Featuring on Frankie's debut album Welcome To The Pleasuredome, this
stunning single (from the cold war era) was released in May 1984, and
was the second No.1 for the band. It stayed at the top of the UK charts
for nine weeks, and at the same time the previous No.1 single Relax, re-entered the charts and reached No.2.
The controversial video for Two Tribes (which was directed by Godley & Creme)
featured a wrestling match between U.S. President Ronald Reagan and
Soviet leader Konstantin Chernenko.
Were the band puppets of the ZTT record label and producer Trevor Horn?
A version of Two Tribes was originally recorded for a BBC John Peel
session in October 1982. It is quite clear that the basic
structure of the song - including the signature bass-line and percussion
arrangement - was already established, prior to any involvement from ZTT or
producer Trevor Horn.
Check out this rare version of Two Tribes at my 80s Remix blog.
