The Colour of Spring explained

The Colour of Spring
Type:	studio
Artist:	Talk Talk
Cover:	Talk Talk - The Colour of Spring.jpg
Released:	17 February 1986
Recorded:	1985, London
Genre:	New wave^[1] art pop^[2] progressive pop^[3] experimental pop^[4]
Length:	45:40
Label:	EMI
Producer:	Tim Friese-Greene
Prev Title:	It's My Life
Prev Year:	1984
Next Title:	Spirit of Eden
Next Year:	1988

The Colour of Spring is the third studio album by English band Talk Talk, released on 17 February 1986. Written by Mark Hollis and producer Tim Friese-Greene, the album combines elements of jazz and art pop in an effort by Hollis to embrace more organic instrumentation and production values.^[5] Unlike previous Talk Talk albums, synthesizers are rarely featured on the album, being replaced by guitar, piano, and organ.^[6] The album went on to become Talk Talk's greatest commercial success, spawning the hit singles "Life's What You Make It" and "Living in Another World" and reaching the Top 20 in numerous countries (topping the Dutch charts), including the UK, where it reached No. 8 and stayed in the UK charts for 21 weeks.^[7]

Background

The Colour of Spring is commonly viewed as a bridge between Talk Talk's earlier, synthesized pop sound, and their later, more improvisation-based work. Despite the extensive use of synthesizers on the previous two albums, Hollis was vocal in his distaste for them, stating that they were used primarily for economic reasons and that “if they didn’t exist, I’d be delighted.”^[8] During the recording of the album, Hollis frequently listened to the music of composers such as Erik Satie, Claude Debussy, and Béla Bartók, with the latter being a particularly significant influence on the album.^[9]

Like other Talk Talk albums, outside musicians were heavily utilized. Guests contributing to the album include Robbie McIntosh adding guitar, and Steve Winwood, who played organ on the hit "Living in Another World", alongside "Happiness is Easy" and "I Don't Believe in You".^[10]

Reception

The Colour of Spring became the band's highest selling non-compilation studio album, reaching the Top 20 in numerous countries (topping the Dutch charts), including the UK, where it reached No. 8 and stayed in the UK charts for 21 weeks.^[7] It did not quite match the sales of its predecessor in the United States but was nonetheless their last album to enter the Billboard 200, reaching number 58. With the international hit "Life's What You Make It", Talk Talk expanded their fan base. The song became the band's fourth of four American hits, along with 1982's "Talk Talk" and 1984's "It's My Life" and "Such a Shame".

The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.^[11]

Personnel

Credits per album notes.^[12]

Talk Talk

• Mark Hollis — lead vocals, piano (tracks 3, 5, 6, 7), Variophon (tracks 1, 4 and 7), organ (track 4), Mellotron (track 6), electric guitar (track 8), melodica (track 8)
• Lee Harris — drums (except 4, 7)
• Paul Webb — bass guitar (tracks 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8), backing vocals (tracks 3 and 5)

Additional personnel

• Tim Friese-Greene — producer, piano (tracks 1, 2, and 8), Kurzweil Synthesizer (tracks 1, 4 and 7), organ (tracks 3, 6 and 8), Variophon (tracks 4 and 7), Mellotron (track 3)
• Ian Curnow — synthesizer solos (tracks 2 and 6)
• Martin Ditcham — percussion (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6 and 8)
• Mark Feltham — harmonica (track 5)
• Alan Gorrie — electric bass (track 1)
• Robbie McIntosh — guitar (tracks 1, 2, 5 and 8), Dobro (tracks 4 and 6)
• Morris Pert — percussion (tracks 1, 2, 5, and 8)
• Phil Reis — percussion (track 1)
• David Rhodes — guitar (tracks 3, 5, and 6)
• David Roach — soprano saxophone (tracks 2, 4, and 5)
• Gaynor Sadler — harp (track 2)
• Danny Thompson — acoustic bass (track 1)
• Children from the school of Miss Speake — children's choir (track 1)
• Ambrosian Singers — choir (track 8)
• Steve Winwood — organ (tracks 1, 2, and 5)

Technical

• Dennis Weinrich — engineer
• Dietmar Schillinger — engineer
• Paul Schroeder — engineer
• Pete Wooliscroft — engineer
• James Marsh — cover art

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (1986)! scope="col"

Position
European Albums (Music & Media)^[14]	22
UK Albums (Gallup)^[15]	79

Notes and References

1. Web site: Terich. Jeff. 2 March 2009. The 90-Minute Guide: New Wave. 5 June 2020. Treble.
2. Web site: Cashen. Calvin. 8 March 2016. Top art pop albums of the '80s. 25 July 2020. The Concordian.
3. Web site: Steinberg. Jessica. 3 October 2018. Progressive rock musician Steven Wilson to play Israel. 5 June 2020. The Times of Israel.
4. Web site: Terich. Jeff. 12 August 2008. Talk Talk: Laughing Stock. 5 June 2020. Treble.
5. Web site: Talk Talk - the Colour of Spring (Album review) | Sputnikmusic .
6. Web site: Making Talk Talk – The Colour Of Spring. Classic Pop . 4 October 2022 . 25 February 2021 . Crossley . Neil .
7. David Roberts British Hit Singles and Albums, Guinness World Records Limited
8. Web site: Making Talk Talk – The Colour Of Spring. Classic Pop . 4 October 2022 . 25 February 2021 . Crossley . Neil .
9. Web site: Talk Talk — The Colour of Spring . Long Live Vinyl . 4 October 2022 . 29 July 2019 . Crossley . Neil.
10. Web site: Album of the Day – The Colour of Spring . Rhino . 5 October 2020.
11. Book: Robert Dimery. Michael Lydon. 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. 23 March 2010. Universe. 978-0-7893-2074-2.
12. The Colour of Spring . . 2012 . 2-5 . Liner notes . EMI Records.
13. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 304.
14. European Hot 100 Albums – Hot 100 of the Year 1986 . . 3 . 51/52 . 27 December 1986 . 35 . 29800226 . World Radio History.
15. Top 100 Albums (January to December 1986) . Music Week . 24 January 1987 . 25 . 0265-1548 . World Radio History.