The Pleasure Project was of course "True". This was to be the album that would see Spandau Ballet "buy their ticket to the World" as Gary wrote in the lyrics of that song.
"The decision to commericialise was deliberate, Instinction is the first video in which Tony smiles" said Steve Dagger in the Channel 4 Top Ten 80s New Romantics programme. Spandau knew they couldn't remain a cult band forever.
To record the "True" album the guys went to the Bahamas and brought on board Tony Swain and Steve Jolley who had achieved great success working with Bananarama and Alison Moyet.
This album evolved into what was to become the sound the World remembers as "Spandau Ballet". Steve Norman moved from playing guitar and percussion to playing the saxophone. Gary started providing ultra-soft backing vocals. They brought in session musician Jess Bailey to play keyboards.
Two singles were released prior to the album. "Communication" and "Lifeline". The album came out during the Easter Holidays. A national tour taking in just about every major city in Britain was announced. The tour dates for "Over Britain" can be found here. 1983 was to become the "Year of Spandau" |
