Welcome to the Pleasuredome is the debut studio album by English synth-pop band Frankie Goes to Hollywood, first released on 29 October 1984 by ZTT Records.[16] Originally issued as a vinyl double album, it was assured of a UK chart entry at number one due to reported advance sales of over one million.[16] It actually sold around a quarter of a million copies in its first week.[17] The album was also a top-10 seller internationally in countries such as Switzerland, Sweden, Australia and New Zealand.
Welcome to the Pleasuredome | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 29 October 1984 | |||
Recorded | July 1983–1984 | |||
Studio | ||||
Genre | Pop[2][3] | |||
Length | 64:06 | |||
Label | ZTT | |||
Producer | Trevor Horn | |||
Frankie Goes to Hollywood chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
Singles from Welcome to the Pleasuredome | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [6] |
Los Angeles Times | [7] |
Mojo | [8] |
Record Collector | [9] |
Record Mirror | [10] |
Rolling Stone | [11] |
Smash Hits | 7/10[12] |
Sounds | [13] |
Spin Alternative Record Guide | 7/10[14] |
The Village Voice | C[15] |
While commercially successful, the album also drew criticism [by whom?] for containing new versions of all of the songs from the group's (already much-remixed) singles from the same year ("Relax" and "Two Tribes", plus B-side "War"), as well as a surfeit of cover versions in lieu of much new original material. It was later revealed that Trevor Horn's production dominated the record so thoroughly that the band's own instrumental performances were often replaced by session musicians or Horn himself.[citation needed] Frankie's second album, Liverpool, actively featured the full band.
However, the album's evergreen ballad "The Power of Love" subsequently provided the group with their third consecutive UK number one single.
To celebrate the album's 30th anniversary, in October 2014, ZTT through Union Square Music released a limited edition (2,000 copies only) box set entitled Inside the Pleasuredome, available exclusively from the website pledgemusic.com. The box set contains rarities on 10" vinyl, as well as a book, a DVD, a cassette (featuring 13 mixes of "Relax" and its B-side "One September Monday") as well as a new 2014 remastered version of Welcome to the Pleasuredome on 180g vinyl.
The cover art was conceived by ZTT owner Paul Morley and illustrated by graphic artist Lo Cole. The front cover featured an illustration of the Frankie Goes to Hollywood band members; on the back of the album was an illustration of a large animal orgy; and the inner gatefold artwork was an image of a procession of animals entering the head of a very large phallus. The sleeve art proved controversial, and the printing company refused to print the album covers. Cole was forced to alter the orgy image by adding green fig leaves to cover the offending animal genitalia.[1]
All songs written and composed by Peter Gill, Holly Johnson, Brian Nash and Mark O'Toole except where noted.[18][19]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "The World Is My Oyster (Including Well, Snatch of Fury)" | Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Andy Richards | 1:57 |
2. | "Welcome to the Pleasuredome" | 13:40 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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3. | "Relax (Come Fighting)" | 3:56 | |
4. | "War (...and Hide)" | Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield | 6:12 |
5. | "Two Tribes (For the Victims of Ravishment)" | 3:23 | |
6. | "(Tag)" (unlisted track) | 0:35 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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7. | "Ferry (Go)" | Gerry Marsden | 1:49 |
8. | "Born to Run" | Bruce Springsteen | 3:56 |
9. | "San Jose (The Way)" | Burt Bacharach, Hal David | 3:09 |
10. | "Wish (The Lads Were Here)" | 2:48 | |
11. | "The Ballad of 32" | 4:47 |
No. | Title | Length |
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12. | "Krisco Kisses" | 2:57 |
13. | "Black Night White Light" | 4:05 |
14. | "The Only Star in Heaven" | 4:16 |
15. | "The Power of Love" | 5:28 |
16. | "...Bang" | 1:08 |
Total length: | 64:00 |
Additional personnel
Production
Technical
Weekly charts edit
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Year-end charts edit
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Austria (IFPI Austria)[45] | Gold | 25,000* |
Canada (Music Canada)[46] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
Germany (BVMI)[47] | Platinum | 500,000^ |
Netherlands (NVPI)[48] | Gold | 50,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[49] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
Norway (IFPI Norway)[50] | Gold | 25,000* |
United Kingdom (BPI)[52] | 3× Platinum | 1,100,000[51] |
United States (RIAA)[53] | Gold | 500,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |