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Measure for Measure

 
Album Review: Measure for Measure

  • Artist: Icehouse
  • Rating: StarStar
  • Release Date: 1986
  • Total Time: 51:55
  • Genre: Rock

Review

Based on the principles of balance, Measure for Measure is half-produced by David Lord, half by Rhett Davies. American and European editions benefit from a better track list, which opens with the Davies-produced "No Promises." A little too close to Bowie and Metheny's "This Is Not America," perhaps, but very nice all the same. "Cross the Border" resembles and continues the close relationship with Simple Minds, and features a strong Brian Eno back vocal motif. Another of the RD-produced pieces, "The Flame," although about the struggles in South Africa, opens with a watery, orient-like synth treatment before a strong beat, courtesy of Steve Jansen, and a Talk Talk-sounding synth take charge. Newer realms are visited by Spanish guitar on "Angel Street," but the Bowie references can't be shaken, with much of the later part relying on squally glam rock ("Regular Boys" and the career-reviving "Baby You're So Strange"). Had the color of bonus CD cuts "Too Late Now" (a definitive Icehouse sound) and "Into the Wild" been included, how different things might have been. A few blocks up from the bland Sidewalk but a few buildings short of Man of Colours. ~ Kelvin Hayes, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Paradise Iva Davies Icehouse (4:47)
No Promises (Lyrics) Iva Davies Icehouse (4:40)
Mr. Big Iva Davies Icehouse (3:33)
Angel Street Iva Davies Icehouse (4:46)
The Flame Iva Davies Icehouse (5:11)
Regular Boys Iva Davies Icehouse (3:30)
Cross the Border Iva Davies Icehouse (4:25)
Spanish Gold Iva Davies Icehouse (4:17)
Lucky Me Iva Davies, Bob Kretschmer Icehouse (4:38)
Baby, You're So Strange Iva Davies Icehouse (3:59)
Too Late Now Iva Davies Icehouse (3:11)
Into the Wild Iva Davies Icehouse (4:53)

Credits

Guy Pratt (Fretless Bass), David Lord (Keyboards), Warne Livesey (Producer), Simon Lloyd (Trumpet), David Lord (Arranger), Iva Davies (Fairlight CMI), Iva Davies (Vocals), David Lord (Engineer), Gaspar Lawal (Percussion), Steve Jansen (Drums), Simon Lloyd (Fairlight), Brian Eno (Treated Piano), George Shilling (Assistant), Andy Qunta (Keyboards), Simon Lloyd (Brass), Andy Qunta (Vocals (Background)), Brian Eno (Keyboards), Steve Jansen (Percussion), David Lord (Mixing), Rhett Davies (Engineer), David Lord (Percussion), Simon Lloyd (Solo Instrumental), Brian Eno (Vocals (Background)), Andy Lyden (Engineer), Rhett Davies (Producer), Shena Power (Voices), Simon Lloyd (Keyboard Programming), Simon Lloyd (Reeds), David Lord (Producer), Guy Pratt (Guitar (Bass)), Iva Davies (Guitar), Glenn Tommey (Vocals)
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Wikipedia: Measure for Measure (album)
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Measure for Measure

Australian release (Regular Records)
Studio album by Icehouse
Released 21 April 1986 (1986-04-21)
Recorded August 1985, Crescent Studios, Bath and Whitehouse, Livingston and Air Studios, London
Genre Rock/New Wave
Length 51:55
Label Regular / Chrysalis
Producer David Lord, Rhett Davies
Professional reviews
Icehouse chronology
Boxes
(1985)
Measure for Measure
(1986)
Man of Colours
(1987)
Singles from Measure for Measure
  1. "No Promises"
    Released: November 1, 1985 (1985-11-01)
  2. "Baby, You're So Strange"
    Released: March 10, 1986 (1986-03-10)
  3. "Mr. Big"
    Released: June 15, 1986 (1986-06-15)
  4. "Cross the Border"
    Released: October 20, 1986 (1986-10-20)
  5. "Paradise"
    Released: 1986 US / UK only release
Measure for Measure
US release (Chrysalis Records)

