Colour by Numbers
was
Culture Club
's most successful album, and, undoubtedly, one of the most popular albums from the 1980s. Scoring no less than four U.S. hit singles (and five overseas), this set dominated the charts for a full year, both in the United States and in Europe. The songs were infectious, the videos were all over
MTV
, and the band was a media magnet.
Boy George
sounded as warm and soulful as ever, but one of the real stars on this set was backing vocalist
Helen Terry
, who really brought the house down on the album's unforgettable first single,
"Church of the Poison Mind."
This album also featured the band's biggest (and only number one) hit, the irresistibly catchy
"Karma Chameleon,"
its more
rock & roll
Top Five follow-up
"Miss Me Blind,"
and the fourth single (and big club hit),
"It's a Miracle"
(which also featured
's unmistakable belting). Also here are
"Victims,"
a big, dark, deep, and bombastic power
ballad
that was a huge hit overseas but never released in the U.S., and other soulful favorites such as
"Black Money"
and
"That's the Way (I'm Only Trying to Help You),"
where
truly flexed his vocal muscles. In the 1980s music was, in many cases, flamboyant, fun, sexy, soulful, colorful, androgynous, and carefree, and this album captured that spirit perfectly. A must for any collector of 1980s music, and the artistic and commercial pinnacle of a band that still attracted new fans years later. ~ Jose Promis