Afternoons in Utopia

by Alphaville

Overview

Alphaville's second album, produced for the most part by Peter Walsh, found the group creating something close to a concept record, in overall atmosphere and structure if not in specific storyline. That Alphaville wanted to aim high can be gauged from the credit list -- the three core members "composed" the album, while no less than 30 musicians and singers helped perform it. Certainly the opening track, "IAO," a brief a cappella piece with Gold backed by a heavenly children's choir, finds the group reaching just enough and getting away with it. While at the time Afternoons in Utopia got lost in a welter of mid-'80s Euro releases with airbrushing and bad synth playing galore, in retrospect it's actually a successful endeavour, perfectly evocative of a mainstream style long vanished while containing its own artistic worth. "Dance With Me" and "Red Rose" were the much more conventional singles which got released in America, the former benefiting from some great U2-inspired guitar and the latter a reasonably sassy pop number that's one of various chances for Gold to exercise his Bryan Ferry fascination. The true character of the album, though, appears on most of the other songs, such as the sweeping passion of "Fantastic Dream" (Yes goes synth-pop, only this time without Trevor Horn) and the gentle pace and sci-fi scenario of "Carol Masters." "Jerusalem," which was the final single from the album released in Germany, is the secret highlight, with a wonderful chorus and an inspiring, just epic enough atmosphere. Other winners include the sweetly sung title track, which musically sounds like Enya some years before her own big splash with Watermark, and the Pet Shop Boys-reminiscent "Universal Daddy." At points things are just bad yup-funk for wine bars, but a couple of misfires aside, Afternoons in Utopia holds up well. ~ Ned Raggett

Product Details

Release Date:	05/14/2021
Label:	Rhino / Wea
UPC:	0190295065751

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Alphaville   Primary Artist
Jayney Klimek   Vocals (Background),Vocals
Roger Linn   Drums
Robin Smith   Keyboards,Saxophone
Phil Palmer   Guitar
Philip Todd   Saxophone
Michael Barbiero   Vocals (Background)
Peter Docherty   Choir/Chorus
Guy Barker   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Gustl Lutjens   Guitar
Wolfgang Loos   Keyboards
William Scott   Vocals (Background)
Jimmy Rip   Guitar
Jimmy Ripp   Guitar
Frank Ricotti   Percussion
Marian Gold   Vocals
Judy Cheeks   Vocals (Background)
Neil Sidwell   Trombone
Denise Brooks   Vocals (Background)
Andrew Brown   Guitar (Bass)
Jenny Troy   Choir/Chorus
Stephanie Cooling   Choir/Chorus
Victoria Miles   Vocals (Background)
Turhan Geza   Percussion
Louise McKenna   Choir/Chorus
Bernhard Lloyd   Guitar,Keyboards,Drum Machine
Ricky Echolette   Guitar,Keyboards
Alan Childs   Drums
Frank Mertens   Keyboards
Phil Todd   Saxophone
J. Neil Sidwell   Trombone
Jocelyn B. Smith   Vocals (Background)
Andy Brown   Guitar (Bass)
David Walround   Choir/Chorus
Bob Jenkins   Drums
Peter Walsh   Keyboards
William "Kooly" Scott   Vocals (Background)
Stuart Brooks   Trumpet
Children's Choir   Choir/Chorus
Jimmy Maelen   Percussion
Carmine Rojas   Guitar (Bass)
Dave Lebolt   Keyboards

Technical Credits

Robin Smith   Arranger,Brass Arrangement,Horn Arrangements
Michael Barbiero   Engineer,Producer,Remix Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Wolfgang Loos   Arranger,Engineer,Producer,Mixing Engineer
Steve Chase   Mixing Engineer
Steve Thompson   Producer,Remix Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Alphaville   Producer
Marian Gold   Composer,Lyricist
Victor Deyglio   Assistant Engineer
John Morales   Producer,Remix Engineer
Andra Levinson   Costume Design
Albert & The Heart of Gold   Composer,Lyricist
Karin Danguiller   Costume Design
Nick Blundell   Tape Operator,Assistant Engineer
Ulf Meyer Zu Kueingdorf   Cover Design
Miranda Boyer   Make-Up
Bernhard Lloyd   Composer,Lyricist
Ricky Echolette   Composer,Lyricist
Stephen Chase   Mixing,Engineer
Non Cult   Costume Design
Sergio Munzibai   Producer,Remix Engineer
Sheila Rock   Photography
Sven "Anthony" Bormann   Assistant Engineer
Inka Schuenemann   Costume Design
Peter Walsh   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Mixing Engineer
Ralf Krause   Engineer
Orlando   Producer
Kevin Metcalfe   Mastering
Eduard Meyer   Assistant Engineer