The Colour of Spring

The Colour of Spring
The Colour of Spring
Studio album by Talk Talk
Released	17 February 1986
Recorded	1985, London
Studio	Battery, London; Videosonics Studios;
Genre	New wave; art pop; progressive pop; experimental pop;
Length	45:40
Label	EMI
Producer	Tim Friese-Greene
Talk Talk chronology
Singles from The Colour of Spring
	"Life's What You Make It"; Released: 6 January 1986 (UK); "Living in Another World"; Released: 3 March 1986; "Give It Up"; Released: 6 May 1986; "I Don't Believe in You"; Released: 10 November 1986;

The Colour of Spring is the third studio album by English band Talk Talk, released on 17 February 1986. Written by Mark Hollis and producer Tim Friese-Greene, the album combines elements of jazz and art pop in an effort by Hollis to embrace more organic instrumentation and production values.^[7] Unlike previous Talk Talk albums, synthesizers are rarely featured on the album, being replaced by guitar, piano, and organ.^[8] The album went on to become Talk Talk's greatest commercial success, spawning the hit singles "Life's What You Make It" and "Living in Another World" and reaching the Top 20 in numerous countries (topping the Dutch charts), including the UK, where it reached No. 8 and stayed in the UK charts for 21 weeks.^[9]

Background

The Colour of Spring is commonly viewed as a bridge between Talk Talk's earlier, synthesized pop sound, and their later, more improvisation-based work. Despite the extensive use of synthesizers on the previous two albums, Hollis was vocal in his distaste for them, stating that they were used primarily for economic reasons and that “if they didn’t exist, I’d be delighted.”^[10] During the recording of the album, Hollis frequently listened to the music of composers such as Erik Satie, Claude Debussy, and Béla Bartók, with the latter being a particularly significant influence on the album.^[11]

Like other Talk Talk albums, outside musicians were heavily utilized. Guests contributing to the album include Robbie McIntosh adding guitar, and Steve Winwood, who played organ on the hit "Living in Another World", alongside "Happiness is Easy" and "I Don't Believe in You".^[12]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[13]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music	^[14]
Mojo	^[15]
Q	^[16]
Uncut	9/10^[17]

The Colour of Spring became the band's highest selling non-compilation studio album, reaching the Top 20 in numerous countries (topping the Dutch charts), including the UK, where it reached No. 8 and stayed in the UK charts for 21 weeks.^[9] It did not quite match the sales of its predecessor in the United States but was nonetheless their last album to enter the Billboard 200, reaching number 58.^[18] With the international hit "Life's What You Make It", Talk Talk expanded their fan base. The song became the band's fourth of four American hits, along with 1982's "Talk Talk" and 1984's "It's My Life" and "Such a Shame".

The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.^[19]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Tim Friese-Greene and Mark Hollis.

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Happiness Is Easy"	6:30
2.	"I Don't Believe in You"	5:02
3.	"Life's What You Make It"	4:29
4.	"April 5th"	5:51

Side two
No.	Title	Length
5.	"Living in Another World"	6:58
6.	"Give It Up"	5:17
7.	"Chameleon Day"	3:20
8.	"Time It's Time"	8:14
Total length:		45:40

Personnel

Credits per album notes.^[20]

Talk Talk

Mark Hollis — lead vocals, piano (tracks 3, 5, 6, 7), Variophon (tracks 1, 4 and 7), organ (track 4), Mellotron (track 6), electric guitar (track 8), melodica (track 8)
Lee Harris — drums (except 4, 7)
Paul Webb — bass guitar (tracks 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8), backing vocals (tracks 3 and 5)

Additional personnel

Tim Friese-Greene — producer, piano (tracks 1, 2, and 8), Kurzweil Synthesizer (tracks 1, 4 and 7), organ (tracks 3, 6 and 8), Variophon (tracks 4 and 7), Mellotron (track 3)
Ian Curnow — synthesizer solos (tracks 2 and 6)
Martin Ditcham — percussion (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6 and 8)
Mark Feltham — harmonica (track 5)
Alan Gorrie — electric bass (track 1)
Robbie McIntosh — guitar (tracks 1, 2, 5 and 8), Dobro (tracks 4 and 6)
Morris Pert — percussion (tracks 1, 2, 5, and 8)
Phil Reis — percussion (track 1)
David Rhodes — guitar (tracks 3, 5, and 6)
David Roach — soprano saxophone (tracks 2, 4, and 5)
Gaynor Sadler — harp (track 2)
Danny Thompson — acoustic bass (track 1)
Children from the school of Miss Speake — children's choir (track 1)
Ambrosian Singers — choir (track 8)
Steve Winwood — organ (tracks 1, 2, and 5)

