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The career of Boy George and Culture Club had been on a steady upward climb for two years by the fall of 1984, culminating, as it turned out, with the transatlantic number one success of "Karma Chameleon" and the Colour by Numbers album, which eventually sold four million copies in the U.S. alone. The group had every reason to expect that its third album, Waking Up with the House on Fire, would enjoy similar success, but it was not to be. The leadoff single, "The War Song," with its chorus, "War, war is stupid/And people are stupid/And love means nothing/In some strange quarters," put off many fans, and though it neared the top of the charts in the U.K., it was less successful in the U.S., while the differing follow-up singles, "The Medal Song" in Britain and "Mistake, No. 3" in America, barely made the Top 40. "The War Song" certainly was mistake number one as far as the U.S. was concerned, but the problem may have been less the music on Waking Up, which was typically frothy and propulsive, than the passing of a fad. When Culture Club arrived in the winter of 1982-1983, they were, in essence, a novelty act -- the joke was that they had such an "outrageous" image ("silly" would have been a better word) through the clothes and makeup of their lead singer, yet made such conventionally pretty pop music. But novelty has a limited shelf life, and by late 1984, Boy George, in his new flaming red hair and dollar-sign drop earrings on the album cover, had been sideswiped in the image department by Michael Jackson, Prince, and Madonna, who had upped the ante, especially in terms of sexiness, an area in which he simply couldn't compete, at least among heterosexuals. So, while it's true that Waking Up didn't contain any song as catchy as "Karma Chameleon," the album's real failure was one of timing.
© William Ruhlmann /TiVo
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George O'Dowd, ComposerLyricist - Roy Hay, ComposerLyricist - Jon Moss, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Culture Club, MainArtist - Michael Craig, ComposerLyricist - Steve Levine, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Levine for Do Not Erase Productions, Producer - Peter Lees, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gordon Milne, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2003 Virgin Records Limited
Colin Campsie, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Phil Pickett, Additional Keyboards, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - George O'Dowd, ComposerLyricist - Roy Hay, Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Electric Sitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jon Moss, Mixer, Drums, Percussion, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Culture Club, MainArtist - Steve Levine, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Boy George, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Denise Spooner, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nick Payne, Flute, Saxophone, Harmonica, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Bailey, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Emile Craig, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - Roy Ernest Hay, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2003 Virgin Records Limited
George O'Dowd, ComposerLyricist - Roy Hay, ComposerLyricist - Jon Moss, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Culture Club, MainArtist - Michael Craig, ComposerLyricist - Steve Levine, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Levine for Do Not Erase Productions, Producer - Peter Lees, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gordon Milne, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2003 Virgin Records Limited
George O'Dowd, ComposerLyricist - Roy Hay, ComposerLyricist - Jon Moss, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Culture Club, MainArtist - Michael Craig, ComposerLyricist - Steve Levine, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Levine for Do Not Erase Productions, Producer - Peter Lees, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gordon Milne, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2003 Virgin Records Limited
Colin Campsie, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Phil Pickett, Additional Keyboards, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - George O'Dowd, ComposerLyricist - Roy Hay, Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Electric Sitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jon Moss, Mixer, Drums, Percussion, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Culture Club, MainArtist - Steve Levine, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Boy George, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Denise Spooner, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nick Payne, Flute, Saxophone, Harmonica, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Bailey, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Emile Craig, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - Roy Ernest Hay, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Limited
Colin Campsie, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Phil Pickett, Additional Keyboards, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - George O'Dowd, ComposerLyricist - Roy Hay, Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Electric Sitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jon Moss, Mixer, Drums, Percussion, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Culture Club, MainArtist - Steve Levine, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Boy George, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Denise Spooner, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nick Payne, Flute, Saxophone, Harmonica, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Bailey, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Emile Craig, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - Roy Ernest Hay, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2003 Virgin Records Limited
Colin Campsie, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Phil Pickett, Additional Keyboards, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - George O'Dowd, ComposerLyricist - Roy Hay, Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Electric Sitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jon Moss, Mixer, Drums, Percussion, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Culture Club, MainArtist - Steve Levine, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Boy George, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Denise Spooner, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nick Payne, Flute, Saxophone, Harmonica, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Bailey, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Emile Craig, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - Roy Ernest Hay, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2003 Virgin Records Limited
