Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Two Tribes (single, b-sides and remixes)

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Here’s Holly Johnson memories about the writing and recording of Two Tribes:

“Almost on the first rehearsal [with the three-piece lie-up of the band, comprising Johnson, O’Tool and Gill] we wrote `Love Has Got A Gun’ a song that appeared on the first Frankie Goes To Hollywood album. Mark had an energetic bass playing style influenced by Bow Wow Wow and Spandau Ballet -- fast and funky. Ped had a solid drumming style and an appreciation for what was becoming fashionable at the time from a percussive point of view (we liked the rhythms of The Hicksons from East Anglia and `In The Name of Love' by The Thompson Twins).
I wrote lyrics and melodies over this rhythm section. This how `Two Tribes' was written. Mark had a Russian-sounding bass line that he played, an adaptation of a Bow Wow Wow bass line. I suggested that we broke it up with an American funk line, as an extreme cultural contrast, for a verse, and there it was. The lyrics were inspired by the Armageddon scenario described ­by a voice-over at the beginning of the film Mad Max 2: Road Warrior, and the threat of the Falklands War.” (A Bone in My Flute, 142)

“After ‘Relax’ had been such a huge hit, Trevor became very nervous, afraid that he would not be able to produce ‘Two Tribes’ to a sufficient standard to make it a hit. He was also scared that we might become just a one-hit wonder. He asked us to record a song called `Slave To The Rhythm' written by Bruce Wooley and Simon Darlow. No one in the band was keen about the idea but it was hard for us to say ‘no’ to Trevor. A version was recorded, but to no one's satisfaction. Later Trevor cobbled together an electronically sequenced version of 'Two Tribes' that to my mind sounded fantastic. It wasn't up to his standards however, and was scrapped. Another three-month process began in which Trevor and his team worked on 'Two Tribes' over and over again. 'Two Tribes' and all subsequent Frankie tracks were recorded digitally, in contrast to `Relax' which was recorded on one twenty-four-track analogue tape. I believe that on the 'Two Tribes' sessions, Steve Lipson learnt to use Trevor's new toy, the Synclavier (an extremely expensive instrument that was to replace the Fairlight as the premier sampling tool), for a while. During the recording of `Two Tribes' Trevor would still ask me to come into the studio and sing at odd hours. (ABIMF, 178-179)
“'Two Tribes' went through as many incarnations as `Relax' had done. The wonderful bass line was eventually created from a series of sampled, sequenced and played elements. The sixty­piece orchestra was arranged and conducted by Ann Dudly - friend of Trevor's and a member of The Art Of Noise. I read in an interview with Ann that Trevor said to her that he wanted to spend lots of money on a huge string section. The orchestra certainly sounded magnificent. Trevor was now assured substantial income from `Relax' so he felt that he now had carte blanche to Spend, Spend, Spend. On our behalf.
`Two Tribes' was released to great acclaim and went straight to number one in the UK. It then stayed there for nine weeks, equalling Queen's previous record with `Bohemian Rhapsody". For it we recorded about five different `Top Of The Pops' performances. It almost became a bind, and certainly put a strain on our wardrobes, as we were determined to have a slightly different look for each show. While `Two Tribes' stayed at number one, `Relax' re-entered the charts and reached number two again. This had never happened to a new pop group before, the nearest event in living memory was The Beatles' early success. `Relax' eventually sold over five million copies, and `Two Tribes' over three million. Then Fleet Street really became interested in `The New Pop Phenomenon'. `They have the wit of the Beatles, the decadence of the Rolling Stones and the wildness of the Sex Pistols. ..'wrote Mike Andrews of the Daily Express (Monday 25th June 1984).” (ABIMF, 184)

Two Tribes (single, b-sides and remixes)
1 Two Tribes (Cowboys & Indians)
2 One February Friday (Doctor's & Nurses) OR (Only Bullets Can Stop Them Now)
3 Two Tribes (We Don`t Want To Die)
4 Two Tribes (Annihilation)
5 One February Friday (Abridged)
6 War (Hide Yourself)
7 Two Tribes (Surrender)
8 Two Tribes (For The Victims Of Ravishment)
9 Two Tribes (Carnage Mix)
10 War (Hidden)
11 Two Tribes (Hibakusha)
12 Two Tribes (Destructo Video Mix)
13 The Last Voice

two tribes