Izdavač: Ostalo
Žanr: Pop, Rok
Poreklo: Strani izvođač

Original, made in Europe

Knjizica od 20 str.

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knjizica 5/5- Cd 5

Studio album by Black
Released 18 September 1987[1]
Studio Powerpoint Studios, London; Square One Studio, Bury
Genre
Pop rocknew wave
Length 44:40
Label A&M
Producer
Dave `Dix` DickieRobin Millar (`I`m Not Afraid` only)
Black chronology
Wonderful Life
(1987) Black
(1987)

Wonderful Life is the debut album by English singer Black (the stage name of Colin Vearncombe). Released in 1987, it peaked at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart in September of that year. Three of the songs were co-written with Vearncombe`s friend and musical collaborator, keyboardist Dave `Dix` Dickie.

Background
In 1985 Vearncombe wrote the minor key song `Wonderful Life`. It was released independently through Ugly Man Records, and got Black noticed by A&M Records who signed Vearncombe and launched his international career. Vearncombe said:

By the end of 1985 I had been in a couple of car crashes, my mother had a serious illness, I had been dropped by a record company, my first marriage went belly-up and I was homeless. Then I sat down and wrote this song called `Wonderful Life`. I was being sarcastic.[5][6]

Vearncombe suffered from the feeling of being a one-hit wonder, however, saying later:

Once you have had a hit, it`s hard to write another song without having that in the back of your mind. For a long time, I would find myself hearing, `I like it but it`s not Wonderful Life`.[7]

The album`s second single `Everything`s Coming Up Roses` was also accompanied by a video,[8] but reached only No. 76 in the UK Singles Chart, although also making No. 8 in both the Austrian and German charts.[citation needed] The follow-up `Sweetest Smile`, however, became a UK top-10 hit. The third single, a re-release of `Wonderful Life`, was a massive hit worldwide. The album of the same name, released in 1987, had similar success, reaping commercial and critical acclaim.[9][10]

When interviewed in 2013 for superdeluxeedition.com, Vearncome was asked if the album had turned out how he wanted and if the record company had forced producers on him. He replied:

No, we were very, very lucky. You see I’d already been through the mill with Warners and stuff, and then I’d been homeless. There wasn’t much you could scare me with. I was actually homeless when I wrote `Sweetest Smile` and `Wonderful Life,` but I was couch-surfing, and nothing touches you when you’re that age. For a while you can get away with it.[11]

Ugly Man Records issue a double-pack single, in September 1986 (Cat. JACK 71D), featuring `Wonderful Life`, `Birthday Night`, `Sometimes for the Asking` and `Everything`s Coming Up Roses`.[12]

Track listing
All tracks are written by Colin Vearncombe unless otherwise noted

Side A
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. `Wonderful Life` 4:46
2. `Everything`s Coming Up Roses` 4:04
3. `Sometimes for the Asking` 4:09
4. `Finder` 4:12
5. `Paradise` Colin Vearncombe, Dave Dickie 4:51
Side B
No. Title Writer(s) Length
6. `I`m Not Afraid` Colin Vearncombe, Dave Dickie 5:00
7. `I Just Grew Tired` 4:15
8. `Blue` Colin Vearncombe, Dave Dickie 3:38
9. `Just Making Memories` 4:26
10. `Sweetest Smile` 5:19
Total length: 44:40
CD Bonus tracks
No. Title Writer(s) Length
11. `Ravel in the Rain` Colin Vearncombe, Dave Dickie 3:47
12. `Leave Yourself Alone` 4:32
13. `Sixteens` 3:56
14. `It`s Not You Lady Jane` Colin Vearncombe, Dave Dickie 3:25
15. `Hardly Star-Crossed Lovers` 2:51
Total length: 63:11

Singles
The album produced five singles: `Wonderful Life`, `I`m Not Afraid` `Everything`s Coming Up Roses`, `Sweetest Smile` and `Paradise`.

Personnel
Musicians
Colin Vearncombe – vocals, guitar
Roy Corkill – fretless bass
Jimmy Hughes – drums
Martin Green – saxophone
Dave `Dix` Dickie – keyboards, programming
The Creamy Whirls (Tina Labrinski, Sara Lamarra) – backing vocals
Jimmy Sangster – electric bass
Doreen Edwards – additional backing vocals
The Sidwell Brothers – brass section
Source:[13]

Production
Recorded at Powerplant Studios (London), Square One Studio (Bury).
Engineered by Stephen Boyce-Buckley, and Pink Studio (Liverpool).