Customer Reviews

Gift

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sounding pretty much like an Ultravox album with gorgeous melodies and new romantic rhythm guitars, drum sequences and icy synths, this album is filled with some of Ure's finest moments, like If I Was and That Certain Smile. If you already have this on CD, it is worth it for the bonus CD. The original album sounds fine in its mastering here, but I do have one issue--it's in the tracking from That Certain Smile to the next track. The two tracks overlap, but on the original pressing of the CD, That Certain Smile faded out completely while those weird noises at the beginning of The Gift were entering, with track change coming at a clean break in those weird noises, but here, the songs are tracked so that the track changes while That Certain Smile is still fading out!!! I guess that's not major if you're listening to the CD all the way through, but if you put this song on your ipod, it's going to CUT OFF the end of That Certain Smile.

There's also a questionable situation on the awesome lineup of bonus 12" versions and rare tracks on disc 2. It is with the first track, the gorgeous No Regrets. Those little pops in the background--was this track mastered from vinyl, or were those noises there on the original master? Perhaps this is what it means in the fine print in the booklet when it says:

"The recordings on Disc Two of this release have been mastered to the highest possible standard. However, some of the recordings are included for their historical interest and do not represent the usual fidelity of studio recordings."

Ironically, the next track, Mood Music, which was the b-side of No Regrets, does not have any hiss or noise that would indicate it was mastered from vinyl, so what gives? If I Was in its extended form is equally crisp and clear. The Man Who Sold the World is just as clean. But the biggest bonuses are the super rare 12" versions of That Certain Smile, Wastelands, and non-LP single Call of the Wild, none of which has ever appeared on CD as far as I know. These tracks, all pristine sounding, are reason enough to invest in this reissue. As for all the live tracks, I personally don't have much interest in that stuff, so it just feels like filler to me.

Track listing:

CD1

1-1 If I Was 5:21
1-2 When The Winds Blow 4:08
1-3 Living In The Past 4:36
1-4 That Certain Smile 4:08
1-5 The Gift 5:00
1-6 Antilles 4:09
1-7 Wastelands 4:41
1-8 Edo 3:24
1-9 The Chieftain 4:46
1-10 She Cried 4:13
1-11 The Gift (Reprise) 1:45

CD2

2-1 No Regrets 4:03
2-2 Mood Music 3:30
2-3 If I Was (Extended Mix) 6:42
2-4 Piano 2:27
2-5 The Man Who Sold The World 5:44
2-6 That Certain Smile (Extended Mix) 6:36
2-7 The Gift (Instrumental) 5:09
2-8 Fade To Grey (Live) 4:47
2-9 Wastelands (Extended Mix) 6:13
2-10 When The Wind Blows (Live) 4:00
2-11 After A Fashion (Live) 4:37
2-12 The Chieftan / The Dancer (Live) 5:51
2-13 Call Of The Wild (Extended Mix) 8:03
2-14 That Certain Smile (Live) 4:01
2-15 The Gift (Live) 5:09

His first solo outing (during a break from Ultravox), this album is simply brilliant, top to bottom, made even better by the inclusion of 4 additional tracks (the last 4, courtesy of Cerise Reed and the official Ultravox Web site ultravox.org.uk).

Not a klinker in the bunch, from the UK #1 "If I Was" to two of the best pop instrumentals "Antilles" and "Chieftan" to a vast improvement on Jethro Tull and David Bowie tunes ("Living in the Past" and the extra track " The Man Who Sold the World") this disc is a winner.

Of all the singer/songwriters/musicians in the world (and how many do all three?), Midge Ure is nearly unrivaled, and my personal all-time favorite. Many rank him equally with Peter Gabriel in terms of talent, and is not as well known only because he always remains true to his music and does not write for the sake of popularity. Anyone who doubts the depth of his talent need only to see him perform live to understand. I was once honored to see him play in San Francisco, along with 4 other guitarists - he blew them all away, just a man and his guitar, and a talent far surpassing anyone on his class. If there are others in his class. From the first note that left his mouth, it became a joke among the other performers that no one was really there to see them at all. Midge Ure's skill, talent, and sincerity as a composer are worlds above the rest. His voice is flawless and full of heart. Why he is not more well known isn't a mystery; he puts his energy into his music instead of into marketing. And we are all the luckier for that.

I bought this cd, thinking for some reason, that it was a decade later release called, "Breathe". I continued in that misapprehension even when I listened to the cd for a few days--that's how timeless it is. This cd could have been recorded today, and it would top the charts.

Musically, it is a mixture of the synthesizer style used by earlier Ultravox; the synthesizer is used as both a drone and a melodic instrument. However, this cd includes some particularly inventive forays into Japanese instrumental music. Like "Little Orphans",..., Edo, and The Chieftains, are brilliant examples of rhythmic wizardry. In short, "The Gift" is a can't-be-missed addition to any fan of this New Wave icon's extensive musical career.

This was Midge's first solo outing and a successful one it was too. Spawning a number of successful singles including "If I Was", a British number 1. It was written and released whilest Midge Ure was still fronting Ultravox and it is not hard to hear the influences. It came out before Live Aid and after Ultravox's "The Collection". This CD is a fine example of professional pop and even manages to do a good cover of Jethro Tull's "Living In The Past". Worth every cent, a must for Ultravox fans and a rewarding purchase for anyone else.

