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
Passionate Reply
Ultravox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yourself waiting for a long time
Your back's to the wall
But now you must go
Painting scenes from magazines
Sucking breath from nicotine
Standing tall against the crowd we sigh
Taking turns on telephones
Living lives in other homes
Listening for the passionate replies
Suddenly we find
Ourselves talking for a long time
Our voices are low
But now you must know
Giving all you have to give
Taking all you've got to live
Plotting all mistakes along the way
Find it hard to take it all
Reading names on other walls
Writing down the words we tried to sing
Suddenly you'll find
Yourself waiting for a long time
Your back's to the wall
But now you must go
Suddenly you'll find
Yourself waiting for a long time
"Passionate Reply," a song by Ultravox, tells the story of two people who have found themselves in a difficult situation. The first verse implies that someone is waiting for a very long time and their back is against the wall. The imagery used in the second verse is that of painting scenes from magazines, the implication being that they are seeking refuge from their current surroundings. The line 'Standing tall against the crowd we sigh' implies that it is difficult to stand up for oneself in front of a large group of people.
In the chorus, the two people in question find themselves talking for a long time, their voices low. They are giving all they have to give and taking all they need to live, highlighting the fact that they are trapped in their situation. They are plotting all their mistakes along the way, indicating that they are trying to find a way out of their predicament.
The final verse repeats the first and offers no resolution to their situation. They find themselves waiting for a long time with no clear way out.
Line by Line Meaning
Suddenly you'll find
Out of nowhere, you will realize
Yourself waiting for a long time
You have been waiting patiently for quite some time
Your back's to the wall
You feel trapped or cornered
But now you must go
It's time to take action and move forward
Painting scenes from magazines
Creating unrealistic scenarios based on what you see in the media
Sucking breath from nicotine
Using cigarettes to calm your nerves
Standing tall against the crowd we sigh
Despite facing opposition, we still have hope and determination
Taking turns on telephones
Engaging in conversation with others over the phone
Living lives in other homes
Feeling like you don't truly belong in your current living situation
Listening for the passionate replies
Seeking out responses that are filled with intensity and emotion
Our voices are low
We speak softly
But now you must know
It's important for you to understand the truth of the situation
Giving all you have to give
Putting forth maximum effort and energy
Taking all you've got to live
Facing challenges and difficulties just to survive
Plotting all mistakes along the way
Learning from past errors and avoiding making them again
Find it hard to take it all
Feeling overwhelmed with everything going on
Reading names on other walls
Comparing yourself to others and feeling inferior
Writing down the words we tried to sing
Reflecting on past attempts and struggles to express oneself
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER THOMAS ALLEN, MIDGE URE, WARREN REGINALD CANN, WILLIAM CURRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tanwirmundh5595
Probably one of the best B sides ever
@highetk
About sums it up for me.
@martynsmith8254
Not even an album track on the original release of Vienna. Incredible
@djbethell
This was the period Midge Ure was a powerhouse of ideas and brilliant songs, the most amazing singles with B-sides that stood out on their very own, and all at the same time as writing and producing Visage! The best of times...
@arizonaidiot1250
Such a great song, can't believe it was a B side!!! Love it
@chriscole4092
Totally agree +1
@detlefeilers5531
Same here 🥰🤗
@roygbiv3305
yukihiro takahashi was inspired the chord progressions at 0:19-0:23, 0:34-0:37,1:03-1:07 to insert the chords in ymo's "cue" in 1981.
@gazzashiatsu
roygbiv330 I
@gabrielmosconi6583
Ceartenly