Journeys to Glory

Journeys to Glory
Studio album by Spandau Ballet
Released 6 March 1981
Recorded 1980-81
Genre Synthpop
Length 33:00
Label Chrysalis
Producer Richard James Burgess
Spandau Ballet chronology
Journeys to Glory
(1981)
Diamond
(1982)

Journeys to Glory is the first studio album by Spandau Ballet. It was released on 6 March 1981 by Chrysalis Records, just ten days after its recording at Trident Studios. The first editions of the vinyl version had an embossed cover. Early CD releases featured the original white cover. The album was re-released in a remastered and expanded 2 CD Special Edition on March 8, 2010.

Contents

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]

When it was released the album was considered "fresh, bold, and even somewhat avant-garde".[2] Many fans feel that the spare, drum-led, funk-undertones are more original than the group's later soul-influenced recordings. One reviewer describes the recordings as "completely unforgettable" and Hadley's semi-operatic vocals as "really strong" and demonstrating a "willingness to experiment".[2] Another reviewer suggests that the slow final track "Toys" was "one of the 1980s' most tragically under-rated tracks".[2]

Journeys to Glory, the Radio Show

In November 2009 BBC Radio 2 broadcast Journeys to Glory: The Spandau Ballet Story, a retrospective of the band presented by Jonathan Ross[3]

Track listing

All songs are written by Gary Kemp.

  1. "To Cut a Long Story Short" - 3:20
  2. "Reformation" - 4:54
  3. "Mandolin" - 4:07
  4. "Musclebound" - 5:06
  5. "Age of Blows" - 4:09
  6. "The Freeze" - 4:35
  7. "Confused" - 4:38
  8. "Toys" - 5:48

2010 Special Edition

Disc 1

  1. "To Cut a Long Story Short"
  2. "Reformation"
  3. "Mandolin"
  4. "Musclebound"
  5. "Age of Blows"
  6. "The Freeze"
  7. "Confused"
  8. "Toys"
  9. "The Freeze (7" Version)"
  10. "Musclebound (7" Version)"
  11. "Glow (7" Version)"

Disc 2

  1. "To Cut A Long Story Short (12" Version)"
  2. "The Freeze (Special Mix)"
  3. "Glow (12" Version)"
  4. "The Freeze (12" Version)"
  5. "The Freeze (BBC Session)"
  6. "Mandolin (BBC Session)"
  7. "Musclebound (BBC Session)"
  8. "Glow (BBC Session)"

Personnel

Production

Singles

Three singles were taken from the album.

Year Song UK Singles Chart[4] United States
Hot 100
Australia
Singles Chart
Germany
Singles Chart
1980 "To Cut a Long Story Short" 5 - 15 -
1981 "The Freeze" 17 - - -
"Musclebound" 10 - - -

References