China Crisis - African And White (1983)

China Crisis formed in 1979 in Kirkby, near Liverpool, Merseyside with a core of vocalist/keyboardist Gary Daly and guitarist Eddie Lundon, and were part of a wave of new Liverpool acts in the late 1970's, led by Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, including Echo and the Bunnymen, The Teardrop Explodes, A Flock of Seagulls and Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Sharing an affection for Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan, David Bowie, and Brian Eno, Daly and Lundon played with various Knowsley post-punk groups and began writing songs together. The pair eventually asked drummer and percussionist Dave Reilly to join them in 1981, and in 1982 they released their debut single 'African and White' on the independent Inevitable Record label. The success of the single led to a record deal with Virgin, and they released their debut album 'Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms, Some People Think It's Fun to Entertain' in December 1982. A re-release of 'African and White' reached No. 45 in the UK Singles Chart, and the follow-up single 'Christian' brought them to national prominence, although by this time Reilly had left the band. He was replaced by ex-Waterboys drummer Kevin Wilkinson, and Gary Johnson was added on bass for the recording of their second album 'Working with Fire and Steel – Possible Pop Songs Volume Two', which was released in November 1983. The album was a Top 20 success in the UK, and China Crisis spent 1984 and 1985 making their biggest chart run, beginning with their only UK Top 10 hit single 'Wishful Thinking', and including 'King In A Catholic Style' and 'Black Man Ray'. 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, and the band were so honoured to work with Becker that they officially listed him as part of the group on the album's credits, consisting of Daly, Lundon, Johnson, Wilkinson, and Becker. During those first couple of years many of the sometimes stand-alone singles they released had otherwise unreleased songs on the flip, and this collection shows that they weren't just throw-away filler. 'African And White' has always been a favourite, and for once I didn't go off the band when they became successful, considering 'Black Man Ray' and 'King In A Catholic Style' as some of their best work.  

Track listing

01 No More Blue Horizons (Fool Fool Fool) (single 1982)
02 No Ordinary Lover (b-side of 'No More Blue Horizons (Fool Fool Fool)')
03 Watch Over Burning Fields (b-side of 'No More Blue Horizons (Fool Fool Fool)')  
04 African And White (single 1982 (extended mix))
05 Be Suspicious (b-side of 'African And White' 1982)
06 Scream Down At Me (single 1982)
07 Cucumber Garden (b-side of 'Scream Down At Me')   
08 Performing Seals (b-side of 'Christian' 1982) 
09 Greenacre Bay (b-side of 'Christian' 1982)
10 Forever I And I (b-side of 'Working With Fire And Steel' 1983)
11 Dockland (b-side of 'Working With Fire And Steel' 1983)