African and White explained

African and White
Cover:	AfricanAndWhite.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	China Crisis
Album:	Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms, Some People Think It's Fun to Entertain
Released:	(remix)^[1]
Genre:	New wave synth-pop
Length:	3:46
Label:	Inevitable (1981) Virgin (1982)
Producer:	Jeremy Lewis
Chronology:	China Crisis
Next Title:	Scream Down at Me
Next Year:	1982

"African and White" is the debut single by English new wave band China Crisis. It was released in 1981 on Inevitable Records. A remixed version of the song was reissued as a single by Virgin Records in 1982 and became the band's first appearance on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 45 in August 1982.^[2] The song is included on the band's debut studio album Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms, Some People Think It's Fun to Entertain (1982) and on several compilation albums.

Reception

Upon its release in August 1982, Smash Hits wrote "Intelligent lyrics, an insistent hook and some clever drumming should put it in the mainstream as well as the independent chart."^[3]

Spin retrospectively wrote, "China Crisis showed it could create music that flowed with a strong rhythmic base, most strongly demonstrated on the track "African and White". While China Crisis appeared to be singing about stopping racism, they were perhaps more concerned with stopping musical racism or musical compartmentalization."^[4]

Track listing

UK 7" single

1. "African and White"
2. "Be Suspicious"

UK 7" single (reissue, 1982)

1. "African and White" (Remix)
2. "Red Sails"

UK 12" single (reissue, 1982)

1. "African and White" (Remix / Extended Version)
2. "Red Sails"
3. "Be Suspicious"

Notes and References

1. Web site: China Crisis singles.
2. Web site: CHINA CRISIS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company . Officialcharts.com . 2016-01-04 . 2016-04-07.
3. Singles . Smash Hits 5-18 August 1982 .
4. . Spins. Steve Matteo. October 1985. 6. 31.