Technical

Dennis Weinrich — engineer
Dietmar Schillinger — engineer
Paul Schroeder — engineer
Pete Wooliscroft — engineer
James Marsh — cover art

Charts

Chart (1986)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[21]	71
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[22]	16
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[23]	1
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[24]	11
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[25]	7
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)^[26]	12
Scottish Albums (OCC)^[27]	70
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[28]	25
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[29]	3
UK Albums (OCC)^[30]	8
UK Album Downloads (OCC)^[31]	36
US Billboard 200^[18]	58

Chart (2025)	Peak position
Hungarian Physical Albums (MAHASZ)^[32]	23

Year-end charts

1986 year-end chart performance for *The Colour of Spring*
Chart (1986)	Position
European Albums (Music & Media)^[33]	22
UK Albums (Gallup)^[34]	79

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)^[35]	Gold	50,000^{^}
Netherlands (NVPI)^[36]	Gold	50,000^{^}
United Kingdom (BPI)^[37]	Gold	100,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ Unwin, Neville; Goodyer, Tim (April 1986). "Talkback". Home and Recording Studio.
^ Marsh, James; Roberts, Chris; Benjamin, Toby (2015). Spirit of Talk Talk (Paperback ed.). London: Rocket 88. p. 74. ISBN 9781906615956.
^ Terich, Jeff (2 March 2009). "The 90-Minute Guide: New Wave". Treble. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
^ Cashen, Calvin (8 March 2016). "Top art pop albums of the '80s". The Concordian. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
^ Steinberg, Jessica (3 October 2018). "Progressive rock musician Steven Wilson to play Israel". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
^ Terich, Jeff (12 August 2008). "Talk Talk: Laughing Stock". Treble. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
^ "Talk Talk - the Colour of Spring (Album review ) | Sputnikmusic".
^ Crossley, Neil (25 February 2021). "Making Talk Talk – The Colour Of Spring". Classic Pop. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
^ ^a ^b David Roberts British Hit Singles and Albums, Guinness World Records Limited
^ Crossley, Neil (25 February 2021). "Making Talk Talk – The Colour Of Spring". Classic Pop. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
^ Crossley, Neil (29 July 2019). "Talk Talk — The Colour of Spring". Long Live Vinyl. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
^ "Album of the Day – The Colour of Spring". Rhino. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
^ Woodstra, Chris. "The Colour of Spring – Talk Talk". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
^ Larkin, Colin (2009). "Talk Talk". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th online ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-199-72636-3. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
^ Eccleston, Danny (May 2012). "Lost Horizon". Mojo. No. 222. London. p. 100. ISSN 1351-0193.
^ "Talk Talk: The Colour of Spring". Q. No. 211. London. February 2004. p. 119.
^ Thomson, Graeme (May 2019). "Mark Hollis: Buyer's Guide". Uncut. No. 264. London. p. 53.
^ ^a ^b "Talk Talk Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
^ Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (23 March 2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.
^ The Colour of Spring (Liner notes). Talk Talk. EMI Records. 2012. pp. 2–5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 304. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ "Austriancharts.at – Talk Talk – The Colour of Spring" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Talk Talk – The Colour of Spring" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Talk Talk – The Colour of Spring" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
^ "Charts.nz – Talk Talk – The Colour of Spring". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Talk Talk – The Colour of Spring". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
^ "Swedishcharts.com – Talk Talk – The Colour of Spring". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
^ "Swisscharts.com – Talk Talk – The Colour of Spring". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista (fizikai hanghordozók) – 2025. 27. hét". MAHASZ. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
^ "European Hot 100 Albums – Hot 100 of the Year 1986" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 51/52. 27 December 1986. p. 35. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
^ "Top 100 Albums (January to December 1986)" (PDF). Music Week. 24 January 1987. p. 25. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
^ "Canadian album certifications – Talk Talk – The Colour of Spring". Music Canada. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
^ "Dutch album certifications – Talk Talk – Colour of Spring" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 24 August 2019. Enter Colour of Spring in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1986 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
^ "British album certifications – Talk Talk – The Colour of Spring". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 24 August 2019.

[talkback-1] Unwin, Neville; Goodyer, Tim (April 1986). "Talkback". Home and Recording Studio.

[2] Marsh, James; Roberts, Chris; Benjamin, Toby (2015). Spirit of Talk Talk (Paperback ed.). London: Rocket 88. p. 74. ISBN 9781906615956.

[3] Terich, Jeff (2 March 2009). "The 90-Minute Guide: New Wave". Treble. Retrieved 5 June 2020.

[4] Cashen, Calvin (8 March 2016). "Top art pop albums of the '80s". The Concordian. Retrieved 25 July 2020.

