Here's to Future Days
Encyclopedia
Here's to Future Days is the fifth album by the British pop group Thompson Twins
. It was released in September 1985 and it reached no.5 in the UK, and no.20 in the US.
Following on from the band's highly successful fourth album, Into the Gap
, the writing and recording of Here's to Future Days began in late 1984. The band recorded the single "Lay Your Hands on Me
" with Alex Sadkin
acting as producer. Sadkin had produced the last two Thompson Twins albums, which were the band's biggest commercial successes to date, and the new single climbed to #13 on the UK charts.
With the album nearing completion, and the next single "Roll Over" just about to be released in the UK, vocalist/guitarist Tom Bailey
suddenly fell ill. He was diagnised with nervous exhaustion and ordered to rest by doctors. The incident prompted the band to recall all copies of "Roll Over", despite the fact that some of them had already been shipped to retail outlets. Holding off on the album's release led the band to reconsider the entire project, and they began work on it again following Bailey's recovery. This time they enlisted Nile Rodgers
to take over production, scrapping most of the material they had previously recorded with Sadkin. The direction of the new recordings featured a more guitar-oriented side to it.
Before the album's release, the Thompson Twins performed at Live Aid
in July 1985, where they revealed their new material by playing a rock oriented version of The Beatles
' track "Revolution
". The band were also joined onstage for this number by Rodgers himself, Madonna
, and guitarist Steve Stevens
.
Although the album was a chart success in the UK and the US, it was considerably less successful than their previous album Into the Gap
. Subsequent singles from the album also met with mixed results. The new Nile Rodgers-produced version of "Lay Your Hands on Me" (now with a more distinct gospel sound) reached #6 in the United States, while the next UK single "Don't Mess With Doctor Dream" only reached #15. "King for a Day" which made #8 in the US, peaked at #22 in the UK. The aforementioned "Revolution" was also released as a single in the UK, but failed to make the top 40, signifying an end to the Thompson Twins' commercial viability there.
The U.S. pressing of the album contained a new, Rodgers-produced version of the track "Roll Over", which was omitted altogether in all other parts of the world.
and Joe Leeway
, except where noted.
LP
Some UK copies came with a "free 5-track album of re-mixes" (this disc having cat. no. FRE TT 1). The remixes were also included as bonus tracks on the cassette version of the album.
Thompson Twins
The Thompson Twins were a British pop group that were formed in April 1977 and disbanded in May 1993. They achieved considerable popularity in the mid 1980s, scoring a string of hits in the United Kingdom, the United States and around the globe. The band was named after the two bumbling detectives...
. It was released in September 1985 and it reached no.5 in the UK, and no.20 in the US.
Following on from the band's highly successful fourth album, Into the Gap
Into the Gap
Into the Gap is the fourth album by the British pop group Thompson Twins. It was released in February 1984 and reached no.1 on the UK Albums Chart, and no.10 on the U.S...
, the writing and recording of Here's to Future Days began in late 1984. The band recorded the single "Lay Your Hands on Me
Lay Your Hands on Me
"Lay Your Hands on Me" is a song written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora and recorded by the American rock band Bon Jovi. It was released in 1989 as the fourth single from the band's 1988 album New Jersey...
" with Alex Sadkin
Alex Sadkin
Alex Sadkin is best remembered as a record producer in the early 1980s, but actually got his start in the music industry as a saxophonist for the Las Olas Brass in Fort Lauderdale, Florida....
acting as producer. Sadkin had produced the last two Thompson Twins albums, which were the band's biggest commercial successes to date, and the new single climbed to #13 on the UK charts.
With the album nearing completion, and the next single "Roll Over" just about to be released in the UK, vocalist/guitarist Tom Bailey
Tom Bailey
Thomas Aaron Bailey is an American farmer and libertarian activist. He was the Libertarian Party candidate for the United States Senate from North Carolina in the 2004 general elections. Bailey faced Democrat Erskine Bowles and Republican Richard Burr in the 2004 Senate election, earning about 1%...
suddenly fell ill. He was diagnised with nervous exhaustion and ordered to rest by doctors. The incident prompted the band to recall all copies of "Roll Over", despite the fact that some of them had already been shipped to retail outlets. Holding off on the album's release led the band to reconsider the entire project, and they began work on it again following Bailey's recovery. This time they enlisted Nile Rodgers
Nile Rodgers
Nile Gregory Rodgers is an American musician, producer, composer, arranger, and guitarist.-Biography:...
to take over production, scrapping most of the material they had previously recorded with Sadkin. The direction of the new recordings featured a more guitar-oriented side to it.
Before the album's release, the Thompson Twins performed at Live Aid
Live Aid
Live Aid was a dual-venue concert that was held on 13 July 1985. The event was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for relief of the ongoing Ethiopian famine. Billed as the "global jukebox", the event was held simultaneously in Wembley Stadium in London, England, United Kingdom ...
in July 1985, where they revealed their new material by playing a rock oriented version of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' track "Revolution
Revolution (song)
"Revolution" is a song by The Beatles written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The Beatles released two distinct arrangements of the song in 1968: a hard rock version as the B-side of the single "Hey Jude", and a slower version titled "Revolution 1" on the eponymous album The Beatles...
