Performance (Eloy album)

Performance is the eleventh studio album by the German rock band Eloy, released in 1983.

Performance
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 1983[1]
Recorded1982–1983
StudioHorus Sound Studio, Hanover, Germany
GenreHard rock, prog rock[2]
Length38:54
LabelHarvest / EMI Electrola
Heavy Metal Worldwide (UK issue)
ProducerEloy
Eloy chronology
Time to Turn
(1982)
Performance
(1983)
Metromania
(1984)
Alternative cover
UK cover, with alternated and relocated band logo and title
Singles from Performance
  1. "Fools / Heartbeat[3]"
    Released: 1983
Audio sample
"Heartbeat"
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
ArtRock[4]

Amidst the peak of the Neue Deutsche Welle, Frank Bornemann's will was to stay loyal to Eloy's prog rock roots following the project Planets / Time to Turn, while the rest of the band wanted to explore a more mainstream direction, with less complicated music.[5]

Eventually, Bornemann gave in to the rest of the band's vision, but his contribution to the creation of Performance was significantly reduced, both as a composer and as a writer. The lyrics were written almost entirely by Sigi Hausen, known to Eloy from her contribution to Planets / Time to Turn, with Bornemann writing only some of the "Heartbeat" lyrics.[5]

This musical experiment was not commercially successful, as Performance entered the German charts for only one week in May 1983, peaking at the 65th position.[6] Its overall sales were mediocre compared to Planets / Time to Turn, as was the attendance of the supporting tour.[5]

Reviewing their choices and doing something akin to the change of musical styles from Colours to Planets / Time to Turn during the 1980-81 period, the band decided to embrace Bornemann's vision and follow up Performance with an album much closer to Eloy's identity: Metromania.[5]

Track listing

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Music by Eloy and lyrics by Sigi Hausen, except where noted.

No.TitleLyricsLength
1."In Disguise" 4:29
2."Shadow and Light" 5:17
3."Mirador" 3:44
4."Surrender" 5:38
5."Heartbeat"Sigi Hausen, Frank Bornemann6:26
6."Fools" 5:10
7."A Broken Frame" 8:10
Total length:38:54
2005 Remastered CD reissue bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
8."Shadow and Light" (live in Paris, France, 1983)5:08
9."Heartbeat" (live in Paris, France, 1983)6:00
10."Fools" (live in Paris, France, 1983)4:49

Personnel

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Eloy

Production

Artwork

  • Walter Seyffer: artistic concept
  • Ulli Dinger: photography

References

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  1. ^ "Vinyl Album / Artist: Eloy / Title: Performance". 45worlds.com. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Eloy – Performance". Discogs. Zink Media, LLC. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Eloy – Fools / Heartbeat". Discogs. Zink Media, LLC. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  4. ^ Horyszny, Paweł. "Eloy — Performance". ArtRock.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d Kuinke, Volker. Eloy - Performance (booklet) (in German). Harvest Records - EMI Electrola. pp. 3–5. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Eloy - Performance". Offizielle Deutsche Charts (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
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