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The Gift

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

The Gift · Midge Ure made this album while his band Ultravox was taking a break. It was his first solo record. He recorded most of it in a new studio in his garden in Chiswick. For five tracks he worked with Danny Mitchell. Wastelands had originally already appeared in 1980 on an album by Modern Man. He dedicates the title song to the Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

Besides pop songs there are three instrumental pieces, recorded on the island of Montserrat with a Casio CZ-101. In Edo, Ure plays a koto, which he bought during a Japanese tour with Ultravox. He wanted to hear the sound of scratching fingers on the strings and therefore did not use a synthesizer. The single If I Was reached number one in the British chart and the album reached number two.

Listening

Listening tip. In Edo, listen to the koto: notice the sound of the fingers on the strings, which Ure deliberately wanted to preserve.

Track list

CD 1

  1. 1If I Was (2010 Remaster)5:21Apple Music ↗
  2. 2When the Winds Blow (2010 Remaster)4:08Apple Music ↗
  3. 3Living the Past (2010 Remaster)4:36Apple Music ↗
  4. 4That Certain Smile (2010 Remaster)4:08Apple Music ↗
  5. 5The Gift (2010 Remaster)5:00Apple Music ↗
  6. 6Antilles (2010 Remaster)4:09Apple Music ↗
  7. 7Wastelands (2010 Remaster)4:41Apple Music ↗
  8. 8Edo (2010 Remaster)3:24Apple Music ↗
  9. 9The Chieftain (2010 Remaster)4:46Apple Music ↗
  10. 10She Cried (2010 Remaster)4:13Apple Music ↗
  11. 11The Gift (Reprise) [2010 Remaster]1:45Apple Music ↗

CD 2

  1. 1No Regrets (2010 Remaster)4:03Apple Music ↗
  2. 2Mood Music (2010 Remaster)3:30Apple Music ↗
  3. 3If I Was (Extended Mix)6:42Apple Music ↗
  4. 4Piano (2010 Remaster)2:27Apple Music ↗
  5. 5The Man Who Sold the World (2010 Remaster)5:44Apple Music ↗
  6. 6That Certain Smile (Extended Mix)6:36Apple Music ↗
  7. 7The Gift (Instrumental)5:09Apple Music ↗
  8. 8Fade to Grey (Rehearsal Version, 1985)4:47Apple Music ↗
  9. 9Wastelands (Extended Mix)6:13Apple Music ↗
  10. 10When the Winds Blow (Live)3:00Apple Music ↗
  11. 11After a Fashion (Live)4:37Apple Music ↗
  12. 12The Chieftain / The Dancer (Live at Wembley Arena,1985.)5:51Apple Music ↗
  13. 13Call of the Wild (Extended Mix)8:03Apple Music ↗
  14. 14That Certain Smile (Live)4:01Apple Music ↗
  15. 15The Gift (Live)5:09Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗

Categories: Albums and songs