''Set'' is the second studio album by English pop band Thompson Twins. Released in February 1982, it was the second album they recorded for their own T Records imprint, which was released by

Arista Records Arista Records () is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. The label was previously handled by BMG Entertainmen ...

/Hansa. Compared to their first album, '' A Product Of...'', ''Set'' featured a more polished sound, thanks to producer Steve Lillywhite. With their ever-shifting line-up, the Thompson Twins had now swelled to seven members, adding

Matthew Seligman Matthew Seligman (14 July 1955 – 17 April 2020) was an English bassist, best known for his association with the new wave music scene of the 1980s. Seligman was a member of the Soft Boys and the Thompson Twins, and was a sideman for Thomas Do ...

on bass guitar to free up Tom Bailey for full frontman duties and keyboards. Former sax player Jane Shorter was replaced by Alannah Currie, who was Bailey's girlfriend at the time (they later married and remained together until 2004). Three songs on the album do not feature Bailey on lead vocals, but are sung by

Joe Leeway Joseph Martin Leeway (born 15 November 1955) is a British musician and songwriter, who is best known as being a member of the pop music, pop band Thompson Twins, joining the band in 1981 after being one of their Road crew, roadies. Leeway was b ...

, who is also credited as writer or co-writer for five tracks. While not an official member of the band,

Thomas Dolby Thomas Morgan Robertson (born 14 October 1958), known by the stage name Thomas Dolby, is an English musician, producer, composer, entrepreneur and teacher. Dolby came to prominence in the 1980s, releasing hit singles including "She Blinded Me ...

was also on hand to play additional keyboards on three tracks. While the album was given praise by critics, the band found themselves on the verge of yet another personnel change. The track "

In the Name of Love IN, In or in may refer to: Places * India (country code IN) * Indiana, United States (postal code IN) * Ingolstadt, Germany (license plate code IN) * In, Russia, a town in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast Businesses and organizations * Independ ...

" was written by Bailey simply as album filler, but was ultimately chosen as the lead single from the album. While failing to make the UK singles chart, the single was released in the United States as a club single and went to number one on ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' magazine's dance chart, holding that position for five weeks (from 22 May – 19 June 1982). The success of the track opened many doors for the band, who suddenly had the potential to be more than just an underground sensation. Together with the band's manager, John Hade, Bailey then reinvented the band as a trio, keeping Currie and Leeway while firing the others. In the UK, a limited number of copies of the album were released with a free single which featured the tracks "Squares and Triangles", "Weather Station", and "Modern Plumbing". ''Set'' was also released in the United States on the

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label as ''

'', which saw three of the album's tracks replaced by two songs from the band's first album, ''A Product of...''. In September 2008, ''A Product of...'' and ''Set'' were re-released as a double-CD set. Each disc included early singles, non-album tracks, and extended remixes.

Track listing

Original Album

All songs written by Tom Bailey except where noted. #"

" #"Living in Europe" #"Bouncing" – (Bailey, Joe Leeway) #"Tok Tok" – (Bailey, Leeway, Julian S. Subero) #"Good Gosh" – (Leeway) #"The Rowe" #"Runaway" #"Another Fantasy" #"Fool's Gold" #"Crazy Dog" – (Leeway, Pete Dodd) #"Blind" – (Bailey, Leeway)

2008 Reissue bonus tracks

#"In the Name of Love" (12" Dance Extension) #"In the Beginning" #"Coastline" #"Open Your Eye" #"Runaway" (extended remix) #"Bouncing" (extended remix) #"In the Name of Love" (Big Value Version/New Super Synthesized Version) #"Living in Europe" (Live at the

Hammersmith Palais The Hammersmith Palais de Danse, in its last years simply named Hammersmith Palais, was a dance hall and entertainment venue in Hammersmith, London, England that operated from 1919 until 2007. It was the first ''palais de danse'' to be ...

, April 1982)

Personnel

Thompson Twins * Tom Bailey – vocals, pianos, synthesizers, percussion * Peter Dodd – synthesizers, guitars, percussion *

John Roog John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

– guitars *

– bass * Chris Bell – drums * Alannah Currie – percussion, saxophone *

–

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s, percussion, vocals Additional musicians *

– additional synthesizers (6, 7, 9)

Production

* Steve Lillywhite – producer * Phil Thornalley – engineer * John Rule – assistant engineer * Thomi Wroblewski – sleeve design, photography

References