In The Garden

About

"In the Garden" is the debut studio album by the British new wave duo Eurythmics, released on 16 October 1981 by RCA Records. The album was co-produced with German producer Conny Plank at his studio in Cologne and features contributions from several guest musicians, including Clem Burke of Blondie, Robert Görl of Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft, and Holger Czukay and Jaki Liebezeit of Can. Plank had previously worked with Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart during their time in the band the Tourists. Two singles were released from the album in the United Kingdom, "Never Gonna Cry Again" and "Belinda". "Never Gonna Cry Again" reached number 63 on the UK Singles Chart, while the album and both singles achieved limited commercial success. On 14 November 2005, RCA reissued Eurythmics' back catalogue as part of the "2005 Deluxe Edition Reissues", with "In the Garden" including the B-sides from its singles and three live tracks from the supporting tour. Stewart and Lennox first met in 1977 at a restaurant in London, where Lennox worked as a waitress. They later formed the Tourists with Peet Coombes, who was the primary songwriter and lead vocalist of the band. Following the Tourists' dissolution, Stewart and Lennox formed Eurythmics in 1980. The formation of the duo was influenced by a New Year’s Eve gathering hosted by Plank in Germany, during which they jammed with Robert Görl and exchanged ideas with Liebezeit and Czukay. Plank encouraged Stewart and Lennox to record demos, ultimately helping secure a record deal with RCA, and received a share of the album’s royalties. Clem Burke contributed drums after Lennox persuaded him to join the sessions in Germany. Recording took place in a farmhouse outside Cologne. Stewart and Plank emphasized experimental recording techniques, including field recordings and unconventional microphone placements. This approach resulted in tracks that incorporated ambient sounds, playground noises, typewriters, and other unconventional elements. Stewart used electronic instruments, such as a Roland TR-606 drum machine and a synthesizer, to distinguish the album from the guitar-oriented sound of the Tourists. Lennox employed vocal techniques described as deliberately subdued and experimental. "In the Garden" was released with minimal promotion and did not chart, reflecting its limited commercial impact. Contemporary commentary highlighted the album’s European electronic style as distinct from the fading power pop of the Tourists and noted that its sound did not align with the emerging New Romantic movement. The album’s supporting tour employed a setup in which instruments were routed through a mixing console onstage, projecting sound through a PA system rather than traditional amplifiers, which created confusion for some audience members regarding the live performance. Rehearsals were conducted in a makeshift studio in Camden, London, equipped with keyboards, a double-neck guitar, and recording equipment.

via Last.fm

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