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"Slow Motion" is a song by new wave and synthpop band Ultravox, and the first single from the then-forthcoming Systems of Romance album, released on 4 August 1978, with a clear/opaque vinyl 12-inch single released a week later on 11 August 1978. It subsequently spent four weeks on the UK Singles Chart in March-April 1981, peaking at no. 33, after being reissued by Island Records on 7-inch and cassette single formats in March 1981.

"Slow Motion" was an important influence to Gary Numan who would have commercial success with electronic pop the following year. Numan said of the song: “This was a fantastic fusion of different elements and set a standard I then tried very, very hard to reach with "Are "Friends" Electric?" and "Cars". I was trying to be as good as Ultravox."

About the song

"Slow Motion" was the material of a changing band. It was the first single featuring Robin Simon as guitarist (replacing Stevie Shears) and also the first under the new name "Ultravox", without the exclamation mark. New sounds were provided by synthesizers and electric drums.

The song was performed live on Old Grey Whistle Test in early 1978, before the release of the single and the Systems of Romance album. It was performed by the band during their first tour with Midge Ure in 1979.

Track listing

Original released version

1. "Slow Motion" – 3:27
2. "Dislocation" – 2:55

3-track EP

Released by Island Records on 2 March 1981

A-side

1. "Slow Motion"
2. "Quiet Men" (7-inch single version)

B-side

1. "Hiroshima Mon Amour" (Ha! Ha! Ha! album version alternate mix)

4-track double single EP

Released the same day as the 3-track EP

A-side

1. "Quiet Men" (7-inch single version)
2. "Hiroshima Mon Amour" (ROckWrok single version)

B-side

1. "Slow Motion"
2. "Dislocation"

4-track "1+1" Cassette EP

Released a week later on 9 March 1981

A-side

1. "Slow Motion"
2. "Hiroshima Mon Amour" (Ha! Ha! Ha! album version alternate mix)
3. "Quiet Men" (7-inch single version)
4. "Dislocation"

B-side

B-side is blank to enable personal recording

References

1. ^ Warren Cann Ultravox interview Part 3
2. "Ultravox to play five" (PDF). Record Mirror, July 29, 1978. p. 5. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
3. "THE NEW SINGLES" (PDF). Record Business, July 31, 1978. p. 31. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
4. "THE NEW SINGLES" (PDF). Record Business, August 7, 1978. p. 17. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
5. "Ultravox", Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 January 2019
6. From Being Boiled to I Feel Love: Gary Numan's top electro tracks The Guardian 29 May 2017
7. Warren Cann Ultravox interview Part 4
8. "New Singles" (PDF). Record Business, February 23, 1981. p. 22. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
9. "Now 1+1 tape EP due from Island" (PDF). Record Business, March 2 1981. p. 2. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
10. "Island gives away debut Plastics single [second paragraph]" (PDF). Music & Video Week, March 7, 1981. p. 3. Retrieved 25 January 2025.

• 1978 singles
• 1978 songs
• Ultravox songs
• Songs written by John Foxx
• Songs written by Billy Currie
• Song recordings produced by Conny Plank