Customer Reviews

Welcome to the Pleasuredome

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

 

 

Welcome to the Pleasuredome is the first of two albums from Frankie Goes to Hollywood, an outfit that was to the U.K. what Vanilla Ice was to the U.S., in the fact that their time in the spotlight was both brief and unforgettable. The band wasn't just popular in 1984, they were downright gigantic. Upon being banned from the BBC, their first single, "Relax", would spend several weeks at # 1, only to be followed by their next single, "Two Tribes", which would become one of the biggest singles in U.K. history. Both of these songs would eventually become popular in the U.S., with "Relax" becoming a Top 10 hit. Then after their following album, Liverpool, hit the charts for about a cup of coffee, they were gone. Also like Vanilla Ice's hit album, To the Extreme, Welcome to the Pleasuredome was pretty much a studio creation, in this case masterminded by former Yes member and producer Trevor Horn. The production is very impressive for its era; it's perhaps the best sounding `80s album that you'll ever hear. However, unlike To the Extreme, Welcome to the Pleasuredome, while clearly reminiscent of the era with its heavy synth and the Ronald Reagan impersonator, still holds up well. Also worth noting is that their frontman, Holly Johnson, was a very charismatic lead vocalist who probably would have had a decent career if he didn't decide to become a recluse.

Having said all of this, Welcome to the Pleasuredome is a classic release for its first half before becoming hit and miss the rest of the way. The tribal title track, all 13 minutes and 40 seconds of it, is fantastic, and a video would later gain some MTV airplay albeit in a much shorter version. "Relax" is a classic, one of the catchiest and most risqué songs of the 80's. "Two Tribes" is even better. Led by its kinetic bass line and a manic energetic beat, it is simply one of the most exciting songs to hit the charts. And the video, which features Ronald Reagan and Konstantin Chernenko (thanks for the correction, Patrick) battling it out in a sand pit with the band and other world leaders looking on, has to be seen to be believed. While not on the level of the original versions, covers of Edwin Starr's "War" and Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" are also very good. The moody instrumental "The Ballad of 32" and the ballad "The Power of Love", which would also hit #1 in the U.K., are strong tracks and add some diversity. However, songs like "Krisco Kisses", "Wish the Lads Were Here", and "The Only Star In Heaven", while maintaining the energy of "Relax" and "Two Tribes", are decent at best. The versions of "Ferry across the Mersey" and "San Jose" also don't stand out. All told, Welcome to the Pleasuredome is a very good album from a band that would shine like the sun for just a moment but would not be forgotten.

With the band's name referencing Frank Sinatra's decision to make films, FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD consisted of five men from Liverpool's punk scene who suddenly found themselves on the cutting edge of New Wave: Holly Johnson, Paul Rutherford, Peter Gill, Mark O'Toole and Brian Nash, a club band that attracted the attention of record producer Trevor Horn with the blantantly sexual song "Relax."

The result was WELCOME TO THE PLEASURE DOME, and released with tremendous hype the record leaped to the top of the English charts with the singles "Relax," "When Two Tribes Go To War," and "The Power of Love." The band was soon popular in the USA as well, and t-shirts proclaiming "Frankie Says Relax" were suddenly ubiquitious.

FRANKIE's time in the public eye equated to Warhol's fifteen minutes of fame; their second release was a flop, singer Holly Johnson left, and the band fell apart. But somewhat oddly, WELCOME TO THE PLEASURE DOME has left an unexpected afterglow: both singles and remixes have remained very popular in dance clubs, and remixes of "Relax" and "The Power of Love" actually returned to the English charts in 1993--nine years after the songs first debuted.

In many ways the recording is indicative of 1980s excess. At least two of the band members were openly gay and the band tended to present itself as an exercise in homosexual hedonism; the lyrics to "Relax" were so explicit that it was among the most often banned-from-radio songs of it era, and the video that accompanied it was so hot that it too was banned and a much tamer substitute video was created in order to get MTV airplay. Listening to PLEASURE DOME today one finds it no less explicit than it was twenty years ago. One also finds just as strange as it was when it first exploded onto the charts.

