Eurythmics – Revenge

Revenge marked the highpoint of the groups commercial success and depicts more or less the themes they started with their first album "In the garden" with great clarity. Ever took a closer look at the album cover and Annie Lennox eyes?
If you know what that means, you know the truth about the garden ...

"Revenge" marks a somewhat sentimental (if not entirely cynical) connection with "In the Garden" - Dave Stewart once explained the choice of the album's title, as a revenge by music, aimed at everyone who treated them with contempt. Now propelled into superstardom, it was easy for Eurythmics to look back on it all with some relief, although "Revenge" is far from being a "happy album". Lots of sadness surrounds the songs, written from a personal experience ("I You" is a dedication to Lennox's then-deceased father).

Of course, tiny hints at their debut album are clearly pointed out with the very choice of title - "Revenge" of course, originally being the closing number on "In the Garden", while here additional reminder appears in the lyrics of "A Little Of You", plus in one of the 1986 album's b-sides (a completely re-arranged, but altogether a dull, overblown version called "Revenge 2"). Also there seems to be a partial re-use of a field recording that opens for "I You" (the emergency car's siren sound that's also featured earlier in the song "English Summer"). Stylistically speaking however, "Revenge" stays closer to "Be Yourself Tonight", with some of the play-safe in the duo's amazing delivery, and a strong tendency to impress. The live video from their "Revenge" tour documents one of the finest-ever concert performances in pop-rock history.

To lesser extent, some of the songs happen to be just power-pop standards for power-pop's sake ("When Tomorrow Comes", "The Last Time" and "A Little Of You" - the latter a typical mid-80s arrangement in a manner of a Eurovision song contest winner that never was). The highlights definitely include "Missionary Man" - with its amazing, sinister harmonica opening, "Thorn In My Side", the slightly darker "Take Your Pain Away", "In This Town" (with a simulated live atmosphere) and the already mentioned, closing number - "I You", a beautifully sad ballad, augmented by a strings arrangement and a gripping sense of nostalgia, successfully avoiding the pathetic lamenting as is the case with another ballad on the album - also one of the chosen singles, "The Miracle Of Love".

The country here is listed as "Europe". Shouldn't it be ? You can see for yourself on the ed images of the label: "made in "

Excellent and now widely overlooked LP, with a wide range of tempo and styles. 'Revenge' has both commercial appeal and rock credibility. Many of the tracks sound good in their own right, but it also flows smoothly as an album. 'Let's Go!' is pure throwaway one-night-stand rock, yet other tracks like 'The Miracle Of Love' and 'Take Your Pain Away' are more tender and thoughtful.

Eurythmics started off as a New Wave / Synth Pop oddity, but with this album came of age and proved they could write memorable songs and take control in the studio.