For those unaware, Secret Records has just released Singing The Praises Of Finer Things, a powerful live recording from China Crisis, captured at the Paul McCartney Auditorium, Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, on September 16th, 2005.

This CD features an eight-piece lineup performing career highlights including Wishful Thinking, Black Man Ray, King In A Catholic Style, Christian, Working With Fire & Steel, and African & White. Produced by Roger Lomas, the concert showcases the band’s signature melodic pop and refined songwriting making this new CD release a concise, career spanning performance from one of the UK’s most distinctive 80s bands.

1. Strength Of Character (3.39)
2. Singing The Praises Of Finer Things (5.10)
3. The Highest High (3.49)
4. Stranger By Nature (4.07)
5. You Did Cut Me (4.32)
6. Sweet Charity In Adoration (4.57)
7. It’s Everything (4.46)
8. Arizona Sky (3.00)
9. Tragedy & Mystery (4.50)
10. African & White (4.47)
11. The Understudy (3.48)
12. Gift Of Freedom (5.01)
13. Black Man Ray (3.54)
14. Wishful Thinking (4.47)
15. King In A Catholic Style (Wake Up) (4.30)
16. Working With Fire & Steel (4.17)
17. Christian (4.53)
18. Diary Of A Hollow Horse (3.44)

China Crisis are one of the very best 80’s bands that ever originated, in my humble opinion, but sadly after Flaunt the Imperfection their popularity slowly diminished, even though they continued to produce amazing studio albums. And there is no mistaking just how great this collection of CC songs truly are and contains a smorgasbord of tracks that I personally grew up listening to.

A joyful and exquisitely performed live concert featuring this fantastic but generally overlooked/underrated band’s finest moments, it’s tracks like the soulful African and White, the poppy King in a Catholic Style, Christian and the smooth Tragedy and Mystery, along with a masterful sprinkling of others; such as some lesser known songs to the ears of pop pickers spanning the band’s career.

Musicians:
Eddie Lundon - Electric/Acoustic Guitar And Vocals
Gary Daly - Melodica And Lead Vocals
Jay Irwin - Drums
Colin Hines - Electric Lead Guitar And Backing Vocals
Eddie Robinson - Bass Guitar
Glyn Williams - Synthesizers
Andrew Steele - Electric Piano And Backing Vocals
Jay Murphy - Percussion

Official Purchase Link

www.chinacrisismusic.com