Much of the recording might best be described as musical collage. One song seques into another with odd bits and pieces coloring in the lines between each cut; there are bird sounds; narrative readings; and a host of other oddities. "Well," "The World Is My Oyster," "Snatch of Fury," and the title "Welcome To The Pleasure Dome" feel like one extend piece, bouncing from blunt to sharp. "Relax," the song for which FRANKIE was and is still best known, remains as intense, pulsing, and sexually hot as ever; and "Two Tribes" has considerable power and sharpness. "The Power of Love," one of the few ballad-like pieces the band did, is also very memorable.

The album as a whole--well, let's put it this way. You really have to be in the mood. Holly Johnson does nice covers of "Ferry Cross The Mersey," "Born to Run," and "Do You Know The Way to San Jose," but I wouldn't describe any of these as besting the originals so much as being new takes on old favorites. Some of the pieces are basically fluff filler expertly performed, with "Krisco Kisses," "Black Night White Light," and "The Only Star in Heaven" cases in point. Even so, it is hard to dismiss FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD as purely style over substance, as some have done; in many ways, it is as fresh today as it was when it first came out.

There are two versions of WELCOME TO THE PLEASURE DOME. This particular edition includes seventeen tracks and is essentially the recording as it was first released; a later version includes expanded tracks but, at least according to friends who have heard it, does so at the expense of the "bleed" between tracks. Both, however, seem to include what most people think of the essential three: "Relax," "Two Tribes," and "The Power of Love."

It's an odd recording, glitchy, strange, and one people seem to either really like or completely loathe. But the musicianship, production, and Holly Johnson's vocals are uniquely powerful and appealing. Flawed, absolutely; recommended just the same.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Yes, It is one of the best albums of the 80s. As for Sound it is the best album of the 80s one of the first full digital recordings. However one problem the current release is not the original album. It's missing the album version of "Two Tribes" which is twice as long as the single version(which is the current version) and a track called "Happy Hi".

I got this CD to re-live my youth in the 80's and you too will not be dissapointed. Turn the volume up to what you can stand while listening to the title track and just let yourself go! Great music from a short lived avant-guard British group of the times. Great service from this seller, they get 5 Stars from this satisfied fan.

I purchased this CD mainly for the song "Relax." The problem is, this version of "Relax" isn't the one I wanted. I listened to the sampler of this song, but it was too short for me to be sure it was the song I wanted. After all, I didn't know that there were two versions of "Relax." The version I wanted is the one on "Bang: Greatest Hits."

The album is terrific. I'm not sure what ever happened to Brit Frankie and crew but this is a classic.

One of the best CDs of the 1980s - it was like the Pink Floyd of the clubs. Incredible production, great musicianship, a theme album that takes you all over the map from club, dance, rock. Holly Johnson was an instant star as the rest of the band. Trevor Horn produces who has also produced Art Of Noise and Yes. One of the best double albums I had the pleasure of buying. This CD was popular in rock clubs, dance clubs, gay clubs, radio and MTV embraced it. I wish they were still creating music today. This one is a complete gem. A winner. Classic. This one is great to listen to blaring on a great music system or in headphones. Sit back and take the ride!

Awesome CD! Brillian combination of styles and tracks - Frankie and his band are missed but not forgotten...can't get this CD in NZ anymore so love Amazon for making the process so easy (and inexpensive!!)

Some people judged the album and artist on the basis that the band members were gay... almost obnoxiously so for some. Even though I disagree totally with the lifestyle and political views, I have to admit that Holly was a pure down and out brilliant musical genius. He and his band members were also brilliant and extremely talented musicians... virtuosos all! I danced to "Relax" in San Diego in the 80's at a big dance club called Confetti's. On a friday night I was with my wife on the dance floor, when as soon as the opening notes to Relax began playing, the drink servers went into a coreographed dance routine on the multi level dance floor and stairs. The crowd went wild and joined them. It was an event to be experienced!!! Holly's music makes you live to dance!

3 1/2


Though slightly short of the glam masterwork its history may suggest, this album is still one of the more satisfyingly cheesy, occasionally utterly triumphant discs of that decedent decade.