Man of Colours
Encyclopedia
Man Of Colours is Australian rock
synthpop
band Icehouse
's best-selling album, which was released in September 1987 on Regular Records / Chrysalis Records
. The album peaked at #1 on the Australian album charts for 11 weeks from 5 October 1987 and has sold over 700,000 copies. "Electric Blue
" was their only Australian #1 single, the release of the album and its singles marked the zenith of Icehouse's commercial success, both locally and internationally.
Founding Icehouse member Iva Davies
(vocals
, guitar
s, keyboards
, Fairlight CMI
, Cor Anglais
) was joined by Robert Kretschmer (guitars), Andy Qunta (keyboards, piano
), Simon Lloyd (reeds, brass, keyboards, programming), Stephen Morgan (bass guitar
) and Paul Wheeler (drums
, percussion
) in recording the album from February 1987.
It was the first Australian album to supply five top 30 hit singles "Crazy" (3# in July), "Electric Blue" (co-written by Davies and John Oates
of US band Hall and Oates) (#1, October), "My Obsession" (#5, December), "Man of Colours" (#28, February 1988) and "Nothing Too Serious" (#29, May 1988). With US chart success for "Crazy", which reached #14 on the Billboard Hot 100
and #10 on its Mainstream Rock
chart, and "Electric Blue" (#7 Hot 100, #10 Mainstream), the album Man of Colours reached #43 on the Billboard 200
.
Man of Colours was lauded in Australia during 1988. The album won two ARIA Awards, 'Album of the Year' and 'Highest Selling Album'; the associated song "Electric Blue" won 'Most Performed Australasian Popular Work' at the Australasian Performing Right Association
(APRA) Music Awards for its writers Davies and Oates.
The cover artwork, designed by Davies and Kretschmer, depicts a human figure holding three different coloured flowers. Different versions of the album have been released, the initial Australian release by Regular Records (see infobox above right) was as a ten track vinyl LP or as a music cassette
or as a twelve track CD
with two additional mixes of "Crazy". An alternate Limited Black Sleeve release depicted the cover art on a reversed background (see infobox bottom right) from Regular Records in Australia but had the same tracklisting. The US / UK release by Chrysalis Records
had a different track order from the Australian LP, and the track lengths for the two big singles ("Crazy" and "Electric Blue") are longer on this version of the album. The 1997 Japanese CD version released by For Life Records had two different tracks added. In 2002, Warner Music Australia re-released Man of Colours, with Davies and Ryan Scott digitally remastering, including five bonus tracks. In Australia, the album was also offered on three limited edition colored vinyl pressings, which were the colors of the flowers that the human figure on the cover was holding.
released a version of "Man of Colours" as her debut single. Her rendition of the track received Davies' blessing and was aired on national television program, Rage
on 4 September 2009.
[* Denotes 1987 CD bonus tracks]
[** Denotes bonus tracks on Australian 2002 remastered version]
[* Denotes CD bonus tracks]
http://www.discogs.com/Icehouse-Man-Of-Colours/release/521897, http://www.discogs.com/Icehouse-Man-Of-Colours/release/991152
[* Denotes remix version on 1997 CD by For Life Records]
Singles
Icehouse members
Additional musicians
Recording details
Art work
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
band Icehouse
Icehouse (band)
Icehouse is an Australian rock band, formed as Flowers in 1977 in Sydney. Initially known in Australia for their pub rock style, they later achieved mainstream success playing new wave and synthpop style music and attained Top Ten singles chart success in both Europe and the U.S...
's best-selling album, which was released in September 1987 on Regular Records / Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis...
. The album peaked at #1 on the Australian album charts for 11 weeks from 5 October 1987 and has sold over 700,000 copies. "Electric Blue
Electric Blue (song)
"Electric Blue" is a 1987 hit single by the Australian rock / synthpop band Icehouse and was co-written by Iva Davies of Icehouse and John Oates of the U.S. band Hall & Oates. The single reached number one on the Australian singles chart on 16 November 1987, number seven on the American Billboard...
