Cadmium
Studio album by
Sky
Released25 November 1983
GenreProgressive rock
Length48:09
LabelAriola
ProducerSky, Tony Clark, Haydn Bendall
Sky chronology
Sky Five Live
(1983) 		Cadmium
(1983) 		Masterpieces
(1984)

Cadmium (stylized "cadmium…") was the sixth album by the progressive-classical rock band Sky, released in November 1983. The album contents were a mixture of Sky traditions and new elements – it contained a classical-rock arrangement of Prokofiev's "Sleigh Ride" (from the "Lieutenant Kijé Suite"), alongside seven original compositions and the first examples of commissioned compositions from contemporary writers from outside the band (in this case, Kevin Peek's old friend and fellow Cliff Richard collaborator Alan Tarney, who provided two original tunes). The colour of the album cover is primarily cadmium yellow, a pigment used by painters.

In February 1984, John Williams parted company with Sky, returning to a full-time classical career. Williams had previously hinted that his work with Sky had been intended as a five-year stint.[citation needed] In 2015, Esoteric Recordings continued a schedule of remasters and expanded releases with this recording.

Track listing

Side 1

  1. "Troika" (Sergei Prokofiev/Auth. Arr. Tristan Fry) – 3:00
  2. "Fayre" (Kevin Peek) – 3:07
  3. "A Girl in Winter" (Alan Tarney) – 3:30
  4. "Mother Russia" (Steve Gray) – 6:53
  5. "Telex From Peru" (Herbie Flowers) – 8:10

Side 2

  1. "The Boy From Dundee" (Herbie Flowers) – 5:21
  2. "Night" (Kevin Peek) – 3:54
  3. "Then & Now" (Tristan Fry) – 3:25
  4. "Return to Me" (Alan Tarney) – 3:50
  5. "Son of Hotta" (Steve Gray) – 6:59

[1]

2015 two disc reissue edition

CD: Original album (Remaster)
No.TitleLength
1."Troika" (2015 Digital Remaster)2.58
2."Fayre" (2015 Digital Remaster)3.09
3."A Girl in Winter" (2015 Digital Remaster)3.36
4."Mother Russia" (2015 Digital Remaster)6.57
5."Telex From Peru" (2015 Digital Remaster)8.11
6."The Boy From Dundee" (2015 Digital Remaster)5.32
7."Night" (2015 Digital Remaster)4.08
8."Then & Now" (2015 Digital Remaster)3.21
9."Return to Me" (2015 Digital Remaster)3.38
10."Son of Hotta" (2015 Digital Remaster)7.09
11."Troika" (Bonus – extended edition)4.04
12."Why Don't We" (Bonus)4.24
13."The Fool on the Hill" (Bonus)2.49
DVD: Video recording (NTSC / Region Free)
No.TitleLength
1."Toccata" (Sky at Drury Lane – December 1983) 
2."KP II" (Sky at Drury Lane – December 1983) 
3."Oh Little One / Courons A La Fete" (Sky at Drury Lane – December 1983) 
4."Troika" (Sky at Drury Lane – December 1983) 
5."Rags and Bones" (Sky at Drury Lane – December 1983) 
6."When the Branch is Green" (Sky at Drury Lane – December 1983) 
7."Telex From Peru" (Sky at Drury Lane – December 1983) 
8."Tuba Smarties" (Sky at Drury Lane – December 1983) 
9."Son of Hotta" (Sky at Drury Lane – December 1983) 
10."Carillon" (Sky at Drury Lane – December 1983) 
11."Troika" (The Val Doonican Christmas Show – Broadcast by BBC TV on 24 December 1983) 

Musicians

Production

Charts

Chart (1983-1984) Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[2] 30
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[3] 45
UK Albums (OCC)[4] 44

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[5] Silver 60,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Album sleeve notes for tracks, musicians and production
  2. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 277. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  3. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Sky – Cadmium". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  4. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  5. ^ "British album certifications – Sky – Cadmium". British Phonographic Industry.
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