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True 40th Anniversary: Recording ‘True’ - Steve Dagger

Sat, March 04, 2023

Recording True

We flew to the Bahamas on 19th October 1982 with producers Tony Swain and Steve Jolley to record the bulk of the True album at Compass Point Studios in Nassau. As Tony and Steve were new producers for the band, we had “tried out “ the relationship recording “Lifeline “ with them at the helm in August at Red Bus studios in Paddington. Everyone loved the track, and by the time we got on the plane it was number 7 in the UK charts, the band had already performed it on Top of the Pops and international releases were being scheduled.

Up until now, apart from a 2-week residency at the famous Papagayo Club in St. Tropez in 1980, everything about the band had been resoundingly urban. We were all born and bred in London and the band had emerged from central London’s club culture. The first two albums and 7 singles had all been recorded in London and the music had an edgy, gritty feel mostly. Our new producers were Londoners too.

The collection of songs Gary had written in the summer of 1982 had a different feel and different themes. It was a new direction, and partly with that in mind we chose Compass Point, at that time the coolest residential studio in the world to record the rest of the album. For a different vibe. And how different it was!
Owned by Island Records founder Chris Blackwell some great records had made there, The B-52s, Eric Clapton, Grace Jones, the Stones, and many more, Sly and Robbie were the “house “rhythm section, and Robert Palmer had a house there.

It seemed a world away from London. Everyone seemed like they were in slow motion, it was impossible to hurry anyone up and Compass Point was so quiet and beautiful. Looking out over the coral reef of the Gulf, the incredible range of soothing blues calmed the spirit. It was a stunning, inspiring location, the perfect place to record a blue-eyed soul album, which would include one of the greatest love songs ever written.

Everyone slipped easily into a routine of sunbathing, swimming, and recording with occasional trips into Nassau and frequent evenings in the “Travellers Post “ a local bar. So laid back, it was no “ Blitz “or “Beat Route “. Talking Heads were there mixing “Speaking in Tongues“ and were good company around the pool. We were joined, after a couple of weeks by Margret Driscoll, a journalist from London, and legendary photographer Doreen Spooner, they were there to write a piece on the band for the Daily Mirror. The American superstar photographer Lyn Goldsmith happened to be there and took a stunning set of photographs that were eventually used in the album cover art. Chris Blackwell came and threw a party for Grace Jones and the co-owner of Chrysalis, Chris Wright diverted from a family holiday to come and listen. It was clearly going to be a special album, everyone that heard it agreed, but no one could have predicted the enduring nature of songs like “True “ and “Gold “.

I am sure the setting and the vibe of that place chilled all of us wound-up young Londoners out and definitely affected the way that album sounded. It still sounds like the blue sea, sky, and coral reef to me.

Steve Dagger
(Spandau Ballet Manager)

#true40

Listen to ‘True’ @ https://spandauballet.lnk.to/true40