True (Spandau Ballet album)

True
Studio album by Spandau Ballet
Released	4 March 1983
Recorded	Compass Point Studios, Nassau, Bahamas, October–November 1982
Genre	New wave, blue-eyed soul, pop, soft rock
Length	35:36
Label	Chrysalis Records
Producer	Steve Jolley, Tony Swain
Spandau Ballet chronology
Diamond (1982) True (1983) Parade (1984)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

True is the third studio album by British band Spandau Ballet. It was released in March 1983 on Chrysalis Records. While Spandau Ballet's first two albums earned them European popularity, True made them worldwide stars and was heavily influenced by jazz, soul and R&B. It reached number 1 on the UK Albums Chart,^[2] the Top 20 on the US Billboard 200, and charted in numerous other countries around the world. The title track spent four weeks at number 1 in the UK Singles Chart and went to number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Other singles from the album included "Gold" (a no. 2 UK hit and a Top 30 hit in the US), "Lifeline", "Communication", and "Pleasure". Later album releases by the band never equalled the success of True.

"True" was remastered on CD and stereo SACD in 2003 for its 20th anniversary. In June 2010, a special edition was released on 2 CDs and DVD as part of the 2010 Spandau Ballet reissues series, featuring remastered 12" remixes and B-sides, plus a live concert.

In 2008, the album was given away free with copies of the Daily Mail newspaper.^[3]

Track listing

All songs are written by Gary Kemp.

1. "Pleasure" – 3:35
2. "Communication" – 3:40
3. "Code of Love" – 5:11
4. "Gold" – 4:51
5. "Lifeline" – 3:36
6. "Heaven Is a Secret" – 4:27
7. "Foundation" – 4:08
8. "True" – 6:30

Original vinyl release has the following song list:^[4]

Side one;

1. "Communication" – 3:40
2. "Pleasure" – 3:35
3. "Code of Love" – 5:11
4. "Gold" – 4:51

Side Two;

1. "Lifeline" – 3:36
2. "Heaven Is a Secret" – 4:27
3. "Foundation" – 4:08
4. "True" – 6:30

Personnel

• Tony Hadley – vocals
• Gary Kemp – guitar, vocals, keyboards, piano
• Martin Kemp – bass
• Steve Norman – saxophone, percussion
• John Keeble – drums, vocals
• Jess Bailey – additional keyboards

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1983	UK Albums Chart[2]	1
1983	US Billboard 200	19

Singles^[5]

Year	Song	Chart	Position
1982	"Lifeline"	UK Singles Chart	7
1983	"True"	UK Singles Chart	1
1983	"True"	US Billboard Hot 100	4
1983	"True"	Adult Contemporary	1
1983	"Gold"	UK Singles Chart	2
1983	"Gold"	US Billboard Hot 100	29
1983	"Gold"	Adult Contemporary	17
1983	"Communication"	UK Singles Chart	12
1984	"Communication"	US Billboard Hot 100	59

True (20th Anniversary Edition)
Studio album by Spandau Ballet
Released	3 July 2003
Genre	Synthpop, New Wave
Length	35:36 (plus bonus tracks)
Label	Chrysalis Records
Producer	Steve Jolley, Tony Swain
Spandau Ballet chronology
Heart Like a Sky (1989) True (20th Anniversary Edition) (2003)

2003 re-release

True was re-released in 2003 as a 20th anniversary edition. It was re-released as a single CD with the original eight tracks along with the music video for "Gold" and some home video footage of the band. The original 8-track album was also issued on the high-resolution super audio CD format as a Hybrid SACD (in stereo only).

Track listing

1. "Pleasure" – 3:31
2. "Communication" – 3:41
3. "Code of Love" – 5:11
4. "Gold" – 4:51
5. "Lifeline" – 3:36
6. "Heaven is a Secret" – 4:27
7. "Foundation" – 4:08
8. "True" – 6:29
9. Home Video Footage (multimedia)
10. "Gold" music video

References

1. LeRoy, Dan. "Spandau Ballet: True > Review" at AllMusic. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
2. "True". chartstats.com. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
3. "Spandau Ballet – True". discogs.com. Retrieved 18 September 2011. This CD was given away free with the Saturday edition of British national newspaper, The Daily Mail.
4. Spandau Ballet, True Chrysalis Records FV-41403
5. "True > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles" at AllMusic. Retrieved 18 September 2011.