China Crisis - Working with fire and steel (1983)

[andydotorg]

Welcome to, the Brush Box.

[longfade]

What a vocal performance! Octave jumps all over the place, great lyrics, concept, etc. I really love the almost ska-like guitar part during the verses, and the bouncy walking bass line. This song is a goddamned wonderful example of great pop production and songwriting.

[jpferpe]

uuhhfffff... que recuerdossss!!

[Drakaland]

Epic.

[IGGARU]

This song represents how China Crisis were, a hidden band, but very professional. Excelent song!

[snorley51]

they deserved way more credit then they got

[emily555a]

C L A S S I C

[celesiotube]

were FIVE, now we are SIX 7/41

33 - THE WISE PROPHET SAID "IT will sink"

34 - THE TOHU Kohou "MOE HIVA" SAID "IT will sink"

35 - IN THE TOUTA ARIKI´S COURT

36 - MISSING 4 WISE,

37 - ARE "MAAHU ARIKI."

were FIVE, now we are SIX 8/41

Real Life - Send Me An Angel (1983)

[JimSting]

Does anyone know what the opening lyrics are? From 0:05 to 0:08 ? I first heard this song about 20 years or so ago, and I've never been able to figure out what he's singing here.

[blonde7000]

I heard this for the first time yesterday and am suprised at the age of it. What a brilliant song well done i love it

[dazincalculation]

2:18 a sight to behold!

[demolvangrimaud]

Best song of China Crisis!

[Rechtskraft8501]

I always think this "working with fire and steel" is the best song of the China Crisis.

And I like this video. in 1983 I watched this on Japanese TV "Music Tomato" (TV Kanagawa).

Thank you!

[whydoikeepforgetting]

Quite a big song in Australia at the time, I bought the single. I thought they were going to be massive but did OK, not as well as I thought they would. They were very cinematic - they should have done music for movies.

[dazincalculation]

@whydoikeepforgetting Sydney Radio Station 2MMM played this classic and also "Black Man Ray" & "Arizona Sky". Indeed they deserved better success. -Daz in Oz

[Hot80s]

Merci.

[DChilds09]

Ah yes takes me back

[ytbmrd3]

Someone know what is said at the begining of the track???

Thanks in advance

[ytbmrd3]

@ytbmrd3 Someone knowS ...sorry

[BobbyEnergy]

@ytbmrd3 hmmm i never thought to wonder such.

[eatmypies]

WHAT A BAND,THEY HIT EVERY SINGLE SOCIETY NOTE.UP THERE WITH WELLER AND CO WHEN IT CAME TO SAYIN WHAT WAS WORTH SAYING,I WILL ALWAYS BE THANKFULL TO THESE GUYS DURING THE BAD TIMES.THEY STOOD UP AND SPOKE FOR US ALL IN LIVERPOOL.

[ChannelMitchy13]

HEY I was there too, in LA June 17th 1984, for China Crisis opening for Simple Minds at the Paladium. I really got into China Crisis and have been contributinging to their retirement ever since. Ha Ha So right about SM. When I first heard that Awful SM song mentioned here , on KROQ, I thought, "No, something has changed, something is wrong."

[deathrowguineapig]

Liverpool.....

[deathrowguineapig]

Liverpool......nuff said

[evilo291]

reminds me of The State in Dale Street...great days!!!!

[Rhaenpony]

Does anyone know what the random dude hollers around five-and-a-half seconds into the song? Not knowing is driving me insane. It's not anywhere on the internet, nor is it in the lyrics in the CD's booklet!

[mapleavenue77]

@Rhaenpony I was wondering the same thing. Please post if you learn!

[Alejandroenfuego]

Anybody who doesn't see John Hughes' brilliance in what he did with The Breakfast Club, and the time period and culture that he tapped into with that movie is, at the very least, not in touch with the generation of that time. What noelephantitis was saying was great up until he slammed John Hughes and one of the best movies of Generation X. Big huge DUH on that one.

[BobbyEnergy]

I COULD NEVER KEEP A BEAT....TO BUSY IN MY PaRaDIsE...:)

[eatmypies]

I WALKED WITH JOBLESS YOUTH AND JOBLESS SKILLED MEN DURING THIS ERA,WHY ARE THE YOUTH CLOAKED IN DEATH BLACK DARTH VADOR COSTUMES,ARMED UP AND KILLING THEIR OWN.

