| Artist |
China Crisis |
| Album Title: |
Working With Fire And Steel (Possible Pop Songs Volume Two) |
| Album Cover: |
 |
| Primary Genre |
Alternative & Punk: Indie |
| Format |
Vinyl |
| Released |
00/00/1983 |
| Label |
Virgin Records Ltd. |
| Catalog No |
V2286 |
| Bar Code No |
none |
| Packaging |
LP Sleeve |
| Tracks |
| A1.
|
Working With Fire And Steel (3:40)
|
| A2.
|
When The Piper Calls (4:03)
|
| A3.
|
Hanna Hanna (3:29)
|
| A4.
|
Animals In Jungles (3:39)
|
| A5.
|
Here Comes A Raincloud (4:16)
|
| B1.
|
Wishful Thinking (4:41)
|
| B2.
|
Tragedy And Mystery (4:02)
|
| B3.
|
Papua (3:36)
|
| B4.
|
The Gates Of Door To Door (4:16)
|
| B5.
|
The Soul Awakening (4:35)
|
|
| Date Acquired |
01/01/1984 |
| Personal Rating |
 |
| Acquired from |
Down In The Valley |
| Purchase Price |
15.00 |
Web Links |
All Music Guide Entry:
Discogs Entry:
MusicBrainz entry: |
Notes |
Notes:
Recorded at Amazon and The Manor.
Cat# V2286 on spine, back cover, labels and inner sleeve.
Cat# 205 798 on back cover and inner sleeve.
Cat# 97457 on inner sleeve.
Credits:
Acoustic Guitar – Eddie (tracks: 1)
Arranged By – China Crisis
Arranged By [Strings] – Mark Levy (tracks: A5)
Artwork [Graphic Design] – Ken
Bass – Gazza (tracks: A2 to A4, B2 to B5)
Bass Harmonica – Gazza (tracks: B3)
Bass [Fretless] – Gazza (tracks: A1, A5, B1)
Cello – David Ellery (tracks: A5)
Drums – Kevin (tracks: A1 to A4, B1 to B3, B5)
Engineer [Assistant At The Manor] – Steve Chase
Engineer [Assistant To Assistant Engineer At The Manor] – Paul Cook
Engineer [At Amazon] – Geoff Higgins (tracks: B5), Gil Norton
Engineer [At The Manor] – Alan Douglas
Grand Piano – Garry (tracks: A2)
Guitar – Eddie
Lacquer Cut By – BilBo
Lyrics By – Eddie (tracks: A2, A3, B1), Garry (tracks: A1, A3 to A5, B2 to B5)
Oboe – Steve (tracks: A2, A5, B1, B2, B5)
Percussion – Kevin (tracks: A3, A4, B1, B5)
Percussion [Acoustic And Electric] – Kevin (tracks: B4)
Photography By [Cover] – Gavin Cochrane
Photography By [Insert Band Photo] – Sheila Rock
Producer – Mike Howlett
Saxophone – Steve (tracks: A1 to A3)
Sequenced By [Drum Machine], Hihat – Kevin* (tracks: A5)
Snare, Tom Tom – Kevin* (tracks: A2)
Strings – The Breck Road String Ensemble (tracks: 5)
Synthesizer – Eddie (tracks: A2), Garry (tracks: A1, A3 to A5, B2 to B5)
Tape – Garry (tracks: A3, A4)
Tenor Saxophone – Anthony (tracks: A2, A3)
Trumpet – Roddy (tracks: A2, A3)
Viola – David Kennedy (tracks: A5)
Violin – Barbara Parham (tracks: A5), Mark Levy (tracks: A5)
Vocals – Eddie (tracks: A1 to A4, B1 to B3, B5), Garry (tracks: A1, A3 to A5, B2 to B5), Jane (tracks: A5, B4)
Voice [Russian Dialect] – Graeme Levy (tracks: A1)
Written-By – Eddie, Gary
Companies, etc.:
Recorded At – Amazon Studios
Recorded At – The Manor
Mixed At – The Manor
Distributed By – Ariola Group Of Companies
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Virgin Records Ltd.
Copyright © – Virgin Records Ltd.
Published By – Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd.
Pressed By – EMI Records
Lacquer Cut At – Tape One
Barcode and other Identifiers:
Price Code (Germany): -320
Price Code (France): AE 280
Price Code (Spain): -1
Matrix / Runout (Side A label): V2286 A
Matrix / Runout (Side B label): V2286 B
Matrix / Runout (Side A runout. Variant 1): V 2286 A-1U-1-1- 6 BILBO TAPE ONE
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout. Variant 1): V 2286 B-2U-1-1- 5 BILBO TAPE ONE
Matrix / Runout (Side A runout. Variant 2): V 2286 A-2U-1-1- 6 BILBO TAPE ONE
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout. Variant 2): V 2286 B-1U-1-1- 6 BILBO TAPE ONE
|
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| Reviews |
All Music Guide Review:
Review by Steve "Spaz" Schnee
China Crisis main men Gary Daly and Eddie Lundon were great songwriters searching for that one song that would make a difference. "Working with Fire and Steel" was that song. Although they had hits before, and they would have hits after, no other song defined China Crisis' essence more. With its percolating beat, Daly's hiccupping vocals, and a smashing chorus, it was the perfect modern pop song. With that said, there was also so much more to China Crisis than that one song. This, their sophomore album, features songs cut from the same cloth as "...Fire and Steel," including "Animals in Jungles" and "Hanna Hanna," but also reveals a band with deeper meaning and ambitious ideas. Lundon's sweet backing vocals (and lead vocals on the pretty "Wishful Thinking" and "When the Piper Calls") balance out the quirkiness of Daly's voice, creating a perfect combination. Although they were pigeonholed as a 'synth pop' band, China Crisis was much more. All that mattered to them was the song, and this album is chock full of intelligent, well-written pop songs. Producer Mike Howlett added much to the sonic blend, allowing the melodies to shine while toughening up the band's sound (the addition of a full-time drummer and bassist helped to thicken the sound as well). Even the softer moments, like "Here Comes a Raincloud," and "The Soul Awakening" are full of life and excitement. Apart from their own matured sound on this release, there are traces of rock, pop, and jazz floating between the lines. It was only a matter of time before they were compared to Steely Dan. But that came on the next album....
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| Cover 1 |
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| Cover 2 |
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| Cover 3 |
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| Cover 4 |
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| Cover 5 |
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