All tracks recorded at The Paul McCartney Auditorium, Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, 16th September 2005.
Except ‘You Did Cut Me’, recorded in 2003 during ‘An Audience With’.
Incl. Insert with sleeve notes + Bonus CD with extra tracks.
China Crisis is a band that has attracted critical acclaim and chart success over the course of a career stretching back well over 30 years.
Formed in Kirby, just outside Liverpool, in 1979, the kernel of China Crisis has always been vocalist/keyboard player Gary Daly and guitarist Eddie Lundon, who first met at school when they were 14. Inspired by their heroes, Talking Heads, Brian Eno, David Bowie and Magazine, they steadily developed a distinctive style all their own.
In 1982 their first single “African And White” was released on the legendary Inevitable label, which was also the original home of Wah! Heat, Dead or Alive and It’s Immaterial. With that single almost grazing the UK Top 40, despite being on a small indie label, the band was snapped up by Virgin Records, who set about recording their first album, the splendidly titled “Difficult Shapes And Passive Rhythms, Some People Think It’s Fun To Entertain”, which was released in November of the same year.
Their first bona-fide hit single followed in January 1983, when “Christian” peaked just outside the top 10.
They quickly recorded their second album, “Working With Fire And Steel – Possible Pop Songs Volume 2”, which reached the top 20 and spun off their most successful single, the top 10 hit “Wishful Thinking”.
1985 saw them bring in Steely Dan’s Walter Becker to produce the “Flaunt The Imperfection” album and two further top 20 singles in “Black Man Ray” and “King In A Catholic Style (Wake Up)”. The album itself became their biggest seller, reaching the top 10 and staying on the chart for almost 6 months.
Two further albums, “What Price Paradise” and “Diary Of A Hollow Horse” followed for Virgin before the band took a lengthy sabbatical.
For this live recording, an 8-piece China Crisis returned in September 2005 to their spiritual home, performing at the famed Paul McCartney Auditorium at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts.
Impressively, half their set comprised chart singles, from “African And White” to 1986’s “Arizona Sky” and included all of their top 20 songs.
Still recording and touring, China Crisis continue to entertain and enthrall their fans to this day.
This China Crisis release is pressed on Yellow vinyl incl. a 18 track bonus CD of the full concert.
Band:
Jay Irwin: Drums
Colin Hines: Electric Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals
Eddie Robinson: Bass Guitar
Glyn Williams: Synthesizers
Andrew Steele: Electric Piano and Backing Vocals
Jay Murphy: Percussion
Eddie Lundon: Electric/Acoustic Guitar and Vocals
Gary Daly: Melodica And Lead Vocals