George O'Dowd, ComposerLyricist - Roy Hay, ComposerLyricist - Jon Moss, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Culture Club, MainArtist - Michael Craig, ComposerLyricist - Steve Levine, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Levine for Do Not Erase Productions, Producer - Peter Lees, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gordon Milne, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2003 Virgin Records Limited
George O'Dowd, ComposerLyricist - Roy Hay, ComposerLyricist - Jon Moss, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Culture Club, MainArtist - Michael Craig, ComposerLyricist - Steve Levine, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Levine for Do Not Erase Productions, Producer - Peter Lees, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gordon Milne, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2003 Virgin Records Limited
George O'Dowd, ComposerLyricist - Roy Hay, ComposerLyricist - Jon Moss, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Culture Club, MainArtist - Michael Craig, ComposerLyricist - Steve Levine, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Levine for Do Not Erase Productions, Producer - Peter Lees, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gordon Milne, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2003 Virgin Records Limited
Culture Club, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2003 Virgin Records Limited
Colin Campsie, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Phil Pickett, Keyboards, Additional Keyboards, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - George O'Dowd, ComposerLyricist - Roy Hay, Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Electric Sitar, AssociatedPerformer - Clare Torry, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Helen Terry, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jon Moss, Mixer, Drums, Percussion, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Culture Club, MainArtist - Steve Levine, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Derek Green , Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Boy George, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Lees, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gordon Milne, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Denise Spooner, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nick Payne, Flute, Saxophone, Harmonica, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Bailey, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Grainger, Saxophones, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Emile Craig, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Roy Ernest Hay, ComposerLyricist - Kenneth McGregor, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Ron Williams, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Tiara Thomas, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Louis Rodgers, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Christopher Rainbow, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Imogen Exton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Alice Kemp, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Andriana Loizou, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Alanda Marchant, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nancy Peppers, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Sunley, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2003 Virgin Records Limited
Colin Campsie, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Phil Pickett, Additional Keyboards, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - George O'Dowd, ComposerLyricist - Roy Hay, Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Electric Sitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jon Moss, Mixer, Drums, Percussion, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Culture Club, MainArtist - Steve Levine, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Boy George, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Denise Spooner, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nick Payne, Flute, Saxophone, Harmonica, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Bailey, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Emile Craig, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - Roy Ernest Hay, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2003 Virgin Records Limited
Jon Moss, ComposerLyricist - Culture Club, MainArtist - Boy George, ComposerLyricist - Michael Emile Craig, ComposerLyricist - Roy Ernest Hay, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2003 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2003 Virgin Records Limited
Album review
The career of Boy George and Culture Club had been on a steady upward climb for two years by the fall of 1984, culminating, as it turned out, with the transatlantic number one success of "Karma Chameleon" and the Colour by Numbers album, which eventually sold four million copies in the U.S. alone. The group had every reason to expect that its third album, Waking Up with the House on Fire, would enjoy similar success, but it was not to be. The leadoff single, "The War Song," with its chorus, "War, war is stupid/And people are stupid/And love means nothing/In some strange quarters," put off many fans, and though it neared the top of the charts in the U.K., it was less successful in the U.S., while the differing follow-up singles, "The Medal Song" in Britain and "Mistake, No. 3" in America, barely made the Top 40. "The War Song" certainly was mistake number one as far as the U.S. was concerned, but the problem may have been less the music on Waking Up, which was typically frothy and propulsive, than the passing of a fad. When Culture Club arrived in the winter of 1982-1983, they were, in essence, a novelty act -- the joke was that they had such an "outrageous" image ("silly" would have been a better word) through the clothes and makeup of their lead singer, yet made such conventionally pretty pop music. But novelty has a limited shelf life, and by late 1984, Boy George, in his new flaming red hair and dollar-sign drop earrings on the album cover, had been sideswiped in the image department by Michael Jackson, Prince, and Madonna, who had upped the ante, especially in terms of sexiness, an area in which he simply couldn't compete, at least among heterosexuals. So, while it's true that Waking Up didn't contain any song as catchy as "Karma Chameleon," the album's real failure was one of timing.
© William Ruhlmann /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 14 track(s)
- Total length: 00:53:45
- Main artists: Culture Club
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: EMI Marketing
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2003 Virgin Records Limited ℗ 2003 Virgin Records Limited
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