Breaking Glass (album)

Did You Know?

• Five singles were released from the album; 'Eighth Day' peaked at number 5 on the UK Singles Chart.
• The final single 'Calls the Tune' charted at number 60 in the UK in January 1982, after O'Connor had released two further albums.

Reception

Simon Ludgate of Record Mirror wrote that seeing the film before hearing the soundtrack makes it more understandable, and that on its own the album feels larger than life and melodramatic. He noted that the track order differs from the film's sequence, with some songs working independently while others do not. Ludgate described O'Connor's singing technