Thompson Twins - Here´s To Future Days (1985) (vinyl 2Lp) - €15,00

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Here's to Future Days is the fifth studio album by the British pop band Thompson Twins, released on 20 September 1985 by Arista Records. 

It was the third and final release for the band as a trio, which was their most successful and recognisable line-up

The renewed album gained that sudo rock edge thanks Nile Rodgers guitar playing. 

It was part of a wave of rock guitar accents finding it’s way into pop and a lot of R&B during the mid-‘80s.

Well, kind of. 

This fifth album has the trio moving in a somewhat more rocky direction than what they had attempted beforehand, and the result cannot match their best work, but is still quite a worthy listen.

The opening, anti-drug "Don't Mess With Doctor Dream" starts things off in fine style, although it is topped by the similar "Future Days", to my tastes one of the best songs in their whole catalogue. 

"Tokyo" is also a highlight, and they really do a pretty good take on the Beatles' "Revolution", but since I don't hold that song in such high esteem anyway, any cover is unlikely to offend me - and kudos to the band for having the gall to even attempt a shot at John, Paul, etc.

There are tracks here that come closer to their former, streamlined pop style, like the charming "Lay Your Hands On Me" and "King For A Day", but even they have a certain rock edge, particularly the former with its guitar break, and the concluding "Breakaway" flies nicely.

One downer is the ballad "You Killed The Clown", pretty much cut from the same cloth as "Storm On The Sea" from Into The Gap, and not terribly inspiring, while the other couple of songs are reasonable, without really shining.

However, overall, this is certainly worth the time for those interested in Thompson Twins, even though it isn't the release one should start with. 

It's also ironically titled, for this was really the end of the band's golden run. 

Side one

1.   Don’t Mess with Doctor Dream   (4:25)

2.   Lay Your Hands on Me   (4:22)

3.   Future Days   (3:00)

4.   You Killed the Clown   (4:54)

5.   Revolution   (4:06)

Side two

1.   King for a Day   (5:22)

2.   Love Is the Law   (4:45)

3.   Emperor’s Clothes (Part 1)   (4:46)

4.   Tokyo   (3:39)

5.   Breakaway   (3:34)

Side three (Re-Mixes)

1.   Shoot Out   (6:23)

2.   Alice   (4:59)

3.   Heavens Above!   (3:20)

Side four (Re-Mixes)

1.   The Kiss   (5:44)

2.   Desert Dancers   (7:05)

Some UK copies came with a "free 5-track album of re-mixes" (this disc having cat. no. FRE TT 1). 

Thompson Twins

• Tom Bailey – lead vocals, synthesizers, pianos, Fairlight CMI programming, guitars, double bass, drum programming
• Joe Leeway – E-mu Emulator, synth bass, congas, backing vocals
• Alannah Currie – acoustic drums, percussion, marimba, xylophone, backing vocals

Additional musicians

• Nile Rodgers – guitars, backing vocals
• Steve Stevens – guitars ("Revolution", "Breakaway", "Roll Over")
• Steve Elsin – tenor saxophone ("You Killed the Clown")
• East Harlem Hobo Choir – backing vocals ("Lay Your Hands on Me", "Future Days")

Technical

• Tom Bailey – producer 
• Nile Rodgers – producer 
• Alex Sadkin – producer 
• James Farber – engineer, mixing
• John "Tokes" Potoker – engineer 
• Terry Becker – engineer 
• Scott Ansell – second engineer
• Olivier De Bosson – second engineer
• Knut Bøhn – additional second engineer
• Jay Mark – additional engineer
• Lee Charteris – technical assistant
• Steve Dewey – technical assistant
• Alex Melnyk – project coordinator
• Alannah Currie – art direction
• Andie Airfix – design, artwork
• Rebecca Blake – photography

Notes

Release:  1985

Format:  2LP, Vinyl

Genre:  Synth-pop

Label:  Arista

Catalog#  207164

Vinyl:  Goed (VG)

Cover:  Goed (VG)

Prijs: €15,00