Spandau Ballet - 4 x albums in Mint condition - Multiple titles - LP albums (multiple items) - 1st Pressing, Various pressings (see description) - 1981

Spandaus

They started out in the punk era, but the Spandaus grew to be the greatest of the new romantics. Influenced by Roxy Music as well as Frank Sinatra they led the second British invasion and had eight top-10 albums. You probably own True. But here is a chance to get the rest of them in one go.

Four albums on offer here, in amazing condition. Three in absolute mint condition, as new as itt were, and one near mint. The vinyl is scratchless and even the original inner sleeves are present. You will not find an offer this good elsewhere.

Hard to day who was most important to the Spandaus. Wonderful voiced frontman Tony Hadley or hit-writing Gary Kemp with his brother Martin. They dominated the charts until a break in 1990 after which the band kind of fell apart. They sued Gary for writing credit but lost. Still they refomed in 2009 for a greatest hits tour. Years later Tony left the band and that was a definite end. Still, their True remains one of the singles with the most airplay in the States.



On offer here

1. 1981 Journeys to glory. The debut. The guys were frequented the Tuesday night gathering called The Blitz and started playing the music they heard there and eventually ended up performing. From their earning they bought Gary a synth with which he began composing. Soon every label wanted to sign them. Chrysalis won. The album contained three hits, “To cut a long story short” being the first. And this is a first European pressing: it has two catalogue numbers on the label, but only one on the sleeve.
Chrysalis 203 428-320. 1981 Europe.
Vinyl mint, sleeve mint

2. 1982 Diamond. The follow-up broadened their music. More funk, more strangeness, thanks to Bowie’s Low and the band Japan. But the success had its price. Producer Burgess put the thumbscrews on Hadley so he had to take time off. And Gary also could hardly keep up. In the end the band was not too happy with the album, but in came Trevor Horne, first for a simple remix, then as master of music. Hurrah, it is a first pressing but, ahem, a Yugoslavian one. But that does mean is is of thicker vinyl, it feels like a 180 grams and the sleeve is sturdier too.
Label:RTV Ljubljana – LL 0841, Chrysalis – LL 0841, ZKP RTVL – LL 0841
1982 Yugoslavia.
Vinyl mint, sleeve (better than) near mint. Original inner sleeve (strangely sturdy carton) included

3. 1984 Parade. This was their fourth album, after True. Laden with success they wanted a record that sounded like them playing live, which was improving by the day. And that worked! The week after release it hit nr 2 in the album lists. Four singles are on it, with Only when you leave as the biggest hit. A first EU pressing
Label:Chrysalis – 206 378.
1984 Europe
Vinyl M/Sleeve NM, Gatefold sleeve, original inner sleeve included

4. 1986. Through the barricades. The boys were unhappy. They were still chased by True as being softrockers. And Parade should have done much better even. They got in a big row with label Chrysalis and eventually parted ways. CBS was their new home and again, they wanted a rockier sound, the way they played live. This was the result, with the titlesong scoring around the world. But rot set in. The Kemps were approached as actors and only one album followed, setting the beginning of a long pause. This is the second pressing, later ones mention Reformation label.
Label: CBS – CBS 450259 1, Reformation – 450259 1
CBS 4502591.
1986. Europe.
Vinyl mint, sleeve mint, inner sleeve included


There you have it, a quartet of blitz pop. The records are, as described, in amazing condition, thanks to plastic outer protective sleeves which are included in the sale. Check the pictures (and my reviews). All will be preciously packed and swiftly send.