China Crisis - At the crest of the New Wave.
China Crisis In Concert – 1985 – Past Daily Soundbooth
China Crisis – Live At The Malibu, Lido Beach, New York – July 16, 1985 – WLIR-FM – Gordon Skene Sound Collection –
China Crisis in concert to end out the week. Recorded live at the start of their U.S. tour from The Malibu in Lido Beach, New York on July 16, 1985 and broadcast live by WLIR-FM, Long Island.
China Crisis formed in 1979 in Kirkby, near Liverpool, Merseyside with a core of vocalist/keyboardist Gary Daly and guitarist Eddie Lundon. China Crisis were part of a wave of new Liverpool acts in the late 1970s and early 1980s, led by OMD and also including Echo and the Bunnymen, The Teardrop Explodes, A Flock of Seagulls and Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
Initially a politically charged post punk band influenced by Brian Eno’s ambient soundscapes China Crisis soon crossed over to a more commercial sound and had success in the United Kingdom in the 1980s with ten Top 50 singles (four of them reached the Top 20) and three Top 40 albums (two entered the Top 20 and received a Gold certification). The band also achieved commercial success in Western Europe (notably in Spain, Ireland and the Netherlands), Australia and New Zealand, South Africa, and some minor chart successes in the Americas (particularly in Canada).
Their third album, Flaunt the Imperfection, was produced by Walter Becker of Steely Dan fame and reached No. 9 in the UK Albums Chart in May 1985. China Crisis was so honored to directly work with Becker that they officially listed him in the group as a quintet consisting of Daly, Lundon, Johnson, Wilkinson, and Becker on the album’s credits. He never formally appeared with the band (but made important playing contributions on the album) and the subsequent tour featured new keyboard player Brian McNeill. Johnson was now credited as co-writer with Daly and Lundon.
The album was promoted by the No. 14 UK hit single “Black Man Ray”, which also enjoyed critical acclaim and international success, reaching the Top 40 in Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the Netherlands, etc. The follow-up, “King in a Catholic Style (Wake Up)”, was a Top 20 UK single at No. 19, but it would prove to be the band’s last substantial hit. A third release from the album, “You Did Cut Me”, stalled at UK No. 54 but reached the Top 30 in Ireland and Top 10 in Spain. They simultaneously released a video compilation, Showbiz Absurd.
As a reminder, here is that concert from the start of their U.S. tour to promote Flaunt The Imperfection from 1985.
Enjoy the show.
