Ultravox – Love’s Great Adventure

Released in 1984, “Love’s Great Adventure” was a stand-alone single by Ultravox, recorded separately from their album Lament. Written by Midge Ure, Warren Cann, Billy Currie and Chris Cross, and produced by the band themselves, it represented a deliberate attempt to create something more immediate and energetic rather than simply issuing another track from an existing album.

The song presents love as an exciting journey into unfamiliar territory. The narrator begins from a position of independence, admitting that he once believed he already had everything he needed, before discovering the mystery and emotional excitement that comes with falling in love. There is a sense of personal transformation running through the lyrics, as experience gradually replaces uncertainty.

Musically, “Love’s Great Adventure” is considerably more upbeat than some of Ultravox’s darker material. Midge Ure’s distinctive vocal is surrounded by bright synthesiser textures, driving electronic rhythms and atmospheric effects, while the arrangement has an almost cinematic, adventurous quality. The band also incorporated jungle-themed sounds and Tarzan-like vocal effects, giving the recording a playful edge that was unusual for Ultravox.

The accompanying promotional video reinforced this adventurous character, using an Indiana Jones-style setting filmed in Kenya and giving the song a suitably exotic visual identity.

“Love’s Great Adventure” remains an enjoyable example of Ultravox stepping outside their more familiar dramatic style and embracing a brighter, more energetic sound without losing the electronic sophistication that made them distinctive.

It peaked at No. 12 in the UK Singles Chart on 10th October 1984.