Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Strip away all the hype, controversy, and attendant craziness surrounding Frankie -- most of which never reached American shores, though the equally bombastic "Relax" and "Two Tribes" both charted well -- and Welcome to the Pleasuredome holds up as an outrageously over-the-top, bizarre, but fun release. Less well known but worthwhile cuts include by-definition-camp "Krisco Kisses" and "The Only Star in Heaven," while U.K. smash "The Power of Love" is a gloriously insincere but still great hyper-ballad with strings from Anne Dudley. In truth, the album's more a testament to Trevor Horn's production skills than anything else. To help out, he roped in a slew of Ian Dury's backing musicians to provide the music, along with a guest appearance from his fellow Yes veteran Steve Howe on acoustic guitar that probably had prog rock fanatics collapsing in apoplexy. The end result was catchy, consciously modern -- almost to a fault -- arena-level synth rock of the early '80s that holds up just fine today, as much an endlessly listenable product of its times as the Chinn/Chapman string of glam rock hits from the early '70s. Certainly the endless series of pronouncements from a Ronald Reagan impersonator throughout automatically date the album while lending it a giddy extra layer of appeal. Even the series of covers on the album at once make no sense and plenty of it all at once. While Edwin Starr's "War" didn't need redoing, Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" becomes a ridiculously over-the-top explosion that even outrocks the Boss. As the only member of the band actually doing anything the whole time (Paul Rutherford pipes up on backing vocals here and there), Holly Johnson needs to make a mark and does so with appropriately leering passion. He didn't quite turn out to be the new Freddie Mercury, but he makes a much better claim than most, combining a punk sneer with an ear for hyper-dramatic yelps.
© Ned Raggett /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From £10.83/month
Trevor Horn, Producer - Steven Lipson, Producer, Engineer, Assistant Producer, StudioPersonnel - Gerry Marsden, ComposerLyricist - Mark O'Toole, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Holly Johnson, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Peter Gill, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Nash, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Frankie Goes To Hollywood, MainArtist - Paul Rutherford, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Philip Nash, ComposerLyricist - Andrew John Richards, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1984 ZTT Records Ltd.
Trevor Horn, Producer - Steven Lipson, Producer, Engineer, Assistant Producer, StudioPersonnel - Mark O'Toole, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Holly Johnson, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Peter Gill, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Nash, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Frankie Goes To Hollywood, MainArtist - Paul Rutherford, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Philip Nash, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1984 ZTT Records Ltd.
Trevor Horn, Producer - Mark O'Toole, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Holly Johnson, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Peter Gill, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Nash, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Frankie Goes To Hollywood, MainArtist - Paul Rutherford, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1983 ZTT Records Ltd.
Trevor Horn, Producer - Mark O'Toole, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Holly Johnson, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Gill, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Nash, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Barrett Strong, ComposerLyricist - Norman Whitfield, ComposerLyricist - Frankie Goes To Hollywood, MainArtist - Paul Rutherford, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1984 ZTT Records Ltd.
Trevor Horn, Producer - Mark O'Toole, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Holly Johnson, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Peter Gill, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Nash, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Frankie Goes To Hollywood, MainArtist - Paul Rutherford, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1984 ZTT Records Ltd
Trevor Horn, Producer - Steve Lipson, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stuart Bruce, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy Richards, Additional Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Mark O'Toole, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Holly Johnson, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Gill, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Nash, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Luis Jardim, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Frankie Goes To Hollywood, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Paul Rutherford, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1984 ZTT Records Ltd.
Trevor Horn, Producer - Steven Lipson, Producer, Engineer, Assistant Producer, StudioPersonnel - Marsden, ComposerLyricist - Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Music Production, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1984 Universal Music Operations Limited
Trevor Horn, Producer - Mark O'Toole, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Holly Johnson, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Gill, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Nash, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Bruce Springsteen, ComposerLyricist - Frankie Goes To Hollywood, MainArtist - Paul Rutherford, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1984 ZTT Records Ltd.
