Tar (song)

"Tar"
Single by Visage
from the album Visage
B-side	"Frequency 7"
Released	7 September 1979
Format	7" single
Recorded	1979
Genre	Synthpop
Length	3:27
Label	Radar Records
Writer(s)	Adamson/Currie/Egan/Formula/McGeoch/Strange/Ure
Producer	Midge Ure Visage
Visage singles chronology
"Tar" (1979) "Fade to Grey" (1980)

"Tar" is the debut single by the British pop group Visage. It was the band's sole release on Radar Records on 7 September 1979, before the band signed to Polydor Records later on. Although not a chart hit, the song also appears in remixed form on Visage's eponymous debut album released in 1980.

The song's lyrics are centered around the habit of smoking cigarettes.

The b-side to the single is "Frequency 7", a rapid synthesizer composition with vocoder vocals. An extended, instrumental "Dance Mix" of the song was released on the "Mind of a Toy" single in 1981 and is far more commonly circulated than the original "Tar" version, which is considered a rarity as it has never been re-released in any form.

The "Tar" single is the only Visage release featuring bassist Barry Adamson as a member of the band, receiving composing credits for both songs. He played a smaller role as a session musician in all subsequent releases.

Track listing

1. "Tar" – 3:27
2. "Frequency 7" – 3:05

Both tracks composed by Adamson/Currie/Egan/Formula/McGeoch/Strange/Ure.

Personnel

• Steve Strange (vocals)
• Midge Ure (synthesizer, backing vocals)
• Billy Currie (synthesizer)
• John McGeoch (saxophone)
• Rusty Egan (drums, electronic drums programming)
• Barry Adamson (bass)
• Dave Formula (synthesizer)