[colemann76]

I just have one thing to say, why wasn't this a hit?

why oh why

[eatmypies]

@colemann76 MAYBE THE CULTURE CLUB OR SOME OTHER ONE HIT WONDER WAS,IT WAS THE EIGHTIES SO TAKE CARE

[immunocop]

I wonder what ever happened to China Crisis... Working with Fire and Steel was such a standard bearer for how 80's music should sound and energize a person...

[eatmypies]

THEY FUKIN MADE A YOUNG GENERATION WAKE UP AND FIGHT THATS WHA CHINA CRISIS DID

[bosscogg]

So much going on here...and it's all fantastic. Dig these guys.

[newaver64]

this was such a great time in my life........ 80s music has it!

[onlymusiccansaveus]

thats my cousin! :D

[eatmypies]

@onlymusiccansaveus U SHOULD BE PROUD THEN,THEY WERE AWESOME. TAKE CARE ALL MY BEST TO YOUR UNCLE

[Carlena1966]

Una gran canción y una gran decada.

[breemedcalf]

I saw them open for Simple Minds in San Francisco- summer of 1984....SO GOOD!...I miss the 80's.

[danpage79]

Bruce Findlay was manager for both Simple Minds and China Crisis, thus they toured together during Simple Mind's Sparkle in the Rain tour.

[tracylynnw]

I miss 80's, such great music!

[thehouseofhoops]

a dream song

[resurectio]

They wore great! Just listening!! Cleaver band!

[eatmypies]

SO WHEN A GLOSSY MGAZINE ARRIVES ON YOUR DOORSTEP,JUST REMEMBER THE SKILLS AND THE YOUNG WORKERS THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE . THEN ASK CAMERON CAN WE PAY THEM MORE. STRIKE STRIKE AND YOU WONDER WHY

[eatmypies]

FASHION PLAY YOUR PART TO BE WORKERS,ha weller could not write a better line.

[eatmypies]

HARD TIMES AND HARD GRAFT.WHATS HAPPENED WEVE BEEN DENYD IT,IN ORDER TO KEEP US DOWN AN INFLATE THE UPPERCLASS STATEMENTS THAT WORKERS ARE BONE IDLE AND BOLSHY.WELL FUCK THEM LETS PROVE THEM WRONG DONT EAT WORMS YER MAR TOLD YOU NOT TO

[areyoureceivingme]

This song absolutely blew my mind when it came out. The album of the same name is an all-time fave. A lot of their best tunes are hidden on b-sides too!

[eatmypies]

i was in boston mass and this came on the jukebox,the locals all went mad,i pointed out that it was all about urban degeneration in kirbyand liverpool.they looked at me as if i was a fuckin weirdo.ha ha scousers get everywhere and are never understood

[ammaretto]

I havent heard this song in 20 yrs! a BF made me a greatest hits cassette with this song on it...i played it to death...lol

Good times!

[mikentosh]

Ya, great shows back then! I saw 'em play in San Fran on the same tour...Sparkle in the Rain...fucking great album! Listen to me....album...damn... It was at the Warfield Theatre...3000 or less occup I think. Back then it had seats on the whole place....sucked, but when the main act started everyone bumrushed the front....but I still got shoved over a bunch of times by big fat 'Bill Grahm Presents' bouncers. Assholes.

..Alarm show at the Warfield was The Best!!.

[andybcn67]

GREAT !!!!  ;)

[6thADMedic]

First 5 seconds of this song is a great electronic intro, lot of good internet radio stations playing 80's music out there, try shout cast . com

[mfactor88]

83 getting up and dancing by myself to this song. they thought i was gay, till all the girls got up and joined me : ). please get me back there. music these days is 98% manufactured shit and 2% diamonds m48

[doctorwhonico]

@mfactor88 : Those are the words ! Please take me back there ! What a great period ofmusic !!

[corbettle71zj]

i saw china crisis at lough uni in the 80's and they were brill,are they back together?

[TeslaPostpunk]

I love this song!

[dot4design]

What a classic. More '80`s music on my channel!!!!

[mryellowcrown]

we use to mix this song at david durff house in los angeles.. newmark turn table's cerwin vegas ..

[doctorwhonico]

Well it took me 27 years to find the titel of this great song from my youth... So you can all imagine that I'm happy now !

