"Communication" by Spandau Ballet

Song#:  1848
Date:  03/31/1984
Debut:  85
Peak:  59
Weeks:  7
Genre:  Soft Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul



Pop Bits:  After scoring a Top 10 with "True" (#4) and a Top 30 with "Gold" (#29), this British band tried to secure another hit with this third single from their album True. It got off to a good start, but then faltered and peaked short of the top half of the Pop chart. It would also be their only song to reach the US Dance chart (#58) in tandem with another album track, "Lifeline." The song would get to #12 in the UK. Although the album would fall short of gold certification, it still did well reaching #19.

ReduxReview:  This is a good song with a catchy chorus, but overall it just wasn't as strong at their previous two singles. The balance of the album was also filled out with some nice material, but "True" and "Gold" eclipsed them by far. Although they had the one big hit, it didn't necessarily translate to a loyal following in the US. I remember the band was scheduled to perform at my college, which had a large concert hall. I got a ticket, which was surprisingly quite up close, and I was excited to see them. However, they ended up cancelling due to very low ticket sales. I was bummed, but looking back, it kind of made sense. They were not nearly popular enough to play a venue that size. A club would have been more appropriate.  In the UK, they could have easily filled most any theater. Still, they made a distinct and long-lasting impression around the world with "True."

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Two members of the band were brothers - Gary and Martin Kemp. Both brothers found themselves enrolled in a children's acting school and began to get roles in films and in TV programs. At one point, Gary decided to quit acting and focus on music. Eventually he would be a co-founder of Spandau Ballet. Early on when the band needed a bassist, Martin joined up. They both put acting aside until 1990 when they were offered the lead roles in The Krays. The Kemps portrayed real life twin brothers Ronnie and Reggie Kray, who were famous English gangsters in the 50s and 60s. The film was generally well-received and the Kemp brothers got good notices for their performances. In 2015, another biopic was made about the Kray brothers. Titled Legend, it starred Tom Hardy, who performed a dual role as both of the twins.

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