During an interim period, the band released the single This Is Not A Love Song in 1983, the song’s lyric lampooning the ire from some fans and the music press over the band’s movement towards a more commercial style. The song’s title was inspired by a line in the song “Her Story” (1979) by Virgin label stablemates the Flying Lizards, about bands ‘selling out’ their artistic principles for commercial success (“But you can still make money, by singing sweet songs of love… this is a love song”). Ironically, it gave the band their biggest international hit single, reaching #5 in the UK singles charts and #12 in the Netherlands. A re-recorded version with harsher vocals and a brass section was included on the album This Is What You Want… This Is What You Get.
Cover version by US band Thievery Corporation:
New Music United 