A Flock of Seagulls (album)
1982 studio album by A Flock of Seagulls
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A Flock of Seagulls is the debut studio album by English new wave band A Flock of Seagulls, released in April 1982 by Jive Records. It hit No. 10 on the US Billboard 200 and No. 32 on the UK Albums Chart. The album includes the single "I Ran (So Far Away)", which reached the top 10 in the United States and New Zealand, as well as No. 1 in Australia. "Space Age Love Song" also reached the US top 40.
| A Flock of Seagulls | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 9 April 1982[1] | |||
| Recorded | Summer–Late Autumn 1981 | |||
| Studio | Battery, London | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 39:45 | |||
| Label | Jive | |||
| Producer | ||||
| A Flock of Seagulls chronology | ||||
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| Singles from A Flock of Seagulls | ||||
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On February 17, 2023, a 3CD deluxe edition of A Flock of Seagulls was released to commemorate its 40th anniversary. The 3CD featured a remastered version of the original album, B-sides, single versions, remixes, BBC sessions and a BBC concert from The Paris Theatre, London, which was originally transmitted in January 1982. It also featured sleeve notes by Classic Pop writer John Earls, including a new interview with lead singer and founding band member Mike Score. In addition, the remastered album was also available as a limited-edition transparent orange vinyl LP.[7]
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [8] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |  [9] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [10] |
| Smash Hits | 5/10[11] |
| Spin Alternative Record Guide | 8/10[12] |
| Tom Hull – on the Web | B+ ( )[13] |
| The Village Voice | A−[14] |
The album received good reviews upon its release and radio airplay.[15][10] In his retrospective review for AllMusic, Tom Demalon gave the album 4.5 stars, calling it "great fun and a wonderful collection of new wave ear candy."
Critic Robert Christgau was also happy with it, giving it an A− and saying that it is "so transparently, guilelessly expedient that it actually provides the hook-chocked fun most current pop bands only advertise."[14] Other reviews pointed out the bands "pioneering sounds, compelling hooks and undeniably addictive gimmicks."[10]
John Gentile of Punknews.org has described the album as an example of early, experimental electronica, and stated that while its sound is "not strictly punk, or even post-punk," it contains elements of both genres and "uses them to their greatest extent."[16]
The band, and particularly this album, were influential during the 1980s for their image[17] and for their production techniques. Record producer Phil Spector called the album "phenomenal."[18]
The album track "D.N.A." won a Grammy Award in 1983 for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.[19]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Mike Score, Ali Score, Frank Maudsley and Paul Reynolds.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Modern Love Is Automatic" | 3:54 |
| 2. | "Messages" | 2:57 |
| 3. | "I Ran (So Far Away)" | 5:12 |
| 4. | "Space Age Love Song" | 3:52 |
| 5. | "You Can Run" | 4:30 |
| 6. | "Telecommunication" | 2:33 |
| 7. | "Standing in the Doorway" | 4:46 |
| 8. | "Don't Ask Me" | 2:52 |
| 9. | "D.N.A." | 2:30 |
| 10. | "Tokyo" | 2:59 |
| 11. | "Man Made" | 5:46 |
| Total length: | 41:10 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Pick Me Up" | 3:11 |
| 13. | "Windows" | 3:30 |
| 14. | "Tanglimara" | 4:30 |
| 15. | "Intro" | 3:24 |
| Total length: | 56:30 | |
When compared to the UK version, the US version of the album dropped the track "Tokyo", used an edited version of "I Ran (So Far Away)", scrambled the track order, and also had minor mix differences or slightly earlier fade-outs for a few other tracks.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Ran (So Far Away)" | 3:58 |
| 2. | "Space Age Love Song" | 3:45 |
| 3. | "You Can Run" | 4:28 |
| 4. | "Don't Ask Me" | 2:46 |
| 5. | "Messages" | 2:51 |
| 6. | "Telecommunication" | 2:31 |
| 7. | "Modern Love Is Automatic" | 3:49 |
| 8. | "Standing in the Doorway" | 4:41 |
| 9. | "D.N.A." | 2:30 |
| 10. | "Man Made" | 5:38 |
Personnel
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A Flock of Seagulls
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Production
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Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[37] | Gold | 20,000^ |
| Canada (Music Canada)[38] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[39] | Gold | 7,500^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[40] | Silver | 60,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[41] | Gold | 500,000^ |
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^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||