Vienna [Enhanced, Import, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Ultravox | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 23, 2000)
• Original Release Date: 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced, Import, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Emd Int'l
• ASIN: B00004RIWF
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #147,806 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Astradyne

2. New Europeans

3. Private Lives

4. Passing Strangers

5. Sleepwalk

6. Mr X

7. Western Promise

8. Vienna

9. All Stood Still

10. Waiting

11. Passionate Reply

12. Herr X

13. Alles Klar

14. Vienna (Video)

Editorial Reviews

Mid-price reissue of 1980 album from new wave act featuring Midge Ure. Includes 4 bonus tracks 'Waiting', 'Passionate Reply', 'Herr X' & 'Alles Klar' plus CD-Rom material (Video for the new wave classic 'Vienna', discography & a weblink to the official Ultravox website). 2000 release. Standard jewel case.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Moments caught..., April 9, 2003

By 

TM77 "TM77" (nj, usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vienna (Audio CD)

This is the first album I ever bought by Ultravox back in 1981. I first heard of them after Gary Numan mentioned them as an influence in a couple of interviews. I was already a huge Numan fan. I also thought "what a cool name for a band" and eventually bought Vienna. I first thought it would sound cold and robotic like Gary Numan's music, but it was far from it. The music on this cd I find lush and full of feeling. Midge Ure's vocals express a lot of emotion to go along with the moody electronics. But the cd also rocks with guitar driven songs like New Europeans, Passing Strangers, and Private Lives. Even some synth only songs rock out, which is something their contemporaries never did, with the same ferocity. Songs Sleepwalk and Western Promise are great examples.
Most of the songs on Vienna feature synth solos by Billy Currie on an ARP Oddysey...sounding like a cross between an electric guitar and violin. Currie does play some actual violin and viola on the album most notably on Astradyne,Mr.X and the title track Vienna. Drummer Warren Cann took electronic percussion to a whole new level on this album.
I feel the title track Vienna is one of the greatest songs ever recorded. It's a beautiful blend of electronics and classical string instruments. It was a big hit all over the world except the US of course. Ultravox were just too European to have a hit in America at that time. This enhanced cd features the video which was the first video to look like a mini movie. Watch for the tarantula on the sleeping (dead?)guys face.
Also included are some B-sides to singles all of which are good songs. Waiting and Passionate Reply being my favorites. Herr X is an interesting version of Mr X done in German.

This is essential listening if you're into electronica old or new...or if you just like good music.
Buy it and enjoy.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Their Best, a defining work & maturity from their early era, January 11, 2004

By 

Btbp "btbp" (Tokyo / New York / Singapore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vienna (Audio CD)

Purists may disagree, especially if they started out with the Foxx Ultravox, which I also like but less so.

Vienna convinced this Hard & Prog Rock listener to appreciate New Wave, due to its stylistic depth and non-mainstream pop approach. Conny Plank has a golden touch on whatever he produces, and this is no exception.

With Conny's guidance, they break from their punk-ish, rawer side to a more refined and modern sound. It is probably one of the most underrated New Wave albums that helped defined the genre.

In this album Ultravox are fringe-pop while remaining artistically unique. It lacks (with the exception of the title track) their trademark overly melodramatic tendencies, which came out more on later albums. I like Ultravox in spite of what some fans appreciate �Ethat syrupy, over-dramatic quality, and what I think prevented them from becoming bigger than they were, which was a shame because I felt they were underrated and under-played on the radio.

The original album's song order gave it a certain character, an almost Prog-rock concept feel to it. The album is supposed to lead with the easily-accessible "Sleepwalk", which opens perfectly with that anticipatory drum hit and synth phasing), an almost Prog-rock concept feel to it, with the two hits, "Sleepwalk" and "All Stood Still" at the start and end of the album.

Leading off with "Astradyne" is strange. A great instrumental break from the rest of an otherwise vocal-driven album, it worked better in the original set at track 5, and led nicely into Mr. X. If they only did more instrumentals. Astradyne showcases a side of Ultravox which we never got enough of.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great transitional album for Ultravox, December 10, 2005

By 

Mark A. Carter (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vienna (Audio CD)

So this was the transitional album for Ultravox. 1980 & John Foxx had gone on to pursue his solo career giving over the position to Midge Ure (previously of the Rich Kids). Thankfully the new line-up didn't rest on the laurels of the old lead singer & his very personal & esoteric lyrics. When I saw Ultravox in Concert back 1980 they were canny enough to split their set pretty much in 1/2. Half of the old 70's fave's and then introduced the new stuff off this album. Vienna being more symphonic and richer sounding than the simpler robotic synth lines and beats of their previous effort 'Systems of Romance' this album took a huge leap forward for the group. Neither distancing themselves from their original sound, the Violins of Billy Currie were still up front and centre in many of the arrangements and given free reign on tracks like Vienna the highly emotive title track. Elsewhere you have the Instrumental lead in 'Astradyne' which shows how to make the most of a Synthesizer back in the 80's, when knob twiddling was how you played Synths rather than too much key work. However it works very well here while the group intelligently veers back to solid song-structure & the great brave vocals of Midge Ure pushing the songs like 'Passing Stranger's' & 'Sleepwalk' along wonderfully. I say brave because this was an obvious transiton for the group from Underdog Synth Punkers to the New Age scene that was fast hitting the U.K. and they straddled it with confidence and panache. Highly emotional songs like 'Vienna' & 'New Europeans' sharing space with beat driven Electro ditties like 'All Stood Still' & 'Sleepwalk' which I believe was their 1st single off the album. The stark white cover with the group in rather awkward stances I think works quite well & even their Logo changed. Certainly one of the top 10 albums in the U.K. of 1980 it jump-started a highly prolific Ultravox for another good few years but they never again achieved the height of sophistication they achieved here. A must buy for any fan of old-school New Wave. Highly recommended.