Lost in the ’80s: Ultravox

The recent release of a cleaned up and remastered Ultravox greatest hits compilation (including a bonus DVD with all the Midge Ure-era videos) got me thinking about how much I used to love this band, despite their being so serious all the time.

Despite hooks and squiggly synths galore, Ultravox seemed to be consumed with capital-A Art.Á‚  From the somewhat pretentious nature of their lyrics (“The Voice,” “Vienna,” “The Thin Wall,” etc., etc.), to the lavish and sumptuously shot videos, the group seemed to always be on a quest to make a grand statement.Á‚  The lighter side of Ultravox’s talent seemed to be saved for Ure and Billy Curry’s work with Visage, the New Romantic vehicle for Blitz Kid Steve Strange.Á‚  But thankfully, every so often Ultravox would prove they weren’t completely devoid of humor or whimsy.

To be fair, they proved this pretty early during the Ure era with “All Stood Still,” (download) the fourth single from Vienna, the band’s first album to feature Midge.Á‚  Copping Devo right down to the simply Mothersbaugh-esque vocals and paranoia-infused lyrics, the track ended up being the group’s second Top Ten hit in the U.K., scoring them a spot on Top of the Pops:

After that, it was back to A-R-T, with tracks like the “Vienna” retread “Visions In Blue,” the splendid but over the top “Reap The Wild Wind,” and “Dancing With Tears In My Eyes.”Á‚  It wasn’t until the band’s first greatest hits compilation, Collection, and its new single, “Love’s Great Adventure,” (download) that the guys lightened up again.Á‚  With a soaring synth riff and some wacky breaks, it was a pleasant change of pace.Á‚  Even the video was an amusing Indiana Jones pastiche, unlike the usually deadly serious Ultravox clips: