Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Passing Strangers

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Released
  
15 October 1980

Length
  
3:48

Format
  
7" single, 12" single

B-side
  
"Face to Face (Live)" "King's Lead Hat (Live)"

Recorded
  
February 1980 at RAK Studios

Genre
  
Post-punk, electronic, new wave

"Passing Strangers" is Ultravox's second single from the band's first album with Midge Ure, released on Chrysalis Records on 15 October 1980.

Contents

A fast-paced guitar track recalling early John Foxx-era Ultravox, Passing Strangers ultimately failed to live up to the top 30 success of its predecessor Sleepwalk. It stalled at #57 in the UK charts despite having a music video (directed by Russell Mulcahy and featuring Barbie Wilde and Tok from Tik & Tok) and release on 12" format alongside the regular 7", both of which Sleepwalk lacked.

The single contains two live b-sides; "Face To Face", an original Ultravox track that was never recorded in studio, and a live cover of the Brian Eno song "King's Lead Hat".

7" version

  1. "Passing Strangers" – 3:48
  2. "Face to Face (Live)" – 6:04

12" version

  1. "Passing Strangers" – 3:48
  2. "Face to Face (Live)" – 6:04
  3. "King's Lead Hat (Live)" – 4:06

References

Passing Strangers Wikipedia
(Text) CC BY-SA