Snobbery and Decay

rdf:langString Snobbery and Decay

rdf:langString Snobbery and Decay

rdf:langString Snobbery and Decay

rdf:langString yes

rdf:langString Act - Snobbery And Decay 45 single picture-cover.jpg

rdf:langString Side one

rdf:langString Side two

rdf:langString Remix

rdf:langString Edit

rdf:langString Single version

rdf:langString Album version

rdf:langString Single remix

rdf:langString Instant

rdf:langString Instant 2

rdf:langString Moonlighting Mix

rdf:langString Moonlighting Mix 2

rdf:langString Single remix, early fade

rdf:langString February/March 1987

rdf:langString Poison

rdf:langString I'd Be Surprisingly Good for You

rdf:langString Strong Poison

rdf:langString Snobbery and Decay

rdf:langString single

rdf:langString Lloyd Webber, Rice

rdf:langString "Snobbery and Decay" is the debut single by Act. It was released by ZTT Records in a number of formats on 5 May 1987 and reached #60 in the UK Singles Chart. According to Claudia Brücken, "The whole idea was based on a programme called Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. That was when we discovered how much we wanted to write about that idea and what a great introduction it would be for Thomas and me to have a duet as a first single. Two characters talking about that whole thing." The orchestral arrangement for "Snobbery and Decay" was made by David Bedford. A number of remixes were prepared by the producers and appeared across the various formats, the standard extended version titled "Snobbery And Decay (That's Entertainment!)", "Snobbery & Decay (Extended, For Stephanie Beacham)" and "(The Naked Civil) Snobbery & Decay". Further 'Moonlighting' and 'Instant' remixes by Mastermind Herbie appeared only on a promotional 12". "Snobbery and Decay" was included on the group's sole album Laughter, Tears and Rage, released 7 weeks later. Compared to the single version, the album version adds a minute of instrumental to the end. The B-side "Poison" appears only on CD and cassette formats (not on LP) and is a different mix. Although the album has been reissued twice on CD in different, vastly expanded formats, the 7" versions of "Snobbery and Decay" and "Poison" remain unreleased on an Act CD. The last 4 minutes of the 12" version "Snobbery and Decay (That's Entertainment!)" do contain the 7" version of "Snobbery" – except for the string intro. The 12" and cassette versions also feature a cover of "I'd Be Surprisingly Good for You" from the musical Evita, chosen according to Thomas Leer, because "we both dislike Andrew Lloyd Webber intensely. We wanted to do something from a musical, something that was crap and that we could make great. It also fitted the idea of the package." Several different picture sleeves were issued with the various formats, some feature photos of Quentin Crisp, author of "The Naked Civil Servant", and Liberace. The 12" version "Snobbery and Decay (That's Entertainment!)" includes a sample of Liza Minnelli's dialogue from the 1972 musical film Cabaret, followed by one from American comedian Joan Rivers. "You've got yours, I've got mine, Obsession, just like Calvin Klein .."