This was far and away the Enz's first proper pop album, with hardly a wrong note or poor song. Their albums prior were slightly crazy, chaotic, albeit with charisma and as yet unharnessed talent. They were the practice sessions and True Colours the debut, proper.
Poor Boy was always my favourite, a song I felt empathy with, back as a teenager. Their biggest hit 'I Got You', getting to no. 4 in the UK charts and was often referred to as 'I Don't Know why I get Frightened', as it's a key line in the song. Particularly memorable to me, True Colours was not only the first ever album I ever bought but in the most formats....cassette, then LP, then a laser-etched LP, then with a alternative colour design sleeve and then, finally, this CD.
It's well cheap now and I still prefer the best of Enz's music to almost anything that the Finn boys did as Crowded House. Rather like the lead singer of A Ha, Tim's soaring voice really suits the semi electric lineup; Eddie Rayner's sizzling and often haunting keyboards superbly enhancing the overall effect. A synthesized trumpet solo on 'Nobody Takes Me Seriously anyway' is just one example. It is a very well recorded album, too, with a clear, open and well balanced sound - and with good bass, too.
I've often cited this album as my all time favourite and playing it again, now, for the hundredth (or so) time, is as fresh and enjoyable as ever.