". The band were also joined onstage for this number by Rodgers himself, Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, and guitarist Steve Stevens
Steve Stevens
Steve Stevens is an American guitarist and songwriter.He is best known for playing for other artists and less known for his critically acclaimed solo efforts , collaborations Steve Stevens (born as Steven Schneider on May 5, 1959, in Brooklyn, New York) is an American guitarist and songwriter.He...
.
Although the album was a chart success in the UK and the US, it was considerably less successful than their previous album Into the Gap
Into the Gap
Into the Gap is the fourth album by the British pop group Thompson Twins. It was released in February 1984 and reached no.1 on the UK Albums Chart, and no.10 on the U.S...
. Subsequent singles from the album also met with mixed results. The new Nile Rodgers-produced version of "Lay Your Hands on Me" (now with a more distinct gospel sound) reached #6 in the United States, while the next UK single "Don't Mess With Doctor Dream" only reached #15. "King for a Day" which made #8 in the US, peaked at #22 in the UK. The aforementioned "Revolution" was also released as a single in the UK, but failed to make the top 40, signifying an end to the Thompson Twins' commercial viability there.
The U.S. pressing of the album contained a new, Rodgers-produced version of the track "Roll Over", which was omitted altogether in all other parts of the world.
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Tom Bailey, Alannah CurrieAlannah Currie
Alannah Currie is a musician and artist, best known as a former member of the UK pop group, Thompson Twins.-Career:...
and Joe Leeway
Joe Leeway
Joseph Martin Leeway is the former multi-instrumentalist, and stylings guru, for the 1980s band, the Thompson Twins. Leeway joined the Thompson Twins in 1980 after being one of their roadies.-Career:...
, except where noted.
LPLP recordThe LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
: Arista 207164
Some UK copies came with a "free 5-track album of re-mixes" (this disc having cat. no. FRE TT 1). The remixes were also included as bonus tracks on the cassette version of the album.New Expanded Edition
On August 4, 2008, Here's to Future Days was digitally remastered and reissued as a 2-disc set by Edsel Recordshttp://www.demonmusicgroup.co.uk/Product.aspx?ProductID=4100. The reissue includes the five bonus remixes that originally appeared on the cassette version of the album in 1985, and also features most of the major 12" versions and B-sides, some of which appear on CD for the very first time.Disc 1
- "Don't Mess with Doctor Dream" - 4.25
- "Lay Your Hands on Me" - 4.21
- "Future Days" - 3.00
- "You Killed the Clown" - 4.52
- "Revolution" - 4.05
- "King for a Day" - 5.18
- "Love Is the Law" - 4.43
- "Emperor's Clothes (Part 1)" - 4.45
- "Tokyo" - 3.38
- "Breakaway"- 3.33
- "Roll Over" - 4.58 - Bonus Track (Album version that only appeared on North American copies of the original album in 1985)
- "Shoot Out" - 6.22 (Remix of "Don't Mess With Doctor Dream" that appeared previously on the UK 12" single known as the "[(U4A)+(U3A)=REMIX]", catalogue number TWINS229)
- "Alice" - 4.59 (Instrumental version of "Lay Your Hands On Me")
- "Heavens Above!" - 3.19 (Instrumental remix of "Future Days")
- "The Kiss" - 5.42 (Remix of "Tokyo")
- "Desert Dancers" - 7.07 (Remix of "Breakaway")
Disc 2
- "Lay Your Hands on Me (Original UK 12" Version)" - 6.05
- "The Lewis Carol (Adventures in Wonderland)" - 4.14 (Original B-Side of the "Lay Your Hands On Me" UK 7" and 12" singles)
- "Lay Your Hands on Me (US Re-Mix)" - 5.55
- "Lay Your Hands on Me (Extended Version)" - 6.00 (12" version of the album version)
- "Roll Over (Again)" - 6.50 (Previously unreleased 12" mix of "Roll Over")
- "Fools in Paradise (Extended Mix)" - 5.25 (Previously unreleased B-Side of the "Roll Over" 12" single)
- "Don't Mess with Doctor Dream (Smackattack!)" - 6.10 (Original 12" version)
- "Very Big Business" - 5.06 (B-Side of "Don't Mess With Doctor Dream" 12" single)
- "King for a Day (Extended Mix)" - 8.02 (Original 12" version)
- "Rollunder" - 6.50 (B-Side of the "King For A Day" 12" single)
- "King for a Day (U.S. Re-Mix)" - 7.20 (Original second 12" version)
- "The Fourth Sunday" - 4.18 (B-Side of the "Revolution" 7" and 12" singles)
- "Revolution (Extended Mix)" - 5.58 (Original UK 12" single)