[eatmypies]

martin? WE LIVE AMONSGTS GOBSHITES who dont wanna work.i can spell and the intellegence to do it,but this computer shit pisses me off .what happenended to 12th of a square inch devided by aq thousenth ha hq

[eatmypies]

it was written during thatchers unlawfull assualt on the working class,its more relevent today when tou look at the lack of skilled labour in this country,she created a mfi workforce and a generation of unskilled underclass,replaced by an underpayed exploited european skilled worker.That bitch has a lot to answer for.

[martincrest]

Have to agree with you we faught the bitch back in the 80's i am nearly 50 now and still hate the tory scum, i work in print industry what a bunch of muppets i work for and with now half the young fuckers can't read, quote Catch 22 all the time lol

[Damin12345]

I thought the 'faught' was spelt 'fought'?

[hongtao1]

真是小巫见大巫, 为了钱财连自己家人都可以杀, 那才是真英雄! 没见过吗? 我可以告诉你13818703376 / 86-21-56780493

tell you how to kill your daughter for money in shanghai china!

[SoCalScott10]

Yet another classic no one is talking about.....this song captures a sound during the 80s that was unique to their own that set them apart.

[7223Tanya]

jinjin, it is "fucked" on the actual original song. When it was given airplay on commercial radio, and the video was released, it was changed to "stuck"

[abagail4me]

@7223Tanya yea well that was mainstream media censorship back in the day...hasn't changed much has it? Anyway this a classic tune..CC were one of my faves back in the early 80's.Bought their first 2 albums and many of their early singles whilst in my teens.

[FLORENT2222]

another underrated 80's band, like XTC.....

[NebraskaJon]

Read --with my own two eyes--that Kevin Wilkinson of C.C. was one of Neil Peart's (yes, that one) favorite drummers. No shit. Great band, long since unfashionable, still making valuable music...

[abagail4me]

At that point in time they were the Top 40 version of bands like Cabaret Voltaire and Throbbing Gristle... pioneers of industrial pop along with Heaven 17..Too bad it mutated into shite like Johnny Hates Jazz later in the 80's.

[JimSting]

Does anyone know what the indistinct lyric is in the intro? It doesn't appear in any of the online lyrics.

[JimSting]

It's definitely "fucked" ... I have a cassette single which I bought in the 80s, and this is definitely the lyric

[jinjin45]

it surrrrre doesn't sound like fucked

[7223Tanya]

and things get (f*cked) 'stuck' and we're to blame

[mothmanmark]

it was defo what you had in brackets and not stuck if memory serves, though i could have dreamt it all.... the whole 80`s

[jinjin45]

stuck

[bashey63]

this tune is the dogs bollox; when i was a little shit, drink/driving.partying hahahaha now 46 and sensible, still love this and i am going to see them december by hook or by crook.

[cousiwa09]

YES! i remember this band, omg, they had some good tracks.....

thanks for the upload, cheers!

[nwsocialist]

Yjeir best eighties hit ...def.

[Hobgoblin264]

Not one of their best songs, but one classic 80's song ................thanks for the post.

[FrankSidebottom]

see them at The Cavern in December 09

[Max1baL]

¡Un súper clásico de esta gran banda de los 80's!

A super classic from this great 80's band!

[tindrum]

Actually it is just clearchannel screwing everything up, thats why you hear Journey 24/7 and never anything new or worthwhile getting any airplay. Clearchannel say they play music for the demographic...where or which demographic, I would also like to point out that they say We are not at war with Eurasia; we have never been at war with Eurasia. ...

[SoCalScott10]

this song brings me back.....heard it on XM yesterday and I had completely forgotten about this 80s gem! awesome.

[webkinzfreak221]

here in D.C., we had an incredible radio station called WHFS that used to play all this stuff all thru the 80'S,...god how I miss that music now,...everything avant-garde and offbeat was played,...no commercial crap,...what I wouldn't give for that station now!

[javierqatar]

Yeah, it's about the same everywhere... I'm thinking about selling my radio, it's useless.

Something happened in the 90's that messed up pop music. A great loss.

[iveco321]

i think the demise started in the mid 80's - it was called stock aitken and waterman - they created the music factory - that says it all - make music to make money - short shelf life shite - thats why we had so many instrumental B sides - cut down the cost , bang out cheap music - end of the road for real musicians on the radio

[sastal]

And by today's standards, they are pretty good, too. I'll take Bananarama over Destiny's Child. There is only one China Crisis, though.