Measure for Measure is the April 1986 studio album by Australian rock synthpop band Icehouse and was the third album in the world to be recorded entirely digitally.[1] The album, which peaked at #8 on the National albums charts,[2] features the singles "No Promises", "Baby, You're So Strange", "Mr. Big", "Cross the Border" and "Paradise". "No Promises" had been released as a 7" vinyl single in November 1985, it peaked at #30 on the Australian singles charts.[2] It was used for the Boxes ballet created by Icehouse members Iva Davies and Robert Kretschmer together with Sydney Dance Company's choreographer Graeme Murphy, Davies and Kretschmer performed the score with guest percussonist Masaki Tanazawa.[3]

Both "No Promises" and "Cross the Border" were remixed and released as 12" singles, and while a major US pop hit would elude them until the following year, "No Promises" went Top 10 on both the Billboard Rock tracks and Dance / Club charts.[4] "Cross the Border" did not see as much club play in the US, but was a Top 20 rock hit there.[4] In Australia, the two further singles lifted from the album, "Baby, You're So Strange" and "Mr. Big", both reached the pop Top 20,[2] interestingly higher than the Australian chartings of the singles which achieved international success. "Paradise" was released as a late 1986 US / UK single but achieved no notable chart success in either market.

There are various different versions of this album; the Australian and American releases each feature different artwork (see infobox) and track running order while the 2002 Australian remastered version features bonus tracks.

Contents

Track listing

Songwriters according to Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA).[5]

Australian Release

  1. "Paradise" (Iva Davies) - 4:47
  2. "No Promises" (Davies, Robert Kretschmer) - 4:40
  3. "Mr Big" (Davies, Kretschmer) - 3:33
  4. "Angel Street" (Davies, Kretschmer) - 4:46
  5. "The Flame" (Davies) - 5:11
  6. "Regular Boys" (Davies, Kretschmer) - 3:30
  7. "Cross the Border" (Davies, Kretschmer) - 4:25
  8. "Spanish Gold" (Davies) - 4:17
  9. "Lucky Me" aka "American Way" (Davies, Kretschmer) - 4:38
  10. "Baby, You're So Strange" (Davies, Kretschmer) - 3:59
  11. "Too Late Now" (Davies) - 3:11 **
  12. "Into The Wild" (Davies, Kretschmer) - 4:53 **

(**) Not on original pressing, eventually on 1993 re-release and on all re-releases since.
The 2002 reissue also featured bonus tracks:[6]

  1. "Just A Word" (Davies, Kretschmer) - 4:26
  2. "The Perfect Crime" (Davies, Kretschmer, Andy Qunta, Masaki Tanazawa) - 3:38
  3. "The Flame" (live) (Davies) - 5:26
  4. "No Promises" (live) (Davies) - 5:25
  5. "Sister" (live) (Davies, Michael Hoste) - 3:48

American Release

  1. "No Promises"
  2. "Cross The Border"
  3. "Spanish Gold"
  4. "Paradise"
  5. "The Flame"
  6. "Regular Boys"
  7. "Mr. Big"
  8. "Angel Street"
  9. "Lucky Me"
  10. "Baby, You're So Strange"
  11. "Too Late Now"
  12. "Into The Wild"

Singles Chart Positions

Song AUS

Pop singles

UK

Pop singles

US

Hot 100 Singles

US

Rock Tracks

US

12" Sales/Club play

"No Promises" 30 72 79 9 7
"Baby, You're So Strange" 14
"Mr. Big" 18
"Cross the Border" 65 19

"—" denotes did not chart.

Album Chart Positions

Year Chart Peak
1986 Australian Chart 8
1986 US Billboard Chart 55

Personnel

Credited to:[6]

Icehouse members

Additional musicians

  • Brian Eno — backing vocals, piano, keyboards
  • Stuart Gordon — strings
  • Maurice Green — backing vocals
  • Steve Jansen — drums, percussion
  • Gasper Lawal — percussion
  • David Lord — keyboards, string arrangement, percussion
  • Shena Power — female voices, vocals
  • Masaki Tanazawa — drums, percussion
  • Glen Tommey — percussion, backing vocals

Recording details

  • Engineer — Rhett Davies, David Lord, Andy Lyden, Iva Davies, Warne Livesey
    • Assistant — George Shilling, Matt Howe
  • Mastering — Paul Ibbotson
  • Mixing — David Hemmings, Warne Livesey, Glen Tommey
    • Assistant — Raine Shine
  • Producer — Rhett Davies, David Lord, Warne Livesey, Iva Davies
  • Digital remastering (2002) — Iva Davies, Ryan Scott

Art work

  • Brett Cabot — Cover Photography
  • David McKenzie — Artwork

References


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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Measure for Measure (album)" Read more