| Measure for Measure | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Icehouse |
| Cover: | MeasureForMeasure.jpg |
| Caption: | Australian cover |
| Released: | April 1986 |
| Recorded: | August 1985 |
| Studio: |
|
| Genre: |
|
| Length: | 51:55 |
| Label: | Regular |
| Producer: | |
| Prev Title: | Boxes |
| Prev Year: | 1985 |
| Next Title: | Man of Colours |
| Next Year: | 1987 |
Measure for Measure is the fourth studio album by the Australian rock band Icehouse, released in April 1986 in Australia by Regular Records and in the United States by Chrysalis Records. It was one of the first three albums to be recorded entirely digitally.[1]
Lead vocalist Iva Davies said the album was the first time he had worked with producers he could "get on with" and also the first time they had a surplus of songs to choose from. "We've actually got more songs than we'll ever be able to use. It's very strange. It's created problems because they've all turned out really well and I'm loath to give anything away."[2] "No Promises" and "Regular Boys" are re-recorded tracks that were originally from the soundtrack album Boxes (1985).
The album, which peaked at number eight in Australia, features the singles "No Promises", "Baby, You're So Strange", "Mr. Big", "Cross the Border" and "Paradise". "No Promises" had been released as a 7-inch vinyl single in October 1985, it peaked at number 30 on the Australian singles chart. It was used for the Boxes ballet created by Icehouse members Iva Davies and Robert Kretschmer together with Sydney Dance Company's choreographer Graeme Murphy, Davies and Kretschmer performed the score with guest percussionist Masaki Tanazawa.[3]
Both "No Promises" and "Cross the Border" were remixed and released as 12-inch singles, and while a major US pop hit would elude them until the following year, "No Promises" went Top 10 on both the Billboard Rock tracks and Dance/Club charts.[4] "Cross the Border" did not see as much club play in the US, but was a Top 20 rock hit there.[4] In Australia, the two further singles lifted from the album, "Baby, You're So Strange" and "Mr. Big", both reached the top 20, higher than the Australian chartings of the singles which achieved international success. "Paradise" was released as a late 1986 US/UK single but achieved no notable chart success in either market.
There are various versions of this album; the Australian and American releases each feature different artwork and track running order while the 2002 Australian remastered version features bonus tracks.
Icehouse
Additional musicians
Recording
Artwork
| Peak position | |
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) | 8 |
|---|---|
| Position | ||
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) | 38 | |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[7] | 19 |