Tenement Symphony
Studio album by
Marc Almond
Released14 October 1991 (1991-10-14)
Recorded1991
Studio
  • Maison Rouge
  • Sarm West (London)
  • Fishermans Room (Berlin)
  • CTS
  • Berwick St
  • RAK
  • Pacific
Genre
Length47:54
Label
Producer
Marc Almond chronology
Memorabilia – The Singles
(1991)		 Tenement Symphony
(1991)		 Absinthe
(1993)
Singles from Tenement Symphony
  1. "Jacky" b/w "Deep Night"
    Released: September 1991
  2. "My Hand Over My Heart" b/w "Deadly Serenade"
    Released: January 1992
  3. "The Days of Pearly Spencer" b/w "Bruises"
    Released: April 1992

Tenement Symphony (subtitled Kies und Glanz • Grit and Glitter • Grès et Paillettes) is the seventh studio album by English singer-songwriter Marc Almond. It was released in October 1991 and reached number 39 on the UK Albums Chart.[1] Tenement Symphony includes three UK top 40 hit singles; "Jacky", "My Hand Over My Heart" and "The Days of Pearly Spencer" (which would become Almond's last UK top 10 hit to date).

Background

Working with former La Magia and Willing Sinners member Billy McGee, and his former Soft Cell bandmate David Ball as well as various studio musicians, Almond recorded the album at Maison Rouge, Sarm West Studios, Fishermans Room, Berlin, CTS Studios, Berwick St Studios, RAK and Pacific Studios.

Composition

The album is divided into two sections; 'Grit' and 'Glitter'. The first five songs constituted the 'Grit' and were produced by Almond, Billy McGee, Nigel Hine, and The Grid. The 'Glitter' side (the Tenement Symphony) was produced by Trevor Horn. The artwork was designed by Green Ink with a cover photograph by Klanger and Boink. The album cover mimics the style of German record label Deutsche Grammophon's classical records.

Almond wrote in his autobiography that the album's concept was largely down to Rob Dickins and that he did not feel the album truly reflected his artistic direction at that time, though he was pleased to have had the opportunity to work with Trevor Horn.

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[3]
NME6/10[4]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Marc Almond; except where indicated

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Meet Me in My Dream"
4:24
2."Beautiful Brutal Thing" 5:02
3."I've Never Seen Your Face"
  • Almond
  • Ball
5:02
4."Vaudeville and Burlesque" 6:52
5."Champagne" 5:47
Side two (Tenement Symphony)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."i. Prelude"Ball0:23
7."ii. Jacky"
4:49
8."iii. What Is Love?"
5:04
9."iv. Trois Chansons de Bilitis – Extract"Claude Debussy0:54
10."v. The Days of Pearly Spencer"
4:22
11."vi. My Hand Over My Heart"
  • Almond
  • Ball
5:15

Personnel

  • Marc Almond – vocals, keyboards, arranger
  • David Ball - synthesizer, programming
  • Anne Dudley – keyboards, arranger, orchestration
  • J.J. Belle – guitar
  • Sally Bradshaw – vocals
  • Betsy Cook – vocals
  • Mitch Dalton – guitar
  • Andy Duncan – drums, percussion, percussion programming
  • Trevor Horn – bass on "What Is Love?", organ
  • Billy McGee – keyboards, arranger
  • Julian Mendelsohn – mixing
  • Richard Norris – percussion programming
  • Nick Plytas – piano on "I've Never Seen Your Face"
  • Lynda Richardson – choir master
  • Richard Riley – guitar
  • Philip Todd – soprano and tenor saxophone
  • Tim Weidner – bass
  • Bruce Woolley – keyboards, vocals
  • Gavyn Wright – string conductor
  • Nigel Hine – programming
  • Julian Stringle – clarinet
  • Steve Rapport – artwork
  • Inga Humpe – programming, vocals
  • Eric Caudieux – guitar, keyboards, programming
  • Max Loderbauer – programming

Charts

Chart (1991) Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC)[5] 48
Chart (1992) Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC)[6] 39
Chart performance for Tenement Symphony (reissue)
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[7] 50
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[8] 18

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Official Charts Company - Marc Almond". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 August 2008.
  2. ↑ Allmusic review
  3. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780857125958. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  4. ↑ Page, Betty (19 October 1991). "Long Play". New Musical Express. p. 36.
  5. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  6. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  7. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  8. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
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