Greenpeace – The Album was inspired by two similar multi-artist musical projects compiled in Denmark and West Germany.[3] According to Greenpeace activist Tom Campbell, the UK project was conceived as a relatively minor undertaking, but "the thing snowballed, with more and more acts volunteering songs for the record."[1] Explaining their support in a 1985 interview, Suggs and Carl Smyth of Madness said that they admired the activists' boldness in dealing directly with environmental problems around the world; Suggs said: "Greenpeace are ecologists but they do things. They don't have debates, they don't have marches, they just do things."[4]
The majority of the sixteen contributions to the album were previously released songs[3] and, in some cases, had become chart hits.[1] An exception was "Push and Shove" by Hazel O'Connor and Chris Thompson,[3] which was recorded for the compilation and produced by Haydn Bendall,[5] who also oversaw technical coordination for the album.[6] Also exclusive to the 1985 release, George Harrison remixed his 1981 track "Save the World" and recorded a new vocal with the lyrics tailored more to Greenpeace's cause.[7] The Pretenders' contribution, "Show Me", was a live version of their 1984 single, recorded in Detroit.[8]
Video release and sequel
The album was followed by a home video compilation, titled Greenpeace: Non-Toxic Video Hits, which included videos for many of the songs from the album. The release took place on 5 December 1985 in the UK[7] and 16 April 1986 in the US.[9]
A second fundraising album, Greenpeace: Rainbow Warriors, was released in the summer of 1989.[10] Among its 31 tracks were further contributions from Peter Gabriel, the Pretenders and the Eurythmics.[11]
^Madinger, Chip; Easter, Mark (2000). Eight Arms to Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium. Chesterfield, MO: 44.1 Productions. p. 636. ISBN0-615-11724-4.
^Tennant, Neil (1985). "Madness: Upwards and Onwards". Smash Hits. Available at Rock's Backpages (subscription required).
^Greenpeace – The Album (LP credits). Various Artists. Greenpeace Records/EMI. 1985.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)