BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1982
“Pleasure Boys” is a single by the British synth-pop group Visage, released on Polydor Records in October 1982.
Initially a non-album single, “Pleasure Boys” was included on the Fade to Grey – The Singles Collection compilation album in 1983. As well as the standard 7″ and 12″ formats, the single was also released as a limited edition 7″ picture disc. It was the first release by Visage after the departure of Midge Ure, who had left the group due to creative differences with Steve Strange and also to concentrate on his role in Ultravox. Possibly due to Ure’s absence, “Pleasure Boys” was the first Visage single to miss the UK Top 40 peaking at #44 after a string of five hits during the 1981-82 period.
The music video for “Pleasure Boys” was directed by Tim Pope. The black and white clip pictures Steve Strange recreating Marlon Brando’s look from his 1953 film The Wild One, riding a Harley-Davidson motorbike. The clip was included on band’s 1986 video release, Visage.
Although it makes no mention of the fact on either the sleeve or the label, this 12″ release was limited to only 800 copies.
SIDE A:
Pleasure Boys (Dance Mix) 6:58
Bass – Steve Barnacle
Mixed By – Visage
Mixed By [In Association With] – John Luongo
Written-By – B. Currie*, D. Formula*, R. Egan*, S. Barnacle*, S. Strange*
SIDE B:
The Anvil (Dance Mix) 6:14
Remix – Visage
Remix [In Association With] – John Luongo
Written-By – Visage
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Polydor – POSPX 523, Polydor – 2141 659
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1982
Genre: Electronic
Style: New Wave, Electro, Synth-pop
Credits: Design [Sleeve] – Alwyn Clayden, Green Ink
Illustration – Mark Wardel
Mastered By – RAYS*
Other [Clothes] – PX
Other [Make-up] – Phyllis Cohen
Photography By – Robyn Beeche
Producer – Visage
Recorded By – John Luongo, Visage
NOTES:
A: Recorded and Mixed at Trident Studios
Special thanks: Steve Short, Flood and Craig Millner. A Morrison O’Donnell Production.
Find The 12″ On DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Pro-Ject Speed Box S
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Adobe Photoshop CS5
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
Downsampled to 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
Many thanks for this, Paul. Classic stuff. While’Pleasure Boys’ has been released on CD (on a ‘best of’ compilation in 2009, I don’t think the Dance Mix of The Anvil has. So it’s great to get that at last! The Love Glove’ 12″ you mentioned in one of the comments would be welcomed too. I used to have it myself. One Visage rarity I still have, however, is the cassette version of the ‘Beat Boy’ album. Basically it is the ‘Beat Boy’ album with some of the tracks specially remixed/extended. I haven’t played it for over twenty years though, not… Read more »
Another synthpop monster 12″. Thanks for the wonderful work you do here at BTG Paul!
I have this (and the pic disc) too. It was a big B-Boy hit for the second part of the track, which has appeared on bootlegs. It’s not the best lyric they ever produced, but still sounds great loud. Oddly there was a promo 12″ with a similar catalogue number (POSPV 523), but featuring Der Amboss (a German language version of The Anvil) and a dub mix of The Anvil. While Pleasure Boys 12″ and Der Amboss have appeared on CD, the Dub Mix hasn’t been released anywhere other than the original promo. Love Glove wasn’t bad, but Beat Boy… Read more »
Despite a question of remix quality, I think Beat Boy was better. It was more of a dance track with a higher BPM, and tried to evoke the bridge of The Anvil. Less original, sure, but more peppy than Love Glove.
I haven’t played either for a long time but from memory Love Glove flows better – Beat Boy is a bit stop-start. I might dig them out and give them a play but I do know that the vocal on Beat Boy is pretty dodgy. Oh, and the album was far from good :-).
Wow – much thanks. I just bought their first CD on Amazon. Their new disc is incredible, IMO. Hope they tour the states. Doubtful, but hoping.
THANK YOU.
You’re welcome Mike C. Yes a US tour would be great 🙂
Bravo to synthpop week!
I’m hoping for some Howard Jones.
Bounce Right Back would be my choice. I think that may be the greatest example of how affected his singing voice could become. :^)
“Bounce Right Back” is already posted on the “Like To Get To Know You Well” 12″.
Yes, and thanks for that! 🙂
Actually, you have covered most of his key 12″ releases already. Do you happen to have any of the EastWest “In The Running” related singles, or some of the more recent Dtox releases?
I only have a couple of his single’s left. I have ripped and posted most of his work as you mentioned already. Off the top of my head all I can think of that I know i have are “A Little Bit Of Snow” and “No One Is To Blame”. I know I don’t have any 90’s or later.
I think also What Is Love? and All I Want, if you had those.
I somehow missed Look Mama and Life In One Day when you originally posted them (links now gone), so wouldn’t say no to a re-up. 🙂
Thanks Jermajesty I will see what I can come up with 🙂
great post DjPAul 🙂
Love Love this band…. I have everything they have ever done 🙂
U mention Love Glove YES please..
The new VISAGE album is just as good as Brilliant by Ultravox if not better.
I certainly wouldn’t go THAT far, but I am glad it’s out 🙂
I agree, that one need only listen to Ure’s solo material, to know where the core of Visage’s and Ultravox’s success was, and is. That said, Billy Currie also contributed greatly to both projects as well. There were some real gems among Currie’s instrumental albums and non-Ure fronted versions of Ultravox released in the intervening years between disbandment and the current reformation. Steve went down a dark path, though. In addition to his own use, he is said to have supplied the drugs Michael Hutchence had in his system prior to death, which I imagine is something not easy to… Read more »
Paul, I do hope you have Beat Boy and Love Glove in the rack ready to be ripped as well. Beat Boy wasn’t so bad…really. 🙂
I think the only other one I have is “Love Glove” I will try to post it at some point 🙂
I was just listening to the original version in my car today, The Anvil is a great song too!
What a great coincidence Tyson 🙂
2 awesome mxs today-God bless you bro! have a nice rest of week
Thanks Lordofvhs have a great week 🙂
Thanks Paul for this gem.
You’re welcome Omar. More synth-pop/new wave coming 🙂