The Colour of Spring
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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.[1] Unlike previous Talk Talk albums, synthesizers are rarely featured on the album, being replaced by guitar, piano, and organ.[2] 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.[3]
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.”[4] 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.[5]
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".[6]
Reception
Template:Album ratings 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.[3] 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.[7] 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.[8]
Track listing
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Personnel
Credits adapted from LP liner notes.[9]
Talk Talk
- Lee Harris – drums (1–8)
- Mark Hollis – vocal (1–8), instrumental (1), piano (3, 5–7), Variophon (4, 7), organ (4), Mellotron (6), melodica (8), guitar (8)
- Paul Webb – bass guitar (2, 4–6, 8), backing vocal (3, 5)
Additional musicians
- Phil Reis – percussion (1)
- Morris Pert – percussion (1, 2, 5, 8)
- Martin Ditcham – percussion (1, 3, 5, 6, 8)
- Danny Thompson – acoustic bass (1)
- Alan Gorrie – electric bass (1)
- Steve Winwood – organ (1, 2, 5)
- Tim Friese-Greene – piano (1, 2, 8), Kurzweil (1, 4, 7), organ (3, 6, 8), Variophon (4, 7), Mellotron (3)
- Robbie McIntosh – guitar (1, 2, 5), Dobro (4, 6), acoustic guitar (8)
- Children from the school of Miss Speake – choir (1)
- Gaynor Sadler – harp (2)
- David Roach – soprano saxophone (2, 4, 5)
- Ian Curnow – instrumental (2, 6)
- David Rhodes – guitar (3, 5, 6)
- Mark Feltham – harmonica (5)
- Ambrosia Choir – choir (8)
Technical
- Tim Friese-Greene – producer
- Pete Wooliscroft – engineer
- Dennis Weinrich – engineer
- Paul Schroeder – engineer
- Dietmar Schillinger – engineer
- James Marsh – cover illustration
- Richard Haughton – photograph
Charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[14] | Gold | 50,000 |
| Netherlands (NVPI)[15] | Gold | 50,000 |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[16] | Gold | 100,000 |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
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- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Talk Talk - the Colour of Spring (Album review ) | Sputnikmusic".
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Crossley, Neil (25 February 2021). "Making Talk Talk – The Colour Of Spring". Classic Pop. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- ^ a b David Roberts British Hit Singles and Albums, Guinness World Records Limited
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Crossley, Neil (25 February 2021). "Making Talk Talk – The Colour Of Spring". Classic Pop. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Crossley, Neil (29 July 2019). "Talk Talk — The Colour of Spring". Long Live Vinyl. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Album of the Day – The Colour of Spring". Rhino. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
uswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (23 March 2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Talk Talk (1986). The Colour of Spring (LP liner notes). London: EMI Records. EMC 3506.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 304. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Album Top 40 slágerlista (fizikai hanghordozók) – 2025. 27. hét". MAHASZ. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."European Hot 100 Albums – Hot 100 of the Year 1986" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 51/52. 27 December 1986. p. 35. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Top 100 Albums (January to December 1986)" (PDF). Music Week. 24 January 1987. p. 25. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
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