Rage in Eden

Content

The album continues the electronic new wave style the band had developed on their previous two albums Systems of Romance and Vienna, but has a more complex and introspective sound. The album includes several lengthy tracks and the last three tracks are interconnected to one long sequence. The lyrics to the songs feature obscure and surreal imagery. The chorus of the title track "Rage in Eden" is the chorus of "I Remember (Death in the Afternoon)" played backwards.

Background

Like the band's previous two albums, Rage in Eden was co-produced by Conny Plank. It was recorded at his studio in Cologne, West Germany. It took Ultravox three months to record the album, and unlike the Vienna album, the members had not written any material before they went into the studio.

Cann said about the recording 2009:

The abstract album artwork was designed by Peter Saville, known for his collaborations with New Order. All re-issues of the album since 1981, however, have different artwork, due to licensing problems concerning the original cover.

The remastered definitive edition, released on 22 September 2008, features a second disc containing rare and previously unreleased material. In addition to this, the original front cover artwork has been reinstated. The licensing of the original artwork currently only extends as far as the initial run of the physical release of the album (set at ten thousand copies worldwide). Future editions feature the same artwork as used on the previous CD re-issue.

Midge Ure said about the album: "I think 'Rage in Eden' was always one of my favourite albums. There's a starkness about it, an austere, mystical distance, a coldness to it but a coldness that kind of works."

Track listing

All songs written by Warren Cann, Chris Cross, Billy Currie, and Midge Ure.

Original release: CHR 1338

Side A:

1. "The Voice" – 6:01
2. "We Stand Alone" – 5:39
3. "Rage in Eden" – 4:12
4. "I Remember (Death in the Afternoon)" – 4:57 Side B:
5. "The Thin Wall" – 5:39
6. "Stranger Within" – 7:26
7. "Accent on Youth" – 5:57
8. "The Ascent" – 1:10
9. "Your Name (Has Slipped My Mind Again)" – 4:29

Original CD release: 253 958

1. "The Voice" – 6:00
2. "We Stand Alone" – 5:40
3. "Rage in Eden" – 4:13
4. "I Remember (Death in the Afternoon)" – 4:59
5. "The Thin Wall" – 5:41
6. "Stranger Within" – 7:26
7. "Accent on Youth" – 5:57
8. "The Ascent" – 1:07
9. "Your Name (Has Slipped My Mind Again)" – 4:30

CD re-release: 7243 8 57409 2 3

1. "The Voice" – 6:01
2. "We Stand Alone" – 5:39
3. "Rage in Eden" – 4:12
4. "I Remember (Death in the Afternoon)" – 4:57
5. "The Thin Wall" – 5:39
6. "Stranger Within" – 7:26
7. "Accent on Youth" – 4:45
8. "The Ascent" – 2:19
9. "Your Name (Has Slipped My Mind Again)" – 4:29 Bonus tracks: "I Never Wanted to Begin" – 3:31 "Paths and Angles" – 4:19 "I Never Wanted to Begin (Extended Version)" – 6:17

Remastered Definitive Edition

Disc One

1. "The Voice" – 6:01
2. "We Stand Alone" – 5:39
3. "Rage in Eden" – 4:12
4. "I Remember (Death in the Afternoon)" – 4:57
5. "The Thin Wall" – 5:39
6. "Stranger Within" – 7:26
7. "Accent on Youth" – 4:45
8. "The Ascent" – 2:19
9. "Your Name (Has Slipped My Mind Again)" – 4:29

Disc Two

1. "I Never Wanted to Begin" (B-side of The Thin Wall) – 3:31
2. "Paths and Angles" (B-side of The Voice) – 4:19
3. "I Never Wanted to Begin (Extended Version)" – 6:17
4. "Private Lives (Live)" – 4:51
5. "All Stood Still (Live)" – 4:19
6. "I Remember (Death in the Afternoon) (Live)" – 5:47
7. "Stranger Within (Live)" – 8:02
8. "Rage in Eden (Live)" – 4:26
9. "Accent on Youth (Live)" – 4:45
10. "The Ascent (Live)" – 2:27
11. "Your Name (Has Slipped My Mind Again) (Live)" – 4:45
12. "Stranger Within (Work in Progress Mix)" – 7:11
13. "The Thin Wall (Work in Progress Mix)" – 5:16

• Tracks 4–5 recorded live at Crystal Palace, 13 June 1981.
• Tracks 4–5 originally released as B-sides to the 12" version of "The Voice".
• Tracks 6–11 recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon, 17 October 1981.
• Tracks 6–13 previously unreleased.

Personnel

;Ultravox

• Warren Cann – drums, electronic percussion, vocals, (lead vocals on "Paths and Angles")
• Chris Cross – bass, synthesizers, vocals, (guitar on "Paths and Angles")
• Billy Currie – synthesizers, piano, violin, viola
• Midge Ure – lead vocals, guitars, synthesizers (except "Paths and Angles") ;Additional personnel
• Conny Plank – co-production, engineering
• Peter Saville Associates – original sleeve design

Charts

Certifications

References

References

1. (August 1, 1981). "News - Ultravox to tour Britain".
2. (1 August 1981). "News Derek Johnson - Ultragigs, Ultrasingle, UltraLP".
3. (September 5, 1981). "News - Chrysalis".
4. (August 6-19, 1981). "Bitz - Ultravox".
5. (August 10, 1981). "New Singles".
6. (August 15, 1981). "New Singles".
7. (31 October 1981). "Record News - The Voice of Ultravox".
8. {{AllMusic. Dave. Thompson
9. Eliasson, Tobias. (6 November 2008). "Ultravox: Rage in Eden". Release Magazine.
10. (19 September 1981). "Album Reviews (Ultravox - "Rage In Eden")". EMAP Metro.
11. [https://diffuser.fm/ultravox-rage-in-eden/ Ultravox Rage in Eden] Diffuser.fm
12. (2021-07-01). "Classic Pop Magazine presents 1981". Classic Pop Magazine 2021.
13. (2021-07-01). "Classic Pop presents 1981". Classic Pop Magazine 2021.
14. Kent, David. (1993). "Australian Chart Book 1970–1992". Australian Chart Book.
15. "Chris Cross (Ultravox)- Australian Gold Award for the Album 'Rage in Eden' - Ultravox, December 1981". Guitar Auctions.