The Jukebox Rebel

Presumed dead, Ultravox rose from the ashes without John Foxx and began the decade anew with a fourth long-player, former Slik, Rich Kids and Visage man Midge Ure emerging as the new frontman. The four-piece line-up: Midge Ure (vocals, guitars, synthesizers), Billy Currie (piano, synthesizers, viola, violin), Chris Cross (bass, synthesizers, backing vocals) and Warren Cann (drums, electronic percussion, backing vocals). Continuing their relationship with Conny Plank, they returned to his Cologne studio, delving ever-further into the electronic end of the new wave spectrum, but with a shinier, slicker sheen to it. Four smart and catchy pop singles were lifted from the album; “Sleepwalk” (#29), “Passing Strangers” (#57), “Vienna” (#2) and “All Stood Still” (#8). Not only were these their first hit singles, but this was their first charting album, rising all the way to #3 in the charts, spending 72 weeks being listed. This Ure feller knew what he was doing; this was a radical overhaul and a whole new successful era began for Ultravox.

The Jukebox Rebel
14–Dec–2016

A1	[07:07] Ultravox - Astradyne (Christopher Allen, Warren Cann, Billy Currie, Midge Ure) New Wave
A2	[04:01] Ultravox - New Europeans (Christopher Allen, Warren Cann, Billy Currie, Midge Ure) New Wave
A3	[04:06] Ultravox - Private Lives (Christopher Allen, Warren Cann, Billy Currie, Midge Ure) New Wave
A4	[03:48] Ultravox - Passing Strangers (Christopher Allen, Warren Cann, Billy Currie, Midge Ure) New Wave
A5	[03:10] Ultravox - Sleepwalk (Christopher Allen, Warren Cann, Billy Currie, Midge Ure) New Wave
B1	[06:33] Ultravox - Mr. X (Christopher Allen, Warren Cann, Billy Currie, Midge Ure) Electronica
B2	[05:18] Ultravox - Western Promise (Christopher Allen, Warren Cann, Billy Currie, Midge Ure) New Wave
B3	[04:53] Ultravox - Vienna (Christopher Allen, Warren Cann, Billy Currie, Midge Ure) New Wave
B4	[04:21] Ultravox - All Stood Still (Christopher Allen, Warren Cann, Billy Currie, Midge Ure) New Wave

ratings by TJR