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Thirty Thousand Feet Over China

by The Passions

Released: September 18, 1981

New wave

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

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

The Album

"Thirty Thousand Feet Over China" is the second studio album by English band The Passions. However, it has elements which clearly show the transition from the raw feel of the 70's punk to the more polished post-punk and new wave sound. The album is considered a classic and is still a favorite among fans of the genre.

Inside the Recording

The music from this album is artier and moodier, mixing post-punk with touches of dream-pop, which would later become prevalent in the mid-'80s.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

The Passions were formed in 1978 in the…

The Passions were formed in 1978 in the Shepherd's Bush area of London and specialized in a post-punk/new wave sound.

The album’s title, "Thirty Thousand Feet Over China"…

The album’s title, "Thirty Thousand Feet Over China", reflects the evocative imagery the band used in their songs.

Start listening here

Essential Tracks

I'm In Love With A German Film Star

The most well-known track from the album is probably "I'm in Love with a German Film Star", which peaked at number 25 in the UK Singles Chart, cementing the band's place in the annals of new wave history.

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

The Passions - Thirty Thousand Feet Over China

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Then

Reception

It was released in 1981 by Polydor Records and is seen as their most successful album, tickling the outskirts of the UK album charts. The most well-known track from the album is probably "I'm in Love with a German Film Star", which peaked at number 25 in the UK Singles Chart, cementing the band's place in the annals of new wave history. While the album was critically acclaimed, it did not enjoy massive commercial success.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Thirty Thousand Feet Over China" is the second studio album by English band The Passions. It was released in 1981 by Polydor Records and is seen as their most successful album, tickling the outskirts of the UK album charts. The Passions were formed in 1978 in the Shepherd's Bush area of London and specialized in a post-punk/new wave sound.

The album’s title, "Thirty Thousand Feet Over China", reflects the evocative imagery the band used in their songs. The most well-known track from the album is probably "I'm in Love with a German Film Star", which peaked at number 25 in the UK Singles Chart, cementing the band's place in the annals of new wave history.

The music from this album is artier and moodier, mixing post-punk with touches of dream-pop, which would later become prevalent in the mid-'80s. While the album was critically acclaimed, it did not enjoy massive commercial success. However, it has elements which clearly show the transition from the raw feel of the 70's punk to the more polished post-punk and new wave sound. The album is considered a classic and is still a favorite among fans of the genre.