Rocktrospectiva: The Fantastic And Underrated "Parade" Turns 40

 

Released on 25 June 1984, "Parade" was the fourth studio album by English new wave band, Spandau Ballet, the banda wanted to sound more louder and open, so Gary Kemp came up with material he felt would be more appropriate for the arenas in which they performed now since they were attracting larger audiences. The whole idea of the title concept was because they would be parading themselves around the world as part of the album's corresponding tour, he hit upon the idea of a parade as the theme of the album and included an international cast of characters taking part in a parade on the album cover. 

 

The album peaked at number No. 2 in the UK spawned four singles "Only When You Leave" the most praise from the pack peaking the No. 3, and then "I'll Fly For You", "Highly Strung" and "Round And Round", but the critics backlashed the album because they found it to be a bland copy of their previous album "True".

 

After finished promotion on their 1983's album "True," the band keep moving with the tandem Tony Swain and Steve Jolley, they had fantastic ideas and a sense of what they had in mind for the next project, but the band wanted to achieved a louder sound of their live performance for this album, so Kemp shifted his writing style to create songs geared toward arenas, also he wanted to continue with songs from a personal nature as he did for "True" instead danceable music, once Kemp finished to write the songs, the band rehearsed for two months, and then come with the recordings in Munich in order to felt that urban feeling more aproppiate for the sound, the sound was more guitar-oriented than before, and according to band, the album finally sound for the first time like truly Spandau Ballet. 

 

The beautiful cover emerged as a way to honored Sgt. Pepper album from the Beatles, so they wanted to put famous people from the 80s., but had not enough time and also it would be too kitsch, instead the band move with David Band who painted a banner of the profile of a man standing and pointing straight ahead with one hand while the other provides a visor for his eyes. The man represented their experience during the True tour of moving forward while being blinded by a shower of accolades, the banner is prominently displayed on the album cover, where it hangs in front of an art deco building. 

 

The critics were variable focused on their instrumental sound and praising the track "Revenge For Love", Highly Strung" as the album landmarks and Hadley vocals most powerful tan ever, Kemp's guitar playing is more evident, with a more crisp sound and the arrangementes are well-executed, basically critics praised "Only When You Leave" as a superb pop track and Hadley emerging as a fine crooner, but on the other hand, certains medias and magazines dismissed the album and compared as a simply mered copy of their previous effort, throught the years, the album emerged as one their most impressive and favourites by band members, Hadley still love it, comparing that period as one of the most stables for the band despite the record wasn't like the band wanted to sound.

 

Parade Track List: 

1. Only When You Leave

2. Highly Strung

3. I'll Fly For You

4. Nature Of The Beast

5. Revenge For Love

6. Always In The Back Of My Mind

7. With The Pride

8. Round And Round