Here's to Future Days

Following on from the band's highly successful fourth studio album, Into the Gap (1984), the writing and recording of ''Here's to Future Days'' began in late 1984 with the single "Lay Your Hands on Me", which was co-produced by Alex Sadkin and lead vocalist and guitarist Tom Bailey. Sadkin had produced the last two Thompson Twins studio albums, which were the band's biggest commercial successes to date, and the new single climbed to No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart. However, the band subsequently decided to part company with Sadkin and set about working on the new studio album with Bailey taking sole responsibility as producer at Marcadet Studios in Paris, using a 3M digital 32-track recorder. It was there that most of the backing tracks were put together. In March 1985, with the album nearing completion and the next single "Roll Over" just about to be released in the UK, Tom Bailey suddenly fell ill. After collapsing in his hotel room, he was diagnosed with nervous exhaustion and ordered to rest by doctors. The incident prompted the band to recall all copies of "Roll Over", despite the fact that some of them had already been shipped to retail outlets. Bailey then took time off in Barbados to recuperate. Since the band had recorded on more than 24 tracks, two synchronized 24-track tape machines were used for transferring the Marcadet recordings. Concerning the use of electric guitars, Bailey commented: ==Track listing==