The band was formed in 1973 in London, United Kingdom on the initiative of vocalist, songwriter and keyboardist John Foxx (born Dennis Leigh). Originally known as Tiger Lily, the first lineup included Foxx plus Chris Cross (bass guitar), Billy Currie (keyboards/violins), Stevie Shears (guitar) and Warren Cann (percussion). The group released one single in 1974, a cover of "Ain't Misbehaving," before changing their name to Ultravox!, the exclamation point being a reference to the krautrock band Neu! that was produced by Conny Plank (who later produced some Ultravox albums). On the strength of their live act, they signed to Island Records in 1976, releasing their eponymous debut album in February 1977.
In common with many other bands which would go on to form Britain's punk and New Wave movements, Ultravox drew inspiration from the art-school side of glam rock, from bands such as Roxy Music and the New York Dolls, as well as from David Bowie and Brian Eno's early pop-fueled albums. Their eponymous debut album was self-produced by the band, yet Brian Eno (whose next job after these sessions was working with Bowie on 'Low') co-produced two songs and Steve Lillywhite also contributed. Sales were disappointing, and neither 'Ultravox!' nor the associated single "Dangerous Rhythm" managed to enter the U.K. charts.
Ultravox returned later in 1977 with the punkier 'Ha!-Ha!-Ha!'. Although sales of both the album and its lead single "ROckwrok" (which, despite a chorus featuring the lines "Come on, let's tangle in the dark/Fuck like a dog, bite like a shark", was played on BBC Radio 1) were still unimpressive, they had a growing fan-base. Steve Shears was sacked, later deciding to form the new band Faith Global. Although most of 'Ha!-Ha!-Ha!' was dominated by guitars and electric violin, the final track, "Hiroshima Mon Amour," was a prototypical synth pop song which gave a hint to the band's new direction. It remains a critical and fan favourite of the group's early incarnation, and it was even performed by the group on the 'Old Grey Whistle Test'. In 1978, the group quietly dropped the exclamation mark, becoming simply "Ultravox".
Their third album, 1978's Systems of Romance, was recorded under the ear of Conny Plank at his studio in rural Germany and featured new guitarist Robin Simon. It also failed commercially and Island dropped the band. After a US tour in 1979, John Foxx left to pursue a solo career whilst Robin Simon left to join the band Magazine. Musically, the album was a distinct development from the band's previous work and provided a blueprint for Ultravox's subsequent work, bringing synthesisers to the forefront of the group's sound. Island released a compilation of highlights from the group's first three albums in 1979, Three Into One, which was until the mid-1990s the most widespread of Ultravox's early releases.
Midge Ure, an already accomplished musician, was asked to join the band. He had achieved minor success with semi-glam outfit Slik and Glen Matlock's more punk-inspired The Rich Kids, although in 1979 he was temporarily playing with hard rock band Thin Lizzy. Midge Ure and Billy Currie had met in the Visage project, a studio project fronted by Steve Strange. Midge therefore replaced John Foxx for their next album, which would become their most successful to date, taking the already influential Ultravox sound and giving it a commercial appeal it had previously lacked.
Recorded in London and mixed by Conny Plank and the band once more in Germany,
Vienna was released on the new label Chrysalis Records in 1980, achieving a substantial hit with the title track (inspired by Carol Reed's The Third Man), which was accompanied with a distinctive video. It topped out at number two (Joe Dolce's "Shaddap You Face" infamously kept it from the top spot) on the UK Top 40 in 1981. The album reached number five, and was soon followed by Rage in Eden (1981), the band returning to Conny Plank's studio for what turned out to be a difficult recording session.
Ultravox teamed up with legendary producer George Martin for 1982's Quartet, which became their most successful album in the USA.
After touring with their 1984 Lament, and appearing at Live Aid, Warren Cann was fired and pursued a career in acting in the USA. The remaining members, along with Big Country's Mark Brzezicki, resurfaced with U-Vox in 1986 before going their separate ways the following year. Billy Currie and singer/guitarist Tony Fenelle reformed the band in 1992 to record Revelation, and Sam Blue lent his voice to their final release, Ingenuity (1996).
The band's international legion of followers yearned for some sort of reconcilliation. Both Billy Currie and Midge Ure pursued solo careers after the band were put officially on ice by Currie in 1996, Ure continuing to peform solo versions of Ultravox hits live.
Fans were therefore delighted when an announcement came in November 2008 that the 'classic' Cann/Cross/Currie/Ure line-up were to reform and play a fourteen-date UK tour entitled Return To Eden in April 2009. With Vienna and Rage In Eden being remastered and re-released and plans for a greatest hits compilation to accompany the tour, Ultravox are now set for a return to prominence.
After their successful 'Return to Eden Tour', Ultravox signed a deal with Universal Records and talk of new studio albums heated up. On February 21st 2011, a new EP, Moments from Eden, came out.
The band's latest album is 2012's 'Brilliant', featuring the 80s line-up of Midge Ure, Billy Currie, Chris Cross, and Warren Cann. Picking up a strong fan response, their recent touring has brought them to big crowds alongside rockers Simple Minds.
