Reissue Theory: Wang Chung, “Mosaic”

So…um, Wang Chung is reuniting. There aren’t really that many ways to set such a thing up. Sure, there’s this enthusiastic press release, detailing a new record and a tour – but other than that, there’s not much to say, I suppose.

Granted, that’s probably because Wang Chung (comprised of non-Asians Nick Feldman and Jack Hues) are seen by many as a one-hit wonder for inescapable party anthem “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” – a song that arguably hasn’t aged all that well (the departed Blender magazine placed it at No. 3 on the infamous 2004 list of the most awesomely bad songs ever).

There’s a lot to dispute over that status, as there were a few other Top 20 hits (the catchy, less-dated “Dance Hall Days” and the Top 10 “Let’s Go!”), but there was a fair amount of other, rather intriguing work the duo did as a New Wave band. Their debut (which featured “Dance Hall Days”) was a strong, atmospheric synth-pop affair produced by Chris Hughes and Ross Cullum (who’d produced Tears for Fears’ debut LP The Hurting in 1983; Hughes would also produce their breakthrough Songs from the Big Chair in 1985). Their second record was actually the score from To Live and Die in L.A., a neo-noir film from William Friedkin, which gives them a sort of artistic cred that, say, Duran Duran never quite grasped at such a stage in their careers.

While their third and pentultimate record Mosaic – the biggest seller, going gold thanks to “Fun Tonight” – may not have been their strongest effort, its popularity would make it a worthy pick for some sort of expansion and reissue, especially as the Wang Chung flame burns yet again. This Reissue Theory look at that record just might make fans you-know-what you-know-when, after the jump.