Same Old Story (song)

"Same Old Story"
Single by Ultravox
from the album U-Vox
B-side	"3" "All in One Day (Instrumental)"
Released	15 September 1986
Recorded	1986
Genre	Pop rock, new wave
Length	03.58
Label	Chrysalis Records
Songwriter(s)	Chris Cross, Billy Currie, Midge Ure
Producer(s)	Ultravox, Conny Plank
Ultravox singles chronology
"Love's Great Adventure" (1986) "Same Old Story" (1986) "All Fall Down" (1986)

"Same Old Story" is a 1986 by the British new wave band Ultravox. It was the first single to be taken from their eighth album U-Vox, and was released on 15 September 1986.^[1]

Background

Now a trio, without original drummer Warren Cann, the single took Ultravox in a new musical direction. "Same Old Story" featured jazzy brass by Beggar and Co, and female vocals in the chorus by Carol Kenyon. Frontman Midge Ure felt that, by 1986, it was clear that Ultravox was now a very different entity.^[2][3]

Mark Brzezicki was hired in and played drums on the album. In the music video of "Same Old Story" Pat Ahern played drums, and he also toured with the band on the U-Vox European Tour.^[4][5]

The B-side was the instrumental track "3", which featured rhythms, synthesizers and Billy Currie's recognizable piano.

On the 12-inch single, there was an instrumental version of the U-Vox album track "All in One Day", which featured an orchestra conducted and arranged by George Martin.

"Same Old Story" reached 31 in UK Singles Chart.^[6]

Critical reception

Upon its release, Smash Hits reviewer Ian Cranna wrote: "Take away the trendy, loud girls singers and punctuating brass "riffs" and this sounds particularly dull and ponderous, even by Ultravox's lead-booted standards."^[7]

Track listing

7" version

1. "Same Old Story" – 3:58
2. "3" – 4:01

12" version

1. "Same Old Story (Extended Mix)" – 6:57
2. "3" – 4:01
3. "All in One Day (Instrumental)" – 6:12

References

1. "allmusic". AllMusic. 2021-08-01.
2. Midge Ure If I Was The Autobiography. Virgin Books.
3. "recordcollectormag". 2021-08-01.
4. U-Vox Tour Program 1986
5. "www.discogs.com". Discogs.
6. "Official Charts". Official Charts.
7. Cranna, Ian. "Singles". Smash Hits 24 September-7 October 1986. p. 47.