Website: http://www.ultravox.org.uk
One Small Day
Ultravox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the hammer's coming down
And the time that's yours lies heavy in your hands
Oh my sentimental friend
The fast much reach an end
Lying face down on the cold stone
And they give their all to you
Oh my sentimental friend
Your time will come again
Chorus:
One day where I didn't die a thousand times
Where I could satisfy this life of mine
One small day
One day where every hour could be a joy to me
And live a life the way it's meant to be
One small day
How many times has it turned against you
How many times will they walk away
How many times have you let depression win the fight
Oh my sentimental friend
We'll walk as one again
One day where I didn't die a thousand times
Where I could satisfy this life of mine
One small day
One day where every hour could be a joy to me
And live a life the way it's meant to be
One small day
How many times has it turned against you
How many times will they walk away
One day where I didn't die a thousand times
Where I could satisfy this life of mine
One day where every hour could be a joy to me
And live a life the way it's meant to be
One day where I wouldn't feel my senses die
Where nothing made me hang my head and cry
One day where I could see myself as others do
Where I could feel the strength of love at hand
One day where I didn't die a thousand times
Where I could satisfy this life of mine
One day where every hour could by a joy to me
And live a life the way it's meant to be
The lyrics of Ultravox's song "One Small Day" speak of the struggles one faces in life and the hope for a better future. The opening lines suggest that the odds are stacked high against the singer and the hammer is about to come down. The time that is theirs, burdens them and is too heavy for them to bear. However, the singer emphasizes that it is just a phase, and a sentimental friend's time will come again, there is hope for a better tomorrow.
The second verse gives us a picture of someone lying face down on the cold stone, and they give their all to them, but it is slipping through the singer's hands. The singer again reassures the listener that it is not the end, and things will get better. The chorus then comes in and talks about the desire for just one small day where everything could be joyful, where they could live life the way it's meant to be. The desire for a day where they don't feel like their senses are dead, and they don't have to hang their head and cry.
The final verse speaks of the desire to feel the strength of love at hand, to imagine what others might see in them, and for every hour to be joyful. The singer wants to live the life they were meant to have, without dying a thousand deaths. It's a song about hope and the yearning for a better future in challenging times.
Line by Line Meaning
If the stack is high against you
If life feels like it's constantly stacking the odds against you
And the hammer's coming down
And everything seems to be crashing down on you
And the time that's yours lies heavy in your hands
And time feels like a burden that you can't escape
Oh my sentimental friend
Oh dear friend who feels deeply
The fast much reach an end
This struggle must come to a close
Lying face down on the cold stone
Feeling defeated on the cold, hard ground
And they give their all to you
And others have given everything they can to help
But their all is slipping through your hands
But it feels like their efforts aren't helping
Your time will come again
But don't lose hope, there will be better days ahead
One day where I didn't die a thousand times
One day where I can live fully without feeling beaten down by life
Where I could satisfy this life of mine
Where I can find contentment in my own life
One small day
One small moment in time
One day where every hour could be a joy to me
One day where I can find joy in each and every moment
And live a life the way it's meant to be
And live my life to the fullest, without any regrets
How many times has it turned against you
How many times has life turned out for the worse?
How many times will they walk away
How many times will people leave when things get tough?
We'll walk as one again
But don't worry, we'll get through this together
One day where I wouldn't feel my senses die
One day where I can feel truly alive
Where nothing made me hang my head and cry
Where I don't have to feel defeated by life's challenges
One day where I could see myself as others do
One day where I can see my value and worth through the eyes of others
Where I could feel the strength of love at hand
Where I can find comfort in the love around me
One day where every hour could by a joy to me
One day where I can find joy in every single moment of the day
And live a life the way it's meant to be
And live my life in a way that brings me true happiness and fulfillment
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER THOMAS ALLEN, MIDGE URE, WARREN REGINALD CANN, WILLIAM CURRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
arsenio lupin
one of the best things about 50 years old,is the fact that i lived my teenage years in the 80's that is priceless and i am grateful !!!
Derek Porter
Absolutely!👍
Daniel Nordhorn
I totally agree.
jesusbuddhacult:com
I’m your age. The 80s were crap. The Smiths and the Police were good I guess
Fiat Akarudin
Me too, agree 👍🏻😘
Jacqueline Robinson
Exactly!!! I am ok with being 53. I got to grow up with the best music!!!
Juan Pablo Molho
Ultravox,one of most underrated band ever! They rules!
Danny Ives
Never underrated to those who knew their music 😉
WINTERLAND
Performing in Live Aids is "underrated" for you?
Gianni Pascia'
Im not agree,U-VOX is not a underrated Band,but just only not "very commercial"....specially from beginning wt John Foxx,later when Midge go in,have much popularity and followers everywhere,and believe me,i saw U-VOX 2 times live......their's not underrated,never.🔝😉👍🤗👋👋👋👋🎸