Flag is the sixth studio album by Swiss electronic duo Yello, released in 1988. It features an eight-minute version of "The Race", the edited version of which reached number 7 in the UK Singles Chart in August of that year. "The Race" was used as a trailer for Eurosport, and the opening theme to the US quiz show It's Academic.[2][3]
| Flag | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1 November 1988 | |||
| Recorded | 1987–1988 | |||
| Genre | Synthpop | |||
| Length | 49:01 | |||
| Label | Mercury (original US release) Fontana (original UK & European release) Vertigo (2005 CD reissue) | |||
| Producer | Yello | |||
| Yello chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Flag | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [1] |
An early cut of the album was used as the soundtrack for the film Nuns on the Run and is played during many of the chase scenes.
Track listing
All tracks written by Dieter Meier and Boris Blank.
- "Tied Up" – 6:05
- "Of Course I'm Lying" – 5:56
- "3rd of June" – 4:50
- "Blazing Saddles" – 3:53
- "The Race" – 8:08
- "Alhambra" – 3:38
- "Otto Di Catania" – 3:20
- "Tied Up in Red" (CD bonus track) – 8:23
- "Tied Up in Gear" – 3:58
- "The Race (Break Light Mix)" *
- "Wall Street Bongo" *
- "The Race (12″ Mix)" *
(*) Bonus tracks on the 2005 remastered release
Chart performance
| Country | Peak position [4][5][6] |
|---|---|
| Switzerland | 3 |
| Australia[7] | 94 |
| Austria | 12 |
| Sweden | 24 |
| New Zealand | 33 |
| United Kingdom | 56 |
| United States | 152 |
Singles – UK Singles Chart / Millward Brown (United Kingdom)
| Date | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 1988 | "The Race" | The Official UK Singles Chart | 7 |
| December 1988 | "Tied Up" | The Official UK Singles Chart | 60 |
| March 1989 | "Of Course I'm Lying" | The Official UK Singles Chart | 23 |
| July 1989 | "Blazing Saddles" | The Official UK Singles Chart | 47 |
Personnel
- Yello
- Dieter Meier - lyrics, vocals
- Boris Blank – music composition, arrangements, vocals on "Blazing Saddles"
with:
- Billy Mackenzie – backing chorus on "Of Course I'm Lying" and "Otto di Catania"
- Leos Gerteis – clarinet on "Otto di Catania"
- Chico Hablas – guitars on "Otto di Catania" and "Tied Up in Gear"
- Beat Ash – drums, percussion on 1, 2, 5, 8, 9
- Ernst Gamper - cover
Production
- Arranged, produced, engineered and mixed by Yello
- Mastered by Kevin Metcalfe
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Austria (IFPI Austria)[8] | Gold | 25,000* |
| Germany (BVMI)[9] | Gold | 250,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[10] | Silver | 60,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||