[5] Steinberg, Jessica (3 October 2018). "Progressive rock musician Steven Wilson to play Israel". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 5 June 2020.

[6] Terich, Jeff (12 August 2008). "Talk Talk: Laughing Stock". Treble. Retrieved 5 June 2020.

[7] "Talk Talk - the Colour of Spring (Album review ) | Sputnikmusic".

[8] Crossley, Neil (25 February 2021). "Making Talk Talk – The Colour Of Spring". Classic Pop. Retrieved 4 October 2022.

[David_Roberts-9] David Roberts British Hit Singles and Albums, Guinness World Records Limited

[10] Crossley, Neil (25 February 2021). "Making Talk Talk – The Colour Of Spring". Classic Pop. Retrieved 4 October 2022.

[11] Crossley, Neil (29 July 2019). "Talk Talk — The Colour of Spring". Long Live Vinyl. Retrieved 4 October 2022.

[12] "Album of the Day – The Colour of Spring". Rhino. Retrieved 5 October 2020.

[13] Woodstra, Chris. "The Colour of Spring – Talk Talk". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 August 2015.

[14] Larkin, Colin (2009). "Talk Talk". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th online ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-199-72636-3. Retrieved 26 August 2016.

[15] Eccleston, Danny (May 2012). "Lost Horizon". Mojo. No. 222. London. p. 100. ISSN 1351-0193.

[16] "Talk Talk: The Colour of Spring". Q. No. 211. London. February 2004. p. 119.

[17] Thomson, Graeme (May 2019). "Mark Hollis: Buyer's Guide". Uncut. No. 264. London. p. 53.

[us-18] "Talk Talk Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 June 2018.

[19] Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (23 March 2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.

[20] The Colour of Spring (Liner notes). Talk Talk. EMI Records. 2012. pp. 2–5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[aus-21] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 304. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[ac_Austria_Talk_Talk-22] "Austriancharts.at – Talk Talk – The Colour of Spring" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 June 2018.

[ac_Netherlands_Talk_Talk-23] "Dutchcharts.nl – Talk Talk – The Colour of Spring" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 June 2018.

[ac_Germany_Talk_Talk-24] "Offiziellecharts.de – Talk Talk – The Colour of Spring" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 10 August 2024.

[ac_New_Zealand_Talk_Talk-25] "Charts.nz – Talk Talk – The Colour of Spring". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 June 2018.

[ac_Norway_Talk_Talk-26] "Norwegiancharts.com – Talk Talk – The Colour of Spring". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 June 2018.

[ac_Scotland_-27] "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 August 2024.

[ac_Sweden_Talk_Talk-28] "Swedishcharts.com – Talk Talk – The Colour of Spring". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 June 2018.

[ac_Switzerland_Talk_Talk-29] "Swisscharts.com – Talk Talk – The Colour of Spring". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 June 2018.

[uk-30] "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 June 2018.

[ac_UKDigital_-31] "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 August 2024.

[32] "Album Top 40 slágerlista (fizikai hanghordozók) – 2025. 27. hét". MAHASZ. Retrieved 9 July 2025.

[33] "European Hot 100 Albums – Hot 100 of the Year 1986" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 51/52. 27 December 1986. p. 35. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.

[34] "Top 100 Albums (January to December 1986)" (PDF). Music Week. 24 January 1987. p. 25. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.

[CanadaTalk_TalkThe_Colour_of_SpringalbumCertRef-35] "Canadian album certifications – Talk Talk – The Colour of Spring". Music Canada. Retrieved 24 August 2019.

[NetherlandsTalk_TalkColour_of_SpringalbumCertRef-36] "Dutch album certifications – Talk Talk – Colour of Spring" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 24 August 2019. Enter Colour of Spring in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1986 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".

[United_KingdomTalk_TalkThe_Colour_of_SpringalbumCertRef-37] "British album certifications – Talk Talk – The Colour of Spring". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 24 August 2019.

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v t e Talk Talk
Mark Hollis Lee Harris Paul Webb Simon Brenner
Albums	The Party's Over It's My Life The Colour of Spring Spirit of Eden Laughing Stock
Live albums	London 1986
Singles	"Talk Talk" "Today" "It's My Life" "Such a Shame" "Life's What You Make It" "Living in Another World" "Give It Up" "I Don't Believe in You" "I Believe in You"
Compilations	Natural History: The Very Best of Talk Talk History Revisited: The Remixes Asides Besides 12x12 Original Remixes The Collection Missing Pieces Introducing... Talk Talk
Video	Live at Montreux 1986
Related articles	Talk Talk discography Tim Friese-Greene James Marsh Mark Hollis (album) .O.rang Out of Season Drift Code Clockdust

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