Tenement Symphony (subtitled Kies und Glanz • Grit and Glitter • Grès et Paillettes) is the seventh studio album by English singer-songwriter Marc Almond. It was released in October 1991 and reached number 39 on the UK Albums Chart. Tenement Symphony includes three UK top 40 hit singles: "Jacky", "My Hand Over My Heart" and "The Days of Pearly Spencer" (which would become Almond's last UK top 10 hit to date).

Background Working with former La Magia and Willing Sinners member Billy McGee, and his former Soft Cell bandmate David Ball as well as various studio musicians, Almond recorded the album at Maison Rouge, Sarm West Studios, Fishermans Room, Berlin, CTS Studios, Berwick St Studios, RAK and Pacific Studios.

Composition The album is divided into two sections: 'Grit' and 'Glitter'. The first five songs constituted the 'Grit' and were produced by Almond, Billy McGee, Nigel Hine, and The Grid. The 'Glitter' side (the Tenement Symphony) was produced by Trevor Horn. The artwork was designed by Green Ink with a cover photograph by Klanger and Boink. The album cover mimics the style of German record label Deutsche Grammophon's classical records.

Almond wrote in his autobiography that the album's concept was largely down to Rob Dickins and that he did not feel the album truly reflected his artistic direction at that time, though he was pleased to have had the opportunity to work with Trevor Horn.

Track listing

Personnel

Marc Almond – vocals, keyboards, arranger David Ball – synthesizer, programming Anne Dudley – keyboards, arranger, orchestration J.J. Belle – guitar Sally Bradshaw – vocals Betsy Cook – vocals Mitch Dalton – guitar Andy Duncan – drums, percussion, percussion programming Trevor Horn – bass on "What Is Love?", organ Billy McGee – keyboards, arranger Julian Mendelsohn – mixing Richard Norris – percussion programming Nick Plytas – piano on "I've Never Seen Your Face" Lynda Richardson – choir master Richard Riley – guitar Philip Todd – soprano and tenor saxophone Tim Weidner – bass Bruce Woolley – keyboards, vocals Gavyn Wright – string conductor Nigel Hine – programming Julian Stringle – clarinet Steve Rapport – artwork Inga Humpe – programming, vocals Eric Caudieux – guitar, keyboards, programming Max Loderbauer – programming

Charts Chart (1991)Peakposition

Chart (1992)Peakposition

+Chart performance for Tenement Symphony (reissue) Chart (2023) Peakposition

See also – musical with song "Tenement Symphony" sung by Tony Martin

References