[jfv65]

yeah, they discovered sampling , babbled some rediculous gangsta rap on top of it, threw a heavy rhythm under it and called a new song...FUCK THAT!

[doctorwhonico]

Early 80's music simply rules !!

[ultracheese]

@webkinzfreak221 Now it is....EL ZOL!

[exiledscouser08]

The Chinas have always been an underestimated band. I remember the 80's. The melodic haunting songs were always driven by Gazza's baselines ( and yes he did write them) They tour now but only emulate what they once were. Without Gazza in the band the boys are good but not great. I remeber Saturday nights in the Nalgo with Gazza.....the boy could drink!!!!!....

[Lonegan63]

Awesome...total..!

[Arnal2009]

Maravilloso el video para los 80

[eatmypies]

man they where good. totally understermated along with lotus eaters,afraid of mice

[noelephantitis]

They opened for Simple Minds for the Sparkle in the Rain tour, saw them in L,.A., nobody knew who they were or the music, but then they played this song and the crowd went crazy, this was a hit on KROQ at that time. Gary was SO nervous but was so full of joy once he saw the audience getting into it . . . a great moment from my earliest concert-going days. And the Minds were great too, as that AWFUL song from that AWFUL movie hadn't been released yet

[sastal]

Your post gives me the chills. I always wanted to see SM (and now CC) during that tour. I did not know that they were in the States as well. I lived in Rome at the time and they made it there. Fortunately, SM made it past "DYFAM" in Europe, as you can see in their Seen the Lights two-disc DVD. Bless you and your post!

[foxfac007]

CC in Chester were absolutely brilliant, thanks for asking. They play quite regularly in the Northwest and recently toured with OMD.

[noelephantitis]

Thank you for the blessing. I'm glad I could bring back good memories, or rather memories of things that didn't happen which are usually even better. SM opened with East At Easter, which I remember was amazing. But this was before I knew their catalogue well, so I think I missed out on appreciating I Travel, although I'm not sure that they played anything else pre-NGD. And this was way before I knew CC's catalogue, although I know they played Wishful Thinking . . .

[vutEwa]

@noelephantitis dusty street bagged on them pretty much and only played this one song and would make jokes about the working song. thats when my opinion of her lessoned.

[noelephantitis]

@vutEwa Dusty was great, but it's no accident she ended up a more classic rock station, she was never really into the KROQ 80s aesthetic . . .

[mikemurphy73]

@noelephantitis thanks for the info--never knew they gigged together--wish i'd been there

[MordaciousFilms]

@noelephantitis Was digging what you said until the end. Personally I love that movie and song.

[Ilaab1995]

@noelephantitis .... I remember that concert. They played at the Palladium - it was a perfect mix of music ... China Crisis opening for Simple Minds, both fit together really well.

[souniio]

love it

[arthurmex]

80´s had a great creativity

[grint34]

@arthurmex most of it was crap really, thats why grunge became so influential in the nineties

[arthurmex]

@grint34 I´m not agree; Today, the best groups, singers, are from that decade; any way, That´s is only a opinion; The grunge,became so influential in 90´s, because the vig creativity and originality of the '80s waned

[grint34]

@arthurmex No, grunge became big because musicians hated the eighties rock which really wasn't rock at all but just cheap pop.

[sastal]

@grint34 @grint34 Of course, Bono and U2 were just cheap pop musicians. I guess that Van Halen were pretty cheap, too. Def Leppard was right up there, correct? Fucking idiot.

[grint34]

@sastal you forgot the culture club, soft cell and all those other gay bands.

[sastal]

@grint34 By today's standards, Marc Almond was a pretty talented man. Would you care to comment on my faves, EBTG? Grunge never had that much fucking talent. Depeche Mode? Sade? The Cure? The Style Council? The Cult? Japan? Talk Talk? The Lotus Eaters? Level 42? I can keep going on for days. Shall I?

[grint34]

@sastal Most of them are sissy's, just like you.

[eatmypies]

boston radio and new york central never stopped playing this when i was i the states 87,totally brilliant band and totatly ignored by us brits,but loved in the states,great talent that we should have made a national industry ha ha

[maisonyeomon]

great song d-.-b

[lordofsage]

Brilliant Post! Yeah early 80's music can't be beat baby!

[foxfac007]

Chinas are playing the Guildhall in CHESTER on 19th March 2009. Full set after their Stadium Tour with OMD. They are looking forward to the intimate atmosphere - 220 tickets only.

[stjohnsknits]

2:20  SEXY LEGGS & Heels

[Archieola]

allthough i love china crisis i after say

i work with fire and steel and this sound doesnt reflect that experience, the bass line is more appropriate to light engineering say a light hand press, fairs fair the sax solo does remind me of my mates welding.

[NathLorda]

crazy about it since ever!!!

[abagail4me]

@Humbalang....I'm so with you..no other band in the 80's knew more about melody and quality songwriting more than these dudes.

[RODALCO2007]

Excellent !! 5 stars from me for this great classic.

[Lalo3001]

They got a lot of airplay here in the U.S. on college radio and cutting edge stations like KIQQ and KROQ here in L.A. A really good band, they were very underated.

[barcelonian]

A good british Pop Group from 80s. years, no more know today.

Existing another excellent theme with similar name: "Steel on Fire".

[MondoHeather]

Awesome song from such a unique band. They do not get enough love.

[Tjussie]

uutdeukn spuitn en plamuurn die handel hoppa vol gass vanaf het terrass

[RequiemX66]

yeah first song for me back in 86 when I joined the army my roommate got me into this band

[humbalang]

Now this was proper music, unlike one-dimensional musak cranked out today.

[siasti]

The first China Crisis song I ever heard. And still the one I like best. They were really "in the zone" with this one...

[barryturner123]

Saw them years ago at Ronnie Scotts in Birmingham and they were brilliant. If they're still touring, make time to see them ... it'll be worth it.

[boilingblacksea]

Still sounds brilliant.

[Glat64]

Totally agree.

[bunnee777]

few bands (in any era) approached their subtle genius, original sound. we still love china crisis!

[siasti]

I think that their music is timeless. It's not an "80s sound". Agree?

[bunnee777]

90% in agreement

[datsMIGHTYfunny]

china  has all or most of industrialization

[barryturner123]

Heard this as a fashion show track. It blew the audience away... let alone the clothes.

[davidsghost]

I always liked China Crisis but I still only give most their music a 3 star. I would listen to them at a friends house or elsewhere but I never felt compelled to actually buy their albums. I did like their song Arizona sky and would give that a 4 star.

[eatmypies]

fashion play your part . they certainly did that great guys kirby ruled

[tomaszkajor]

tis is their best track, no doubt

[deadsnakescrinkle]

i found this video hard to find. now i found this video, i find it good.

[eatmypies]

very very overlooked the words and the thoughts that tey portrayed in there videos was miles ahead of there times

[88rulo]

madmax!!! q estas flipao!!

jajaj

ya veo q t stas asiendo famoso cn esto de subir videos...

a ver si me preparo unas diapositivas guapas y les pongo alguna cancion de la fuga de las del principio, q tpoco estan x aki

amusai!!

viska el milagro

y salamanca no es españa!!

[piedrada]

One of the more overlooked bands from the UK from the great decade: the 80s!

[utubegeneration]

2.20  mmmmmm

[utubegeneration]

free TIBET  ITS A CHINA crisis lol

[JOSSORONA]

I like CHINA CRISIS very much 'n was so cool to find this track, so many early 80's memories recall... thnx for posting it

[alttzueta]

gracias por colgarlo.conocia la cancion pero desconocia que era de este grupo

[AIexanderBeetle]

....ij "bru8boy8" dihj broj huyja!!!

Gijzdia!!!

hahahaha!!!!

[AIexanderBeetle]

Myj sphykla zod frakj dihj plokk shebaflyj!!!!

huyja!!!

[18289]

dentro de poco intentaré subir también el de "Arizona Sky"

Este grupo es impresionante

[sorbeyjarama]

Auntentico!! Trabajando con fuego y acero.

Nostalgia de aquellos años....guaooooooooo

[SerzyDee]

This came out the year I was born! My brother was mad on them....I equally love them!! xx

[18289]

joder

pero el caso era ponerlo

ke este video no estaba y ad+ la cancion me mola bastante

[perraca69]

normalito...