History of China Crisis
China Crisis formed in Kirkby, near Liverpool, in 1979, centered on the songwriting partnership of Gary Daly and Eddie Lundon. From the beginning, the group stood out for combining post-punk instincts with melodic pop writing, and their early recordings showed a strong interest in atmosphere, texture, and careful arrangement. As their sound developed, they moved away from a rawer new wave approach and into a smoother style that would later make them one of the more distinctive British pop acts of the early 1980s.
The band’s early years were shaped by the broader Liverpool music scene and by a period in which British pop was rapidly shifting toward synthesizers, polished production, and artful pop construction. China Crisis fit that moment well, but they never sounded entirely like their peers; their songs often leaned toward restraint rather than excess, with understated vocals and thoughtful harmonies. That balance helped them build a reputation for intelligent pop that could still work on radio and in the charts.
Their breakthrough period came with the second studio album, Working with Fire and Steel – Possible Pop Songs Volume Two, which helped confirm their identity and broaden their audience. The record refined the band’s songwriting and presentation, strengthening the melodic side of their work while keeping a subtle, slightly offbeat character. It marked an important stage in the transition from a promising new act into a band with a clear and recognizable style.
China Crisis continued to evolve through the rest of the 1980s, releasing albums that expanded their sound and sharpened their songwriting. Their best-known era included later releases that blended pop accessibility with sophisticated production, and the group became associated with a refined version of British synth-pop that emphasized nuance over bombast. Even after their commercial peak, they remained a respected name among listeners who value elegant, well-crafted pop music.
Over the years, the band’s catalog has shown considerable range, from their earliest post-punk-influenced work to later studio albums, live recordings, and compilations. Their career is a good example of how a band can maintain a strong identity while changing shape across decades. China Crisis also retained interest from longtime fans because their songs often combine immediate hooks with a sense of melancholy and emotional detail.
Working With Fire And Steel
Working with Fire and Steel – Possible Pop Songs Volume Two is the second studio album by China Crisis and one of the most important releases in their discography. Issued in 1983, it captured the band at a crucial point, when they were moving from promising newcomers to a group capable of producing sophisticated, memorable pop songs with wider appeal. The album is closely associated with the band’s early-1980s identity and remains one of their defining statements.
The record is built around a polished yet restrained sound, with arrangements that support the vocals rather than overpower them. Its title suggests a slightly conceptual or self-aware approach, but the album ultimately succeeds because of the strength of the songs themselves. The title track became especially well known, and “Wishful Thinking” emerged as one of the band’s signature songs, helping to establish the album’s place in the band’s history.
One reason the album continues to be remembered is the way it balances accessibility and style. It has enough pop immediacy to remain approachable, but it also carries enough detail and atmosphere to reward repeated listening. That combination gave it lasting appeal and made it a reference point for the band’s later work.
The album also became part of China Crisis’s broader narrative as a band that could turn careful songwriting into something commercially viable without losing personality. In that sense, it is not just a release in their catalog but a turning point that helped define how listeners would understand the group. Its reputation has endured because it represents a particularly strong moment in the band’s artistic development.
Urban Legends
The album title, especially the subtitle “Possible Pop Songs Volume Two,” has often been discussed as an artful or ironic phrase rather than a straightforward marketing label. Some listeners have interpreted it as a playful comment on the idea of pop music itself, giving the album a faintly conceptual reputation that has followed it over time.
Track list
- Working with Fire and Steel — 3:41.
- When the Piper Calls — 4:04.
- Hanna Hanna — 3:29.
- Animals in Jungles — 3:40.
- Here Come a Raincloud — 4:16.
- Wishful Thinking — 4:42.
- Tragedy and Mystery — 4:03.
- Papua — 3:36.
- The Gates of Door to Door — 4:16.
- The Soul Awakening — 4:36.
China Crisis albums
- Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms, Some People Think It's Fun to Entertain (1982).
- Working with Fire and Steel – Possible Pop Songs Volume Two (1983).
- Flaunt the Imperfection (1985).
- What Price Paradise (1986).
- Diary of a Hollow Horse (1989).
- Warped by Success (1994).
- Acoustically Yours (1995).
- Scrap Book Vol 1 – Live at the Dominion Theatre (2002).
- Singing the Praises of Finer Things (2007).
- Autumn in the Neighbourhood (2015).
- Scrapbook Vol. 2 – Live at the Pavillion Theatre (2017).