The Thin Wall

"The Thin Wall"
Single by Ultravox
from the album Rage in Eden
B-side "I Never Wanted to Begin"
Released 14 August 1981
Format 7" vinyl, 12" vinyl
Recorded Conny’s Studio, Cologne, Germany, 1981
Genre New Romantic, Electronic, New Wave
Length 4:25 (Single edit)
5:39 (Album version)
Label Chrysalis
Writer(s) Midge Ure, Chris Cross, Warren Cann, Billy Currie
Producer Conny Plank, Ultravox
Ultravox singles chronology
"All Stood Still"
(1981)		 "The Thin Wall"
(1981)		 "The Voice"
(1981)

"The Thin Wall" is Ultravox's first single from the Rage in Eden album, recorded in Conny Plank’s Studio in Cologne, Germany and released on Chrysalis Records on 14 August 1981.

The music video, directed by Russell Mulcahy, features Midge Ure struggling to cope among strange and nightmarish imagery, similar to a haunted house setting, while the other band members seemingly plot his demise.

The song is a fast and stark synth melody with obscure lyrics like many Ultravox songs and New Romantic music in general. It peaked at #14 in the UK Single Charts.

There is no extended version of "The Thin Wall" unlike other Ultravox singles; the A-side on the 12" is identical to the album version, while the 7" version is an edit.

Contents

Track listings

7" vinyl

Side one
No. Title Length
1. "The Thin Wall" (single edit) 4:25
Side two
No. Title Length
1. "I Never Wanted to Begin"   3:31

12" vinyl

Side one
No. Title Length
1. "The Thin Wall"   5:39
Side two
No. Title Length
1. "I Never Wanted to Begin" (12" version) 6:17

Chart performance

Chart (1981) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[1] 14
Australian Singles Chart 95
Irish Singles Chart[2] 16

References

  1. ^ "Chart Stats - Ultravox - The Thin Wall". http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=9529. Retrieved 10 January 2009 (2009-01-10). 
  2. ^ "irishcharts.ie search results". http://www.irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 10 January 2009 (2009-01-10). 
Ultravox
Studio albums
Live albums
Live In Concert 1981 • Monument • Future Picture • Return to Eden: Live at the Roundhouse
Compilations
Three into One • The Collection • Slow Motion • Rare, Vol. 1 • Rare, Vol. 2 • The Voice: The Best of Ultravox • Dancing with Tears in My Eyes • Extended Ultravox • The Island Years • The Very Best of Midge Ure & Ultravox • The Best of Ultravox • Finest
Extended Plays
Retro • Moments from Eden
Singles
"Dangerous Rhythm" • "Young Savage" • "ROckWrok" • "Quirks" • "Frozen Ones" • "Slow Motion" • "Quiet Men" • "Sleepwalk" • "Passing Strangers" • "Vienna" • "All Stood Still" • "New Europeans" • "The Thin Wall" • "The Voice" • "Reap the Wild Wind" • "Hymn" • "Visions in Blue" • "We Came to Dance" • "One Small Day" • "Dancing with Tears in My Eyes" • "Lament" • "Heart of the Country" • "Love's Great Adventure" • "Same Old Story" • "All Fall Down" • "All in One Day" • "Vienna 92" • "I Am Alive" • "There Goes a Beautiful World"
Related
Book:Ultravox