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After making a bid to become the '80s version of Steely Dan on the delightful Flaunt the Imperfection, China Crisis offered a fuller and more pop-oriented follow-up the next year. With the duo of Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley (replacing Walter Becker) sharing the producer's chair, the songs on What Price Paradise feature warm, intricate arrangements and prominent brass and strings. But while more than one Langer/Winstanley offering of this era overwhelmed its subject with such treatment -- Elvis Costello's ill-fated Goodbye Cruel World is a good example -- the sophisticated and melodic songs here prosper from the attention to detail. The Motown-ish bounce of "Worlds Apart" and "June Bride" is made even more infectious by punchy horn charts, while "Hampton Beach" offers sweeping melodrama, as Gary Daly's delicate vocals are surrounded with just the right touches. Even the songs that hint at the previous album's jazzy complexities, like disc opener "It's Everything," are more accessible and inviting here and, on "Arizona Sky," China Crisis seemed to have the big American hit that singles like "King in a Catholic Style" didn't quite deliver. Released at a time when many of the group's U.K. new wave contemporaries were being flushed off the charts -- most for good -- What Price Paradise was yet another strong outing from this too-often underrated band.
© Dan LeRoy /TiVo
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Martin Ditcham, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - David Bedford, Conductor, String Arranger, Strings Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - CLIVE LANGER, Producer, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Winstanley, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Davies, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Sullivan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - China Crisis, MainArtist - Gary Johnson, Sequencer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - Eddie Lundon, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary Daly, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kevin Wilkinson, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Pete Thoms, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Gary Barnacle, Flute, Saxophone, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Stuart Nisbet, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Luke Tunney, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Brian McNeil, Keyboards, Horn Arranger, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Nick Blundell, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Julian Wheatley, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fiona D'Eathe, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Davie Dover, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 1986 Virgin Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1986 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1986 Virgin Records Limited
Martin Ditcham, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - David Bedford, Conductor, String Arranger, Strings Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - CLIVE LANGER, Producer, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Winstanley, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Davies, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Sullivan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - China Crisis, MainArtist - Gary Johnson, Bass Guitar, Sequencer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Lundon, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary Daly, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kevin Wilkinson, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Pete Thoms, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Gary Barnacle, Flute, Saxophone, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Stuart Nisbet, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Luke Tunney, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Brian McNeil, Keyboards, Horn Arranger, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Nick Blundell, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Julian Wheatley, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fiona D'Eathe, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Davie Dover, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 1986 Virgin Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1986 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1986 Virgin Records Limited
Martin Ditcham, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - David Bedford, Conductor, String Arranger, Strings Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - CLIVE LANGER, Producer, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Winstanley, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Davies, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Sullivan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - China Crisis, MainArtist - Gary Johnson, Bass Guitar, Sequencer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Lundon, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary Daly, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kevin Wilkinson, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Pete Thoms, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Gary Barnacle, Flute, Saxophone, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Stuart Nisbet, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Luke Tunney, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Brian McNeil, Keyboards, Horn Arranger, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Nick Blundell, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Julian Wheatley, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fiona D'Eathe, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Davie Dover, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 1986 Virgin Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1986 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1986 Virgin Records Limited
Martin Ditcham, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - David Bedford, Conductor, String Arranger, Strings Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - CLIVE LANGER, Producer, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Winstanley, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Davies, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kevin Kelly, ComposerLyricist - Richard Sullivan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - China Crisis, MainArtist - Gary Johnson, Bass Guitar, Sequencer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Lundon, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary Daly, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kevin Wilkinson, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Pete Thoms, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Gary Barnacle, Flute, Saxophone, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Stuart Nisbet, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Luke Tunney, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Brian McNeil, Keyboards, Horn Arranger, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Nick Blundell, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Julian Wheatley, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fiona D'Eathe, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Davie Dover, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 1986 Virgin Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1986 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1986 Virgin Records Limited
Martin Ditcham, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - David Bedford, Conductor, String Arranger, Strings Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - CLIVE LANGER, Producer, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Winstanley, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Davies, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Sullivan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - China Crisis, MainArtist - Gary Johnson, Bass Guitar, Sequencer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Lundon, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary Daly, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kevin Wilkinson, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Pete Thoms, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Gary Barnacle, Flute, Saxophone, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Stuart Nisbet, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Luke Tunney, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Brian McNeil, Keyboards, Horn Arranger, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Nick Blundell, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Julian Wheatley, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fiona D'Eathe, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Davie Dover, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 1986 Virgin Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1986 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1986 Virgin Records Limited
Martin Ditcham, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - David Bedford, Conductor, String Arranger, Strings Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - CLIVE LANGER, Producer, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Winstanley, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Davies, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Sullivan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - China Crisis, MainArtist - Gary Johnson, Bass Guitar, Sequencer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Lundon, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary Daly, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kevin Wilkinson, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Pete Thoms, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Gary Barnacle, Flute, Saxophone, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Stuart Nisbet, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Luke Tunney, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Brian McNeil, Keyboards, Horn Arranger, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Nick Blundell, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Julian Wheatley, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fiona D'Eathe, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Davie Dover, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 1986 Virgin Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1986 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1986 Virgin Records Limited
