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What Price Paradise

by China Crisis

Released: November 24, 1986

New wave

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Breakthrough.

The Album

"What Price Paradise" is the fourth studio album by English new wave group China Crisis, released in 1986. In January 2022, a three-CD deluxe edition of What Price Paradise was released, featuring a remaster of the original album, along with B-sides, previously unheard four-track demos, and a live performance from 1987 at the Liverpool Empire. The album was released on CD, LP, and cassette formats.

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Essential Tracks

Arizona Sky

The album's lead single, "Arizona Sky," became a breakthrough hit in the U.S., cracking the top 40 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts at number 37.

Best Kept Secret

The follow-up single, "Best Kept Secret," performed slightly better in the UK, reaching number 36 on the British charts.

Trading In Gold

The CD version included a bonus track, "Trading in Gold," which had originally been released as the B-side to the "Arizona Sky" single.

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Explore the Album

China Crisis - What Price Paradise

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Reception

While it didn't achieve major chart success in the band's native UK or in Australia, where it failed to reach the top 40, it found more success in North America. The album's lead single, "Arizona Sky," became a breakthrough hit in the U.S., cracking the top 40 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts at number 37. The follow-up single, "Best Kept Secret," performed slightly better in the UK, reaching number 36 on the British charts.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"What Price Paradise" is the fourth studio album by English new wave group China Crisis, released in 1986. While it didn't achieve major chart success in the band's native UK or in Australia, where it failed to reach the top 40, it found more success in North America. The album's lead single, "Arizona Sky," became a breakthrough hit in the U.S., cracking the top 40 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts at number 37. The follow-up single, "Best Kept Secret," performed slightly better in the UK, reaching number 36 on the British charts.

The album was released on CD, LP, and cassette formats. The CD version included a bonus track, "Trading in Gold," which had originally been released as the B-side to the "Arizona Sky" single.

In January 2022, a three-CD deluxe edition of What Price Paradise was released, featuring a remaster of the original album, along with B-sides, previously unheard four-track demos, and a live performance from 1987 at the Liverpool Empire.