" was their only Australian #1 single, the release of the album and its singles marked the zenith of Icehouse's commercial success, both locally and internationally.
Founding Icehouse member Iva Davies
Iva Davies
Iva Davies , is the frontman for Australian electro/new wave/rock band Icehouse.-Biography:...
(vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, Fairlight CMI
Fairlight CMI
The Fairlight CMI is a digital sampling synthesizer. It was designed in 1979 by the founders of Fairlight, Peter Vogel and Kim Ryrie, and based on a dual-6800 microprocessor computer designed by Tony Furse in Sydney, Australia...
, Cor Anglais
Cor anglais
The cor anglais , or English horn , is a double-reed woodwind instrument in the oboe family....
) was joined by Robert Kretschmer (guitars), Andy Qunta (keyboards, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
), Simon Lloyd (reeds, brass, keyboards, programming), Stephen Morgan (bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) and Paul Wheeler (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussion
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
) in recording the album from February 1987.
It was the first Australian album to supply five top 30 hit singles "Crazy" (3# in July), "Electric Blue" (co-written by Davies and John Oates
John Oates
John William Oates is an American rock, R&B and soul guitarist, musician, songwriter and producer best known as half of the rock and soul duo Hall & Oates ....
of US band Hall and Oates) (#1, October), "My Obsession" (#5, December), "Man of Colours" (#28, February 1988) and "Nothing Too Serious" (#29, May 1988). With US chart success for "Crazy", which reached #14 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and #10 on its Mainstream Rock
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
chart, and "Electric Blue" (#7 Hot 100, #10 Mainstream), the album Man of Colours reached #43 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
.
Man of Colours was lauded in Australia during 1988. The album won two ARIA Awards, 'Album of the Year' and 'Highest Selling Album'; the associated song "Electric Blue" won 'Most Performed Australasian Popular Work' at the Australasian Performing Right Association
Australasian Performing Right Association
The Australasian Performing Right Association is a copyright collective representing New Zealand and Australian composers, lyricists and music publishers. The association's head offices located in Sydney Australia, and it has branch offices in Auckland, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth...
(APRA) Music Awards for its writers Davies and Oates.
The cover artwork, designed by Davies and Kretschmer, depicts a human figure holding three different coloured flowers. Different versions of the album have been released, the initial Australian release by Regular Records (see infobox above right) was as a ten track vinyl LP or as a music cassette
Compact Cassette
The Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...
or as a twelve track CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
with two additional mixes of "Crazy". An alternate Limited Black Sleeve release depicted the cover art on a reversed background (see infobox bottom right) from Regular Records in Australia but had the same tracklisting. The US / UK release by Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis...
had a different track order from the Australian LP, and the track lengths for the two big singles ("Crazy" and "Electric Blue") are longer on this version of the album. The 1997 Japanese CD version released by For Life Records had two different tracks added. In 2002, Warner Music Australia re-released Man of Colours, with Davies and Ryan Scott digitally remastering, including five bonus tracks. In Australia, the album was also offered on three limited edition colored vinyl pressings, which were the colors of the flowers that the human figure on the cover was holding.
Covers
Australian-born classical-crossover soprano, Grace BawdenGrace Bawden
Grace Bawden is an Australian classical crossover singer, who has been dubbed "Australia's greatest operatic discovery", after becoming the Judge's Choice Grand Finalist on the TV talent show Australia's Got Talent in 2008...
released a version of "Man of Colours" as her debut single. Her rendition of the track received Davies' blessing and was aired on national television program, Rage
Rage (TV program)
Rage is a popular all-night Australian music video program broadcast on ABC1 on Friday nights, Saturday mornings and Saturday nights. It was first screened on the weekend of Friday, 17 April 1987. With Soul Train no longer being produced, it is the oldest music television program currently still...
on 4 September 2009.