It's debateable what Midge Ure is more recognisable for today - solo artist or Ultravox leader. While Ultravox were consistent chart entries in the early to mid-80's, Midge has had a bit of an up and down solo career. This album was the first of a few and was released around the time of Live Aid which he helped organise with (Sir) Bob Geldof. The first single went to # 1 for a single week aided by a video with an executive toy (on of those square things with lots of silver pins that you could leave imprints on by pressing onto it). The rest (She Cried, Wastelands, That Certain Smile) unfortunately didn't fare so well. You can now judge for yourself on this EMI re-issue that had a lot of input from the Extreme Voice (Ultravox) fanzine.
This is quite a strong album and is a more accessible version of Ultravox's music, definitely more poppy and opened up Midge to a wider audience. The one surprise on this album is that it contains three instrumentals (Antilles, Edo & The Chieftain - a glorious track with ferocious percussion and bass-playing), not that they're not good - it's just unusual to see this many on what is obviously an attempt at the mainstream. Some of Midges contemporaries appeared on this album - Mark Brzezicki (Drums - Big Country), Mark King (Bass/Vocals - Level 42), Glenn Gregory (Vocals - Heaven 17) and Mae McKenna who sang the gorgeous Gaelic vocals on Man Of Two Worlds from the previous Ultravox album Lament.
Extra tracks are b-sides and include a brilliant version of the old Bowie track The Man Who Sold The World. Midge best singles fell either side of this album by a couple of years : No Regrets, Yellow Pearl (although this found a home of Phil Lynott's Solo In Soho) and Call Of The Wild. This doesn't detract from this album though, some powerful performances from the Ultravox man.
Fav tracks : If I Was, The Chieftain, That Certain Smile, The Man Who Sold The World.

Midge Ure's first solo album (produced when Ultravox were on a break in the mid-80s) has enough difference from the Ultravox sound to ensure that the album is capable of standing on it's own.

The Ultravox influence is there in many tracks most obviously in the hit tracks 'If I Was' and 'That Certain Smile' but there are other which hint at a new direction and style for Ure.

The style change can be seen clearly in tracks such as 'She Cried' and the title song which are less fussy and more musically clearer than the Ultravox inspired music and also give Ure a better chance to use his quite exceptional vocal talents.

Apart from two rather uninspiring instrumental tracks there is a lot to listen to here both musically and lyrically. While it may be a put off for some people this can definitely be classed as 'intelligent' music. Not to all tastes but definite a promising beginning for one of the 80s best artists.

The album opens with If I Was, an elegant love song which is followed by When The Winds Blows, a great rock ballad with a complex arrangement and soaring chorus, and Living In The Past, a mid tempo rock song with powerful synth sections and impressive guitars.

The tuneful That Certain Smile is a flowing pop song, whilst The Gift has an impressive instrumental intro with disembodied vocals and industrial sounds, then turning into a grand orchestral ballad like those of the great Scott Walker and ending with an industrial outro.

The evocative instrumental Antilles is followed by Wastelands, another great song with poetic lyrics and rousing vocals. Found sounds and atmospherics return on the instrumental Edo, whilst The Chieftain is another instrumental, an atmospheric piece with soaring synths and bubbling rhythms.

The graceful She Cried is a moving slice of synth-pop that sticks in the mind. This CD reissue has been enhanced by four extra tracks of which the cover of Bowie's The Man Who Sold The World is by far the most impressive.

First of all, If I Was is one of the best love songs I have ever heard. I have been listening to it once or twice a day for 10 years now. Likewise with When the Winds Blow. It has a very moving melody during the chorus. i wish he would re-record those two songs today. The rest of the album is good but looses momentum after Antilles. Despite my personal criticism, Midge Ure is a sensational talent, voice and philathropist. A class act! His autobiography is awesome.

actaully,this should get 3 1/2 stars.i didnt think there would be a time where id give anything connected with midge less than a 4.here,i have no choice.the songs i like(if i was,both gifts,wastelands,that certain smile,when the wind blows,and antilles)i really like.the rest were not to my liking at all.it might be i have high expectations of midge.had this been simon(duran duran)lebon's solo effort,i would have given it a 5.on this cd,you have a good idea of what is in store with midge.he did his new wave tune,his ballad,instrumentals and up tempo songs too,some of which received radio play.i was surprised to see a video for''if i was''on friday night videos.for as long as midge been around,the lack of mainstream notoriety puzzles me.without midge,theres no heaven 17,flock of seagulls,depache mode,duran duran,tears for fears and many other 80s acts(most of which had a lifespan of 2 albums).his modest beginnings-the rich kids/slik,visage,guitar on a couple of thin lizzy albums,were unspectacular.but all the while,honing his craft and needing the right foundation to let it shine.the best thing that happened to midge was the john fox resignation.i once made a claim that that is what gave the 80's new wave scene life.midges extraordinary voice and his continual growth as musician was highlighted when joined with the remaining members of ultravox.it was during this period midge paved the way for all those to follow.while all but a handfull of 80's bands were flashes in the pans(an actual band!),midge and ultravox flourished.album for album,ultravox explored the limits of the synthesizer and created new ones.with songs like vienna,one small day,dancing with tears in my eyes,lament,rage in eden,new europeans,loves great adventure,visions in blue,white china,mine for life,and a personal fave of mine,a friend i call desire,it was not hard to see midges potential.even on the last ultravox album(titled U-VOX)which was my least fave,you could tell midge was just beginning to set off in a new direction.its just that ultravox couldnt make the trip with him.i guess with midge being reletively unknown to the masses,hes able to stay true to his vision and not worry about selling out or having his songs crammed into our skulls by the fast food mentallity that is M-TV.i have recommended midge to all of my friends and they say''who?''.yet,when i play him my friends ask''whos that?make me a copy.''i see more of the same for midge.so much talent,if only the public would listen.