Trevor Horn, Producer - Steven Lipson, Producer, Engineer, Assistant Producer, StudioPersonnel - Burt Bacharach, ComposerLyricist - Hal David, ComposerLyricist - Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Music Production, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1984 Universal Music Operations Limited
Trevor Horn, Producer - Steve Lipson, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stuart Bruce, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy Richards, Additional Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Mark O'Toole, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Holly Johnson, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Peter Gill, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Nash, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Luis Jardim, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Frankie Goes To Hollywood, MainArtist - Paul Rutherford, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Philip Nash, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1984 ZTT Records Ltd.
Trevor Horn, Producer - Steve Lipson, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stuart Bruce, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy Richards, Additional Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Mark O'Toole, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Holly Johnson, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Peter Gill, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Nash, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Luis Jardim, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Frankie Goes To Hollywood, MainArtist - Paul Rutherford, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Philip Nash, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1984 ZTT Records Ltd.
Trevor Horn, Producer - Steve Lipson, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stuart Bruce, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy Richards, Additional Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Mark O'Toole, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Holly Johnson, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Peter Gill, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Nash, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Luis Jardim, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Frankie Goes To Hollywood, MainArtist - Paul Rutherford, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Philip Nash, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1984 ZTT Records Ltd.
Trevor Horn, Producer - Steve Lipson, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stuart Bruce, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy Richards, Additional Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Mark O'Toole, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Holly Johnson, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Peter Gill, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Nash, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Luis Jardim, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Frankie Goes To Hollywood, MainArtist - Paul Rutherford, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Philip Nash, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1984 ZTT Records Ltd.
Trevor Horn, Producer - Steve Lipson, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stuart Bruce, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy Richards, Additional Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Mark O'Toole, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Holly Johnson, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Peter Gill, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Nash, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Luis Jardim, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Frankie Goes To Hollywood, MainArtist - Paul Rutherford, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Philip Nash, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1984 ZTT Records Ltd.
Trevor Horn, Producer - Mark O'Toole, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Holly Johnson, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Peter Gill, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Nash, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Frankie Goes To Hollywood, MainArtist - Paul Rutherford, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Philip Nash, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1984 ZTT Records Ltd.
Trevor Horn, Producer - Steven Lipson, Producer, Engineer, Assistant Producer, StudioPersonnel - Mark O'Toole, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Holly Johnson, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Peter Gill, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Nash, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Frankie Goes To Hollywood, MainArtist - Paul Rutherford, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Philip Nash, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1984 ZTT Records Ltd.
Album Description
Strip away all the hype, controversy, and attendant craziness surrounding Frankie -- most of which never reached American shores, though the equally bombastic "Relax" and "Two Tribes" both charted well -- and Welcome to the Pleasuredome holds up as an outrageously over-the-top, bizarre, but fun release. Less well known but worthwhile cuts include by-definition-camp "Krisco Kisses" and "The Only Star in Heaven," while U.K. smash "The Power of Love" is a gloriously insincere but still great hyper-ballad with strings from Anne Dudley. In truth, the album's more a testament to Trevor Horn's production skills than anything else. To help out, he roped in a slew of Ian Dury's backing musicians to provide the music, along with a guest appearance from his fellow Yes veteran Steve Howe on acoustic guitar that probably had prog rock fanatics collapsing in apoplexy. The end result was catchy, consciously modern -- almost to a fault -- arena-level synth rock of the early '80s that holds up just fine today, as much an endlessly listenable product of its times as the Chinn/Chapman string of glam rock hits from the early '70s. Certainly the endless series of pronouncements from a Ronald Reagan impersonator throughout automatically date the album while lending it a giddy extra layer of appeal. Even the series of covers on the album at once make no sense and plenty of it all at once. While Edwin Starr's "War" didn't need redoing, Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" becomes a ridiculously over-the-top explosion that even outrocks the Boss. As the only member of the band actually doing anything the whole time (Paul Rutherford pipes up on backing vocals here and there), Holly Johnson needs to make a mark and does so with appropriately leering passion. He didn't quite turn out to be the new Freddie Mercury, but he makes a much better claim than most, combining a punk sneer with an ear for hyper-dramatic yelps.
© Ned Raggett /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 16 track(s)
- Total length: 01:04:23
- Main artists: Frankie Goes To Hollywood
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: ZTT Records
- Genre: Electronic Dance
-
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo
© 1984 ZTT Records Limited ℗ 1984 ZTT Records Limited
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.