The Colour of Spring

Template:Redirect-distinguish Template:Use dmy dates {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |Template:Short description|noreplace}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=It's My Life1984Spirit of Eden1988studioThe Colour of SpringTalk Talk - The Colour of Spring.jpgTalk Talk17 February 19861985, LondonTemplate:Hlist*New wave<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Unlike previous Talk Talk albums, synthesizers are rarely featured on the album, being replaced by guitar, piano, and organ.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref name="David Roberts">David Roberts British Hit Singles and Albums, Guinness World Records Limited</ref>

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.”<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref name="David Roberts"/> 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.<ref name="us"/> 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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Personnel

Credits per album notes.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

Talk Talk

• Mark Hollis — lead vocals, piano (tracks 3, 5, 6, 7), Variophon (tracks 1, 4 and 7), organ (track 4), Mellotron (track 6), electric guitar (track 8), melodica (track 8)
• Lee Harris — drums (except 4, 7)
• Paul Webb — bass guitar (tracks 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8), backing vocals (tracks 3 and 5)

Additional personnel

• Tim Friese-Greene — producer, piano (tracks 1, 2, and 8), Kurzweil Synthesizer (tracks 1, 4 and 7), organ (tracks 3, 6 and 8), Variophon (tracks 4 and 7), Mellotron (track 3)
• Ian Curnow — synthesizer solos (tracks 2 and 6)
• Martin Ditcham — percussion (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6 and 8)
• Mark Feltham — harmonica (track 5)
• Alan Gorrie — electric bass (track 1)
• Robbie McIntosh — guitar (tracks 1, 2, 5 and 8), Dobro (tracks 4 and 6)
• Morris Pert — percussion (tracks 1, 2, 5, and 8)
• Phil Reis — percussion (track 1)
• David Rhodes — guitar (tracks 3, 5, and 6)
• David Roach — soprano saxophone (tracks 2, 4, and 5)
• Gaynor Sadler — harp (track 2)
• Danny Thompson — acoustic bass (track 1)
• Children from the school of Miss Speake — children's choir (track 1)
• Ambrosian Singers — choir (track 8)
• Steve Winwood — organ (tracks 1, 2, and 5)

Technical

• Dennis Weinrich — engineer
• Dietmar Schillinger — engineer
• Paul Schroeder — engineer
• Pete Wooliscroft — engineer
• James Marsh — cover art

Charts

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Chart (1986)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref name=aus>Template:Cite book</ref>	71

Year-end charts

1986 year-end chart performance for The Colour of Spring

Chart (1986)	Position
European Albums (Music & Media)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	22
UK Albums (Gallup)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	79