Frankie Goes To Hollywood: Welcome To The Pleasuredome (25th-Anniversary-Special-Edition) on 2 CDs

Welcome To The Pleasuredome was one of the biggest British LPs of the 1980s. It features Frankie’s four biggest hits: Relax, Two Tribes, The Power of Love and, of course, Welcome to the Pleasuredome.

Very few labels score three number one singles in their first year of business. But then very few labels sign bands like Frankie Goes To Hollywood. From obscurity to infamy and back again in less than five years, Frankie Goes To Hollywood defined the early era of ZTT and – for many – 80s music in general. Their first three singles all hit number one (a record in itself) and each tackled a taboo head on: sex, war, religion.

The band had formed from shards of Liverpool’s explosive new wave scene. Holly Johnson (lead vocals) was ex-Big In Japan. Paul Rutherford (vocals and “I came to dance”) was ex-Pink Military. Mark O’Toole (bass), Ped Gill (drums) and Brian Nash (guitar) were “the hammer that knocked the nail in.” In a story that’s been told 1, 000 times, Trevor Horn kicked back one night during another frustratingly lengthy session on Yes’ 90125 and saw Frankie performing a rough and ready, sexed-up Relax (In Heaven Everything Is Fine) on Channel 4’s The Tube. ZTT was but a twinkle in his eye – and all the major labels had already turned Frankie down – but when Trevor saw the band he wanted to make them ZTT’s first signing, and he wanted to make them massive.

25 years on, the definitive edition of an 80s masterpiece. Includes the original double album remastered, plus classic B-sides, Trevor Horn’s epic 12" remixes of Relax and The Power Of Love, and archive interviews. CD2 also features previously-unheard studio demos of War, Two Tribes and Welcome To The Pleasuredome, an early, 11 minute version of Ballad Of 32 and a completely unreleased song from the end of the Pleasuredome era, Watusi Love Juicy. Beautifully expanded artwork includes previously-unseen photos, paintings and new liner notes.

Rezensionen

"It may surprise some listeners how little this silver anniversary edition has dated, but though contrived playlist scandals and oversized slogan T-shirts inevitably become tiresome, there’s no sell-by date on sonic adventure or creative chutzpah. Frankie never managed to repeat the trick, of course, but for one glorious hour-and-a-bit, 25 years ago, they were arguably the best band in the land." (Terry Staunton, RECORD COLLECTOR)

"It was over really for Frankie Goes to Hollywood the moment Welcome to the Pleasuredome came out. The hype couldn’t be maintained and although there was a sell-out tour and further chart hits ahead, it was never the same. But for now, marvel once more at their splendid, excessive audacity." (Daryl Easlea, bbc. co. uk)