From Luxury to Heartache is the fourth album by the British pop band Culture Club, released in April 1986. It was the last studio album released by Culture Club until 1999's Don't Mind If I Do.
Background From Luxury to Heartache was produced by veteran pop and R&B producer Arif Mardin, who replaced Steve Levine, the producer of Culture Club's previous three albums, in a bid to revitalise the band's sound. Due to lead singer Boy George's growing addiction to drugs, recordings dragged on for so long that Mardin had to disband the sessions and leave it up to engineer Lew Hahn to record the final vocals. The final credit on the album gave production credit to both Mardin and Hahn on all tracks. Songs like "Gusto Blusto" and "Reasons" took days for the addicted singer to finish.
Following the release of the album, rumours of George's heroin addiction began to circulate in the press and in British and US tabloids, and by the summer of 1986, he announced that he was indeed addicted to drugs. In July, he was arrested for possession of cannabis. Several days later, keyboardist Michael Rudetsky, who played on the album and had co-written "Sexuality" with George, was found dead from a heroin overdose in George's home.
Commercial performance and single releases Lead single "Move Away" became a hit in several countries around the world. However, also around this time, media reports of lead singer Boy George's drug abuse were starting to surface. "God Thank You Woman" was the second single released from the album in Europe and Asia, it peaked at number 31 on the UK Singles Chart, while in North and South America "Gusto Blusto" was chosen as a single, but it failed to chart on the US Hot 100.
Another single, "Heaven's Children", was scheduled for release in the UK, but was cancelled. Within a year of the album's release, the band broke up and Boy George embarked on a solo career, making this the last Culture Club album until 1999's Don't Mind If I Do.
Track listing
A Japanese version of From Luxury to Heartache, released on 21 December 2022, also contains the bonus tracks "From Luxury to Heartache" and "Gusto Blusto" (Extended Dance Mix).
Personnel Culture Club Boy George – vocals Mikey Craig – bass guitar Roy Hay – guitar, piano, keyboards, sitar, electric sitar Jon Moss – percussion, drums
Additional musicians Michael Rudetsky – keyboards Phil Pickett – keyboards, background vocals Lewis Hahn – recorder Helen Terry – backing vocals Jocelyn Brown – backing vocals David Lasley – backing vocals Wendell Morrison – backing vocals Ruby Turner – backing vocals
Production Arif Mardin – producer Lewis Hahn – producer, mixing George Marino – mastering Jon Moss – digital mixing Michael O'Reilly – engineer Martin Pearson – engineer David Richards – engineer Tony Gordon – management
Charts Album Chart (1986)PeakpositionCanadian RPM Albums ChartLibrary and Archives Canada. Retrieved 5 March 201234Dutch Albums Chart28German Albums Chart45Italian Albums Chart14Japanese Albums Chart13New Zealand Albums Chart44Norwegian Albums Chart18 Spanish Albums Chart 30Swedish Albums Chart13Swiss Albums Chart24UK Albums Chart10U.S. Billboard 20032
Singles SingleChart (1986)Peakposition"Move Away"UK Singles Chart7"Move Away"U.S. Adult Contemporary11"Move Away"U.S. Billboard Hot 10012"Move Away"U.S. Hot Dance Club Play4"Move Away"U.S. R&B Chart87"God Thank You Woman"UK Singles Chart31"Gusto Blusto"CAN Singles Chart24
Certifications
Release details Country Date Label Format Catalog 1986 Virgin CD E-40345 LP 2380 1998 Virgin CD 86704
References
External links Amazon.com review Artist Direct review Buy.com review Rate Your Music review