Because apparently retirement is just a suggestion, and the music industry is still churning out reissues like they’re going out of style, Talk Talk’s The Colour Of Spring has decided to join the party, celebrating its 40th anniversary with a brand new vinyl reissue. I mean, who needs new music when you can just re-release the old stuff, right? It’s not like we’ve seen this before with every other legacy act under the sun. Nature is healing, and another deluxe edition has appeared, because that’s exactly what the world was missing.
The reissue, taken from the original tapes and cut at half-speed by Matt Colton at Metropolis Studios on 180g vinyl, has been overseen by drummer Lee Harris and Mark Hollis’ son Charlie. I’m sure it’s a labor of love, and not just a cash grab, because that’s never happened before in the music industry. Somewhere, a record label executive felt a disturbance in the royalties, and suddenly this reissue was born. The remaster economy remains undefeated, folks.
A Look Back at the Original Release
Upon its original release in February 1986, The Colour Of Spring was met with critical and commercial acclaim. Who wouldn’t want to revisit that magic? The album charted in the Top 20 globally, including No.8 in the UK, and stayed in the charts for 21 weeks. The singles Life’s What You Make It and Living In Another World saw similar global chart success. The music press largely praised the band for their musical evolution, because that’s what music critics do – they praise the evolution of a band, even if it means leaving behind their traditional sound.
Before making the record, Mark Hollis decided he wanted to step away from predominantly using synthesizers, which had become synonymous with the band. Instead, he opted for guitars, piano, and organs to give the album a more organic feel, pulling influence from jazz and art pop. It’s a bold move, but it paid off. I mean, who needs synthesizers when you can have guitars, right? It’s not like the ’80s were all about synthesizers or anything.
The Tracklisting: A Trip Down Memory Lane
The tracklisting for The Colour Of Spring is a veritable trip down memory lane. Side one features Happiness Is Easy, I Don’t Believe in You, Life’s What You Make It, and April 5th. Side two brings us Living In Another World, Give It Up, Chameleon Day, and Time It’s Time. It’s like a time capsule of ’80s goodness, minus the big hair and oversized blazers.
Get Ready to Part with Your Money (Again)
The 40th-anniversary reissue of The Colour Of Spring is set to be released on September 4, and is available to pre-order now. Because what’s a milestone anniversary without a reissue, right? It’s not like fans have already bought this album multiple times before. Music historians are preparing fresh shelves for the box set, and a vinyl pressing plant somewhere just burst into tears, because they have to press more records. Nobody truly retires in this industry; they merely wait for the 40th-anniversary edition. The farewell tour count has officially entered scientific notation, and we’re just waiting for the next big reunion tour.
A Legacy That Refuses to Quit
Talk Talk’s legacy continues to endure, and it’s a testament to the band’s innovative spirit and willingness to take risks. Even if it means re-releasing the same album multiple times, because that’s what the people want, right? The Colour Of Spring 40th-anniversary reissue is a chance for old fans to relive the magic and for new fans to discover the band’s music. So, go ahead and pre-order your copy, because you clearly don’t have enough versions of this album already.
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