"Here's to Future Days" is the fifth studio album by British pop group Thompson Twins, released on 20 September 1985. This album marked the last release featuring the trio lineup that became their most recognized, peaking at No. 5 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 20 on the US Billboard 200.
Prior to the album's launch, the band performed at Live Aid in July 1985, debuting new material with a rock-oriented rendition of The Beatles' "Revolution," joined by Nile Rodgers, Madonna, and guitarist Steve Stevens.
While the album enjoyed chart success, it fell short of the high bar set by their previous album, Into the Gap (1984). The singles that followed met with mixed results; the Nile Rodgers-produced version of "Lay Your Hands on Me" reached No. 6 in the US, while "Don't Mess with Doctor Dream" peaked at No. 15 in the UK. "King for a Day" became their third Top 10 hit in the US at No. 8, but only reached No. 22 in the UK, and "Revolution" failed to make the UK Top 40, signaling a decline in their commercial appeal.
Notably, the US and Canadian vinyl editions of the album do not include the track "Breakaway," instead featuring a new version of "Roll Over," which was omitted from other international releases. However, the cassette and CD formats in the US and Canada included both tracks.
Following the success of their fourth studio album, Into the Gap (1984), the writing and recording of Here's to Future Days began in late 1984. The first single, "Lay Your Hands on Me," co-produced by Tom Bailey and Alex Sadkin, reached No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart. However, the band decided to part ways with Sadkin and Bailey took over as the sole producer, working at Marcadet Studios in Paris.
As the album neared completion, Bailey faced a health scare due to nervous exhaustion, prompting the band to recall "Roll Over," the next single set for release. After Bailey recuperated in Barbados, they reassessed the project and enlisted Nile Rodgers to co-produce. This collaboration revitalized the album, steering it towards a more guitar-driven sound.
From June to August 1985, additional recording and mixing took place at Skyline Studios in New York City, with Rodgers playing a key role. The process was marked by the use of two synchronized 24-track tape machines, accommodating the band's extensive recordings. Bailey expressed a desire to shift the sound towards a more rock-oriented style, moving away from their previous electronic pop approach. This evolution reflected the band's commitment to exploring new musical directions while maintaining their pop sensibilities.
