Burning The Ground Exclusive
Released in late 1983, Love Is a Wonderful Colour is the most well-known track by British alternative rock band The Icicle Works. Serving as the second single from their self-titled debut album, the song became the band’s biggest hit, reaching #15 on the UK Singles Chart in early 1984.
Led by Ian McNabb, The Icicle Works emerged from Liverpool’s vibrant post-punk and new wave scene, drawing comparisons to bands like Echo & The Bunnymen and The Teardrop Explodes. Love Is a Wonderful Colour is a perfect example of the band’s signature sound—soaring melodies, grand instrumentation, and poetic lyrics. McNabb’s evocative vocals, combined with dramatic percussion and rich, layered production, create a cinematic feel that sets the song apart from many of its contemporaries.
Lyrically, the song is filled with vivid imagery and a sense of longing, though its exact meaning has been subject to interpretation. McNabb has described it as a song about the beauty and power of love, but its abstract poetry allows listeners to take their own meaning from it.
While The Icicle Works never achieved massive commercial success beyond this track, they maintained a devoted following throughout the 1980s and beyond. Ian McNabb later pursued a solo career, continuing to create music with the same passionate, anthemic quality that Love Is a Wonderful Colour embodies.
This song remains a standout for fans of 1980s alternative and new wave music—a timeless, euphoric anthem that captures the era’s grand, romantic spirit.
SIDE A:
Love Is A Wonderful Colour (Long Version) 6:44
Mixed By – Hugh Jones
Producer – David Lord
SIDE B:
Waterline 4:01
Producer – The Icicle Works
In The Dance The Shaman Led 3:43
Producer – The Icicle Works
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Beggars Banquet – BEG 99 T, Beggars Banquet – BEG 99(T)
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single, Stereo
Country: UK
Released: Nov 4, 1983
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock, Indie Rock
CREDITS:
Written-By – McNabb*
NOTES:
B1, B2 produced with thanks to John Brierley
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black PnP MkII
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 25 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!
Password: burningtheground
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Fantastic band. Love em!!
Thank you Paul, but you need to check your sample rate again. Looks like a wrong setting. Frequencies cutted at 48kHz.
Yesss!!! I love Icycle Works and thought I had all by them on vinyl and CD, but this long version of the A-side is new to me. THANK YOU !!!
You’re welcome, Grant 🙂
I remember you posting their Whisper To A Scream (Birds Fly) US 12” Promo single, which had the US mix by Steve Thompson. I still have that 2019 remastered version and playlist it regularly.
Can’t wait to hear this UK top 40 hit in djpault quality.
Thanks Paul.
You’re welcome, Mark 🙂
Another Scouse classic! Everytime I go to Liverpool Paul I wish I could magic you there to wallow in the history of so much of your record collection, Pete Burns’ clothes shop, OMD’s phone box, the old police cells where Frankie rehearsed, etc etc.
Don’t know if you’ve seen it but here’s a clip of Pete Wylie showing some of 80s Liverpool:
https://youtu.be/kzRt9kwhc-4
Thank you for the video, Jermajesty. I would love it if you could teleport me to Liverpool.
“Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)” was the only song from their catalog to hit the Billboard Top 100 in the US. It got to #13. The US label also chose to change the name to “Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly).” Birds Fly reached #90 on its initial release in the UK and #53 when it was re-released after the success of “Love Is a Wonderful Colour” For the re-release, they coupled the song with “In the Cauldron of Love” as a double A-side. In the UK, “Love Is a Wonderful Colour” was their only top-40 hit in the… Read more »
I posted the U.S. 12″ promo of “Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)” back in 2019. As I recall, it reached #37 on the Billboard Hot 100, #18 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, and #13 on the Billboard Dance charts.
Thank you Paul for bringing this back in the spotlight! Well deserved. Here in the US their big hit was Whisper To A Scream, so I wasn’t as familiar with this hit. But it sure is a worthy anthem from the talent of Ian McNabb. I think it exemplfies all the qualities that made the 80’s the greatest decade. Thank you Paul!!
You’re welcome, Retro Hound. I feel this band should have been much bigger than it was. That is why I feel bringing these bads back into the spotlight is important. 🙂
Excellent choice. Brings back memories of hearing quality music on my favorite FM station back in the early 80s. Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure, Martika 🙂
It’s songs like these that remind me that the 1980’s is the best decade for music!! Thank you, Paul, for posting this 12-inch. It’s so wonderful!!
Jeff
I love this 12″ vinyl so much; it’s both melancholy and happy.
Thanks for the memories! This is (and always was) one of my favourites back in the UK in the 80’s. My brother had a hi-fi system, he played his records loud in his room, and the sound came hammering through the (thin) walls. When this song went on it always stopped me dead in my tracks, such is its power and as you say anthemic quality. A true classic. Hope your recovery is going well btw…
This is one of those records whose production really stops you in your tracks. It is beautiful yet sort of harsh at the same time. If that makes sense. 🙂
I would have thought Birds Fly to be the band’s best-known track (maybe just in my circle?), that entire album is excellent. Thank you for sharing!
Birds Fly was my introduction to the band here in the US.