Martin Ditcham, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - David Bedford, Conductor, String Arranger, Strings Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - CLIVE LANGER, Producer, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Winstanley, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Davies, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Sullivan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - China Crisis, MainArtist - Gary Johnson, Bass Guitar, Sequencer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Lundon, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary Daly, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kevin Wilkinson, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Pete Thoms, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Gary Barnacle, Flute, Saxophone, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Stuart Nisbet, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Luke Tunney, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Brian McNeil, Keyboards, Horn Arranger, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Nick Blundell, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Julian Wheatley, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fiona D'Eathe, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Davie Dover, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 1986 Virgin Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1986 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1986 Virgin Records Limited
Martin Ditcham, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - David Bedford, Conductor, String Arranger, Strings Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - CLIVE LANGER, Producer, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Winstanley, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Davies, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Sullivan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - China Crisis, MainArtist - Gary Johnson, Bass Guitar, Sequencer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Lundon, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary Daly, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kevin Wilkinson, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Pete Thoms, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Gary Barnacle, Flute, Saxophone, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Stuart Nisbet, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Luke Tunney, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Brian McNeil, Keyboards, Horn Arranger, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Nick Blundell, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Julian Wheatley, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fiona D'Eathe, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Davie Dover, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 1986 Virgin Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1986 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1986 Virgin Records Limited
Martin Ditcham, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - David Bedford, Conductor, String Arranger, Strings Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - CLIVE LANGER, Producer, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Winstanley, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Davies, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Sullivan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - China Crisis, MainArtist - Gary Johnson, Bass Guitar, Sequencer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Lundon, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary Daly, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kevin Wilkinson, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Pete Thoms, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Gary Barnacle, Flute, Saxophone, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Stuart Nisbet, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Luke Tunney, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Brian McNeil, Keyboards, Horn Arranger, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Nick Blundell, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Julian Wheatley, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fiona D'Eathe, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Davie Dover, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 1986 Virgin Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1986 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1986 Virgin Records Limited
Martin Ditcham, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - David Bedford, Conductor, String Arranger, Strings Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - CLIVE LANGER, Producer, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Winstanley, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Davies, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Sullivan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - China Crisis, MainArtist - Gary Johnson, Bass Guitar, Sequencer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Lundon, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary Daly, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kevin Wilkinson, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Pete Thoms, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Gary Barnacle, Flute, Saxophone, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Stuart Nisbet, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Luke Tunney, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Brian McNeil, Keyboards, Horn Arranger, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Nick Blundell, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Julian Wheatley, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fiona D'Eathe, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Davie Dover, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 1986 Virgin Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1986 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1986 Virgin Records Limited
Martin Ditcham, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - David Bedford, Conductor, String Arranger, Strings Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - CLIVE LANGER, Producer, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - John Lewis, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Winstanley, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Davies, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Sullivan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - China Crisis, MainArtist - Gary Johnson, Bass Guitar, Sequencer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Lundon, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary Daly, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kevin Wilkinson, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Pete Thoms, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Gary Barnacle, Flute, Saxophone, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Stuart Nisbet, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Luke Tunney, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Brian McNeil, Keyboards, Horn Arranger, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Nick Blundell, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Julian Wheatley, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fiona D'Eathe, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Davie Dover, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 1986 Virgin Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1986 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1986 Virgin Records Limited
Album review
After making a bid to become the '80s version of Steely Dan on the delightful Flaunt the Imperfection, China Crisis offered a fuller and more pop-oriented follow-up the next year. With the duo of Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley (replacing Walter Becker) sharing the producer's chair, the songs on What Price Paradise feature warm, intricate arrangements and prominent brass and strings. But while more than one Langer/Winstanley offering of this era overwhelmed its subject with such treatment -- Elvis Costello's ill-fated Goodbye Cruel World is a good example -- the sophisticated and melodic songs here prosper from the attention to detail. The Motown-ish bounce of "Worlds Apart" and "June Bride" is made even more infectious by punchy horn charts, while "Hampton Beach" offers sweeping melodrama, as Gary Daly's delicate vocals are surrounded with just the right touches. Even the songs that hint at the previous album's jazzy complexities, like disc opener "It's Everything," are more accessible and inviting here and, on "Arizona Sky," China Crisis seemed to have the big American hit that singles like "King in a Catholic Style" didn't quite deliver. Released at a time when many of the group's U.K. new wave contemporaries were being flushed off the charts -- most for good -- What Price Paradise was yet another strong outing from this too-often underrated band.
© Dan LeRoy /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 00:50:04
- Main artists: China Crisis
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Virgin Catalogue
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 1986 Virgin Records Limited ℗ 1986 Virgin Records Limited
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