lead & rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Frank Maudsley – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Ali Score – drums, percussion
- Production
- Mike Howlett - producer (all tracks except "Telecommunication", "Tanglimara" and "Intro")
- Bill Nelson - producer ("Telecommunication")
- Steve Lovell and A Flock of Seagulls - producer ("Tanglimara" and "Intro")
- Mark Dearnley - engineer
- Mike Shipley - engineer
- "BillBo" - mastering
Chart performance
Chart (1982) | Peak position |
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Canada Albums Chart[7] | 5 |
German Albums Chart[8] | 26 |
Swedish Albums Chart[9] | 32 |
UK Albums Chart[10] | 32 |
US Billboard 200[11] | 10 |
References
- ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/r7468
- ↑
- 1 2 3 Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 304. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ↑ US college radio, the New British Invasion and media alterity N Rubin – Radio Journal: International Studies in Broadcast
- ↑ "Never mind the hair bands, here's a Flock of Seagulls!". Retrieved 14 April 2011.
- ↑ Wall of pain: the biography of Phil Spector. D Thompson – 2003 – Sanctuary Pub Ltd
- ↑ "Canadian Collections". Archived from the original on 14 April 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
- ↑ "German charts". Archived from the original on 3 March 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
- ↑ "A Flock of Seagulls Swedish Charts". Swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
- ↑ "A Flock of Seagulls Chart Stats (UK)". Chartstats.com. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
- ↑ "A Flock of Seagulls Billboard charts". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 14 April 2011.