Set (Thompson Twins album)
Encyclopedia
Set is the second album by the English pop group Thompson Twins
. Released in February 1982, it was the second album they recorded for their own T Records
imprint, which was released by Arista Records
/Hansa.
Compared to their first album, A Product of ... (Participation)
, Set featured a more polished sound thanks to producer Steve Lillywhite
. With their ever-shifting line-up, the Thompson Twins had now swelled to seven members, adding Matthew Seligman
on bass guitar to free up Tom Bailey for full frontman duties and keyboards. Former sax player Jane Shorter was replaced by Alannah Currie
, who was Bailey's girlfriend at the time (they later married and remained together until 2004). Three of the songs featured on Set do not feature Bailey on lead vocals, but are sung by Joe Leeway
. While not an official member of the band, Thomas Dolby
was also on hand to play additional keyboards on three tracks.
While the album was given praise by critics, the band found itself on the verge of yet another personnel change. The track "In the Name of Love" was written by Bailey simply as album filler, but was ultimately chosen as the lead single from the album. While failing to make the UK pop charts, the single was released in the United States as a club single and went to number one on Billboard
magazine's dance chart
, where it remained unseated for five weeks (from May 22 to June 19, 1982).
The success of the track opened many doors for the band, who suddenly had the potential to be more than just an underground sensation. Together with the band's manager, John Hade, Bailey then reinvented the band as a trio, keeping Currie and Leeway while firing the others.
Set was also released in the United States on the Arista
label as In the Name of Love, which saw three of the album's tracks replaced by two songs from the band's first album, A Product of ... (Participation)
.
In September 2008, A Product of ... (Participation) and Set were re-released as a double-CD set. Each disc included early singles, non-album tracks, and extended remixes.
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...
. Released in February 1982, it was the second album they recorded for their own T Records
Tee Records
T Records was the record label imprint used solely by the Thompson Twins in the UK for their first 2 albums and corresponding singles.The band had previously released two 7" singles independently: "Squares And Triangles" and "She's In Love With Mystery" . However, they are reissued on this label...
imprint, which was released by Arista Records
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
/Hansa.
Compared to their first album, A Product of ... (Participation)
A Product of ... (Participation)
A Product of … is the first album by the English pop group Thompson Twins. It was released in June 1981 on the T Records imprint, a label created by the band and distributed through the Fame/EMI label...
, Set featured a more polished sound thanks to producer Steve Lillywhite
Steve Lillywhite
Steve Lillywhite is an English Grammy Award winning record producer. Since he began his career in 1977, Lillywhite has been credited for working on over 500 records and has collaborated with a variety of musicians including XTC, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Dave Matthews Band, U2, Peter Gabriel,...
. With their ever-shifting line-up, the Thompson Twins had now swelled to seven members, adding Matthew Seligman
Matthew Seligman
Matthew Seligman is an English bassist who took part of the new wave scene in the 1970s and the 1980s, best known as a member of the Soft Boys.-Biography:...
on bass guitar to free up Tom Bailey for full frontman duties and keyboards. Former sax player Jane Shorter was replaced by Alannah Currie
Alannah Currie
Alannah Currie is a musician and artist, best known as a former member of the UK pop group, Thompson Twins.-Career:...
, who was Bailey's girlfriend at the time (they later married and remained together until 2004). Three of the songs featured on Set do not feature Bailey on lead vocals, but are sung by 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:...
. While not an official member of the band, Thomas Dolby
Thomas Dolby
Thomas Dolby is an English musician and producer. Best known for his 1982 hit "She Blinded Me with Science", and 1984 single "Hyperactive!", he has also worked extensively in production and as a session musician.-Early life:Dolby was born in London, England, contrary to information in early 1980s...
was also on hand to play additional keyboards on three tracks.
While the album was given praise by critics, the band found itself on the verge of yet another personnel change. The track "In the Name of Love" was written by Bailey simply as album filler, but was ultimately chosen as the lead single from the album. While failing to make the UK pop charts, the single was released in the United States as a club single and went to number one on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
magazine's dance chart
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
, where it remained unseated for five weeks (from May 22 to June 19, 1982).
The success of the track opened many doors for the band, who suddenly had the potential to be more than just an underground sensation. Together with the band's manager, John Hade, Bailey then reinvented the band as a trio, keeping Currie and Leeway while firing the others.
Set was also released in the United States on the Arista
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
label as In the Name of Love, which saw three of the album's tracks replaced by two songs from the band's first album, A Product of ... (Participation)
A Product of ... (Participation)
A Product of … is the first album by the English pop group Thompson Twins. It was released in June 1981 on the T Records imprint, a label created by the band and distributed through the Fame/EMI label...
.
In September 2008, A Product of ... (Participation) and Set were re-released as a double-CD set. Each disc included early singles, non-album tracks, and extended remixes.
Original Album
- "In the Name of Love"
- "Living in Europe"
- "Bouncing"
- "Tok Tok"
- "Good Gosh"
- "The Rowe"
- "Runaway"
- "Another Fantasy"
- "Fool's Gold"
- "Crazy Dog"
- "Blind"
2008 Re-Issue Bonus Tracks
- "In the Name of Love" (12" Dance Extension)
- "In the Beginning"
- "Coastline"
- "Open Your Eye"
- "Runaway" (extended remix)
- "Bouncing" (extended remix)
- "In the Name of Love" (Big Value Version/New Super Synthesized Version)
- "Living in Europe" (Live at the Hammersmith PalaisHammersmith PalaisThe Hammersmith Palais de Danse, later simply the Hammersmith Palais, was a ballroom and entertainment venue in London that operated from 1919 until 2007...
, April 1982)
Personnel
- Tom Bailey - vocals, synths, percussion, piano
- Chris Bell - drums
- Alannah CurrieAlannah CurrieAlannah Currie is a musician and artist, best known as a former member of the UK pop group, Thompson Twins.-Career:...
- percussion, sax - Peter Dodd - guitar, synths, percussion
- Joe LeewayJoe LeewayJoseph 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:...
- congas, vocals, percussion - John Roog - guitar
- Matthew SeligmanMatthew SeligmanMatthew Seligman is an English bassist who took part of the new wave scene in the 1970s and the 1980s, best known as a member of the Soft Boys.-Biography:...
- bass - Thomas DolbyThomas DolbyThomas Dolby is an English musician and producer. Best known for his 1982 hit "She Blinded Me with Science", and 1984 single "Hyperactive!", he has also worked extensively in production and as a session musician.-Early life:Dolby was born in London, England, contrary to information in early 1980s...
- additional synths (tracks 6, 7, 9)