Australian releases
- "CrazyCrazy (Icehouse song)"Crazy" is a 1987 hit single by the Australian rock/synthpop band Icehouse.-US promo release :# "Crazy "# "Crazy "# "Crazy "# "No Promises...
" (Iva DaviesIva DaviesIva Davies , is the frontman for Australian electro/new wave/rock band Icehouse.-Biography:...
, Robert Kretschmer, Andy Qunta) - 3:24 - "Electric BlueElectric Blue (song)"Electric Blue" is a 1987 hit single by the Australian rock / synthpop band Icehouse and was co-written by Iva Davies of Icehouse and John Oates of the U.S. band Hall & Oates. The single reached number one on the Australian singles chart on 16 November 1987, number seven on the American Billboard...
" (Davies, John OatesJohn OatesJohn William Oates is an American rock, R&B and soul guitarist, musician, songwriter and producer best known as half of the rock and soul duo Hall & Oates ....
) - 4:24 - "Nothing Too Serious" (Davies) - 3:28
- "Man of Colours" (Davies) - 5:12
- "Heartbreak Kid" (Davies, Kretschmer) - 5:19
- "Kingdom" (Davies) - 4:52
- "My Obsession" (Davies) - 4:09
- "Girl in the Moon" (Davies, Kretschmer) - 4:01
- "Anybody's War" (Davies) - 4:05
- "Sunrise" (Davies, Kretschmer) - 5:45
- "Crazy" (12" Version) - 7:21 *
- "Crazy" (Midnight Mix) - 4:48 *
[* Denotes 1987 CD bonus tracks]
- "Shakin' the Cage" (Davies, Kretschmer, Qunta, Simon Lloyd) - 4:00 **
- "Over My Head" (Davies, Kretschmer, Qunta, Lloyd) - 3:47 **
- "Touch the Fire" (Davies) - 3:46 **
- "Jimmy Dean" (Davies, Kretschmer) - 4:00 **
- "Electric Blue" (Extended Mix) - 7:34 **
[** Denotes bonus tracks on Australian 2002 remastered version]
US/UK release
- "CrazyCrazy (Icehouse song)"Crazy" is a 1987 hit single by the Australian rock/synthpop band Icehouse.-US promo release :# "Crazy "# "Crazy "# "Crazy "# "No Promises...
" (4:48) - "Electric BlueElectric Blue (song)"Electric Blue" is a 1987 hit single by the Australian rock / synthpop band Icehouse and was co-written by Iva Davies of Icehouse and John Oates of the U.S. band Hall & Oates. The single reached number one on the Australian singles chart on 16 November 1987, number seven on the American Billboard...
" (4:38) - "My Obsession" (4:07)
- "Man Of Colours" (5:09)
- "Heartbreak Kid" (5:18)
- "The Kingdom" (4:51)
- "Nothing Too Serious" (3:25)
- "Girl In The Moon" (4:00)
- "Anybody's War" (4:05)
- "Sunrise" (5:44)
- "Crazy" (12" Mix) * (7:22)
- "Crazy" (Midnight Mix) * (4:49)
[* Denotes CD bonus tracks]
http://www.discogs.com/Icehouse-Man-Of-Colours/release/521897, http://www.discogs.com/Icehouse-Man-Of-Colours/release/991152
Japanese release
- "CrazyCrazy (Icehouse song)"Crazy" is a 1987 hit single by the Australian rock/synthpop band Icehouse.-US promo release :# "Crazy "# "Crazy "# "Crazy "# "No Promises...
" - "Electric BlueElectric Blue (song)"Electric Blue" is a 1987 hit single by the Australian rock / synthpop band Icehouse and was co-written by Iva Davies of Icehouse and John Oates of the U.S. band Hall & Oates. The single reached number one on the Australian singles chart on 16 November 1987, number seven on the American Billboard...
" - "Nothing Too Serious"
- "Man of Colours"
- "Heartbreak Kid"
- "Kingdom"
- "My Obsession"
- "Girl in the Moon"
- "Anybody's War"
- "Sunrise"
- "Man of Colours" (6 am Mix) *
- "Shakin' the Cage" (D. Lord Mix) *
[* Denotes remix version on 1997 CD by For Life Records]
Chart positions
Album| Year | Chart | Peak |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Australian Chart | 1 |
| New Zealand Chart | 1 | |
| Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
43 | |
| UK Album Chart | 49 |
Singles
| Year | Song | Chart | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | "Crazy" | Mainstream Rock Tracks Mainstream Rock Tracks Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue... |
10 |
| 1988 | Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
14 | |
| 1988 | UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
38 | |
| 1988 | "Electric Blue" | Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
7 |
| 1988 | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 10 | |
| 1988 | Australian Charts | 1 | |
| 1988 | New Zealand Charts | 4 | |
| 1988 | Netherlands Charts | 83 | |
| 1988 | "My Obsession" | Australian Chart | 12 |
| 1988 | New Zealand Chart | 14 | |
| 1988 | Billboard Hot 100 | 88 |
Personnel
Credited to:Icehouse members
- Iva DaviesIva DaviesIva Davies , is the frontman for Australian electro/new wave/rock band Icehouse.-Biography:...
— vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, Fairlight CMIFairlight CMIThe Fairlight CMI is a digital sampling synthesizer. It was designed in 1979 by the founders of Fairlight, Peter Vogel and Kim Ryrie, and based on a dual-6800 microprocessor computer designed by Tony Furse in Sydney, Australia...
, cor anglaisCor anglaisThe cor anglais , or English horn , is a double-reed woodwind instrument in the oboe family.... - Robert Kretschmer — guitars
- Simon Lloyd — reedsReed (instrument)A reed is a thin strip of material which vibrates to produce a sound on a musical instrument. The reeds of most Woodwind instruments are made from Arundo donax or synthetic material; tuned reeds are made of metal or synthetics.-Single reeds:Single reeds are used on the mouthpieces of clarinets...
, brassBrass instrumentA brass instrument is a musical instrument whose sound is produced by sympathetic vibration of air in a tubular resonator in sympathy with the vibration of the player's lips...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, programming - Stephen Morgan - bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Andy Qunta — keyboards, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
- Paul Wheeler — drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
Additional musicians
- Andy Cichon — bass guitar
- Stuart Gordon — strings
- David Lord — additional keyboards
- Glenn Tommey — guitar, percussion
- John OatesJohn OatesJohn William Oates is an American rock, R&B and soul guitarist, musician, songwriter and producer best known as half of the rock and soul duo Hall & Oates ....
— guest backing vocals - Shena Power — backing vocals
- Tommy Dassolo - Triangle
- Karl Chandler - Tuba
Recording details
- Producer — David Lord
- Engineer — David Hemming, David Wright
- Assistants — Carrie Motzing, Greg Henderson
- Studio — E.M.I. Studios 301 and Trash Studios, Sydney, Australia and Crescent Studios, Bath, England
- Mixer — David Lord, assisted by Raine Shine @ Crescent Studios, except:
- "Crazy", mixed by David Lord, assisted by David Hemming @ E.M.I. Studios 301, Sydney
- "Man Of Colours" mixed by Iva Davies, assisted by David Hemming @ Albert Studios, Sydney
- "Electric Blue" and "My Obsession" mixed by Michael Brauer @ Sigma Sound Studios, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, USA
- Mastering: Don Bartley, assisted by David Hemming @ E.M.I. Studios, Sydney
- Digital remastering (2002) — Iva Davies, Ryan Scott
Art work
- Artwork — Iva DaviesIva DaviesIva Davies , is the frontman for Australian electro/new wave/rock band Icehouse.-Biography:...
, Robert Kretschmer - Art Direction & Layout — Sue Goff
- Photography — Hugh Stewart