Ultravox ‎– Three Into One

Warren Cann + Chris Cross consulted with Island on the cover design for this album. They were peeved that Island was trying to cash in on them now that they were signed with Chrysalis Records. They intentionally picked what they thought was the graphic designer's weakest concept - a time exposure of his severely dressed girlfriend lit by car headlights, to develop as the cover [while assuring him that it was brilliant] with the intent of helping to kneecap the release while giving the appearance of support to their old label. Which I think is hilarious, though I'll admit that I sort of like this cover. And the record itself is beyond reproach. I only wish that I had played my copy for the decade that I had it from 1990 inward. Until 2000, I had no idea that there was a 12" remix of "Quiet Men!" I had the 7" remix and had no idea that a 12" was available until I stumbled across one 20 years ago.

An excellent compilation of the first incarnation of the band, the one which employed an exclamation mark at the end of its name. There are some classic tracks here, an eclectic mix of the electronic-punk style 'ROckwrok' and 'Young Savage' through the electro-pop rhythms of 'The Man Who Dies Every Day' and 'Quiet Men' to the balladesque 'Just For A Moment' and 'My Sex'. An absolute gem of a compilation.

And by the way, the vinyl album includes the single version of 'Quiet Men' which ends abruptly unlike the CD - and album? - version which fades out.

I've now come across two separate copies of what I believe to be the original UK pressing (ILPS 9614 A-2U stamped in the run-out) that have an identical, roughly inch-wide scuff across the entirety of side two, which makes an audible clicking sound with every single revolution each time the stylus passes it. This is especially noticeable on the quieter songs and passages on side two. With the first copy, I thought this scuff was put there by a previous owner, but now that I've seen two copies with this identical scuff, I'm wondering if it was a pressing defect that affected the whole batch. Anyone else notice this?

"Young Savage" and "ROckwrok" should have been ditched in favor of "Dislocation" and "Cross Fade", which would have made this compilation the definitive early Ultravox! showcase.