Welcome to the Pleasuredome

by

Frankie Goes to Hollywood

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Welcome to the Pleasuredome is the first of two albums from Frankie Goes to Hollywood, an outfit that was to the U.K. what Vanilla Ice was to the U.S., in the fact that their time in the spotlight was both brief and unforgettable. The band wasn't just popular in 1984, they were downright gigantic. Upon being banned from the BBC, their first single, "Relax", would spend several weeks at # 1, only to be followed by their next single, "Two Tribes", which would become one of the biggest singles in U.K. history. Both of these songs would eventually become popular in the U.S., with "Relax" becoming a Top 10 hit. Then after their following album, Liverpool, hit the charts for about a cup of coffee, they were gone. Also like Vanilla Ice's hit album, To the Extreme, Welcome to the Pleasuredome was pretty much a studio creation, in this case masterminded by former Yes member and producer Trevor Horn. The production is very impressive for its era; it's perhaps the best sounding `80s album that you'll ever hear. However, unlike To the Extreme, Welcome to the Pleasuredome, while clearly reminiscent of the era with its heavy synth and the Ronald Reagan impersonator, still holds up well. Also worth noting is that their frontman, Holly Johnson, was a very charismatic lead vocalist who probably would have had a decent career if he didn't decide to become a recluse.

Having said all of this, Welcome to the Pleasuredome is a classic release for its first half before becoming hit and miss the rest of the way. The tribal title track, all 13 minutes and 40 seconds of it, is fantastic, and a video would later gain some MTV airplay albeit in a much shorter version. "Relax" is a classic, one of the catchiest and most risqué songs of the 80's. "Two Tribes" is even better. Led by its kinetic bass line and a manic energetic beat, it is simply one of the most exciting songs to hit the charts. And the video, which features Ronald Reagan and Konstantin Chernenko (thanks for the correction, Patrick) battling it out in a sand pit with the band and other world leaders looking on, has to be seen to be believed. While not on the level of the original versions, covers of Edwin Starr's "War" and Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" are also very good. The moody instrumental "The Ballad of 32" and the ballad "The Power of Love", which would also hit #1 in the U.K., are strong tracks and add some diversity. However, songs like "Krisco Kisses", "Wish the Lads Were Here", and "The Only Star In Heaven", while maintaining the energy of "Relax" and "Two Tribes", are decent at best. The versions of "Ferry across the Mersey" and "San Jose" also don't stand out. All told, Welcome to the Pleasuredome is a very good album from a band that would shine like the sun for just a moment but would not be forgotten.