''1234'' is the second studio album by

Propaganda Propaganda is communication that is primarily used to influence or persuade an audience to further an agenda, which may not be objective and may be selectively presenting facts to encourage a particular synthesis or perception, or using loaded ...

. Released in 1990, Michael Mertens was the only remaining member of the group from their previous album ''

A Secret Wish ''A Secret Wish'' is the debut album by German synthpop band Propaganda. Released by ZTT Records in 1985, it was produced by Stephen Lipson under the supervision of label boss Trevor Horn. The singles "Duel" and "Dr. Mabuse" were both Top 30 UK c ...

'', though original member Susanne Freytag made a guest appearance on two tracks, and the album includes some songs co-written by Ralf Dörper. New group members included

Derek Forbes Derek Forbes (born 22 June 1956) is a Scottish bassist, vocalist, and occasional guitarist. He is mostly associated with the Scottish band Simple Minds, having joined in time to record their early demos in 1978 and stayed with the band during ...

and Brian McGee, both formerly of

Simple Minds Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band formed in Glasgow in 1977. They have released a string of hit singles, becoming best known internationally for "Don't You (Forget About Me)" (1985), which topped the '' Billboard'' Hot 100 in the United St ...

and whom had both toured with the first incarnation of the band, and vocalist Betsi Miller. The album was produced by

Ian Stanley Ian Christopher Stanley (born 28 February 1957) is a British musician, songwriter and record producer. He was previously a member of the English band Tears for Fears for most of the 1980s, and played a key role in the making of their multi-plat ...

and

Chris Hughes Chris Hughes (born November 26, 1983) is an American entrepreneur and author who co-founded and served as spokesman for the online social directory and networking site Facebook until 2007. He was the publisher and editor-in-chief of ''The New R ...

, most notable for their work with

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in the 1980s. Hughes and Miller would later marry. The first single from the album, "Heaven Give Me Words", reached the UK Top 40 and also reached #22 on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart. "Your Wildlife" reached #32 on the U.S. Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart. Both songs were co-written by Howard Jones.Your Wildlife. Propaganda
Allmusic Another single, "Only One Word" (which featured

Pink Floyd Pink Floyd are an English rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic music, psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experimentation, philo ...

guitarist

David Gilmour David Jon Gilmour ( ; born 6 March 1946) is an English guitarist, singer, songwriter, and member of the rock band Pink Floyd. He joined as guitarist and co-lead vocalist in 1967, shortly before the departure of founding member Syd Barrett. P ...

), peaked at #71 in the UK. The album itself peaked at #46 on the UK Album Chart. The cover art is a close-up of part of the statue

Unique Forms of Continuity in Space ''Unique Forms of Continuity in Space'' ( it, Forme uniche della continuità nello spazio) is a 1913 bronze Futurist sculpture by Umberto Boccioni. It is seen as an expression of movement and fluidity. The sculpture is depicted on the obverse of ...

Umberto Boccioni Umberto Boccioni (, ; 19 October 1882 – 17 August 1916) was an influential Italian painter and sculptor. He helped shape the revolutionary aesthetic of the Futurism movement as one of its principal figures. Despite his short life, his approach ...

Track listing

Personnel

*Betsi Miller - vocals *Michael Mertens - keyboards, electronics *

- bass guitar *

- Fairlight synthesizer *

- computer * Brian McGee - drums with: * Neil Taylor, Andy Ross,

- guitar *

Ross Cullum Ross Cullum (born 1957 in Fulham, London, England) is an English composer, record producer, songwriter, mixer, A&R and music industry consultant. Career Cullum became an assistant at George Martin's AIR Studios, where he worked on recordings by ...

- rhythm guitar *

David Paton David Paton (; born 29 October 1949) is a Scottish bassist, guitarist and singer. He first achieved success in the mid-1970s as lead vocalist and bassist of Pilot, who scored hits with "Magic", "January", "Just a Smile" and "Call Me Round" bef ...

Pino Palladino Giuseppe Henry "Pino" Palladino (born 17 October 1957) is a Welsh musician, songwriter, and record producer. A prolific session bassist, he has played bass for acts such as The Who, the John Mayer Trio, Nine Inch Nails, Gary Numan, Jeff Beck ...

- bass guitar *Jürgen Dahmen - keyboards *

Andy Richards Andrew John Richards (born 26 October 1952) is a British-Australian pianist, composer, music producer and keyboardist. The artists he has played with include Frankie Goes to Hollywood, George Michael, Propaganda, Grace Jones, Rush, Annie Lenno ...

Blue Weaver Derek John "Blue" Weaver (born 11 March 1947) is a Welsh rock keyboardist, session musician, songwriter and record producer. Career Weaver's career as a musician began as a co-founding member of 1960s Welsh rock band Amen Corner and its suc ...

- Fairlight synthesizer *Simon Clark - Hammond organ, keyboards *

Greg Hawkes Gregory A. Hawkes (born October 22, 1952) is an American musician best known as the keyboardist for the rock band The Cars. Hawkes, a native of Fulton, Maryland, United States, attended Atholton High School where he played in a band called Teeth ...

- synthesizer *

Mel Collins Melvyn Desmond Collins (born 5 September 1947, Isle of Man) is a British saxophonist, flautist and session musician. Collins has played in several progressive rock groups, having been a member of King Crimson on two occasions (the first from ...

- soprano saxophone *Alan Lee Kirkendale - trumpet *Susanne Freytag - voice on Vicious Circle and Ministry of Fear * Howard Jones,

Tessa Niles Tessa Margaret Niles ( ''née'' Webb; born 27 January 1961 in Ilford, Essex) is an English singer, best known as a backing singer for a wide variety of contemporary artists. She began her professional singing career in 1979. Early life and ca ...

- backing vocals *

Yasmin Hashmi Yasmin, Yasmine, or Yasmina may refer to: People * Yasmin (given name), a feminine given name, and sometimes surname * Yasmin (musician) (born 1993), English singer, songwriter, and DJ * Yasmine (pornographic actress), Yasmine Lafitte, French actre ...

- Synclavier programming

References

1990 albums Propaganda (band) albums Albums produced by Chris Hughes (musician) Albums produced by Ian Stanley Virgin Records albums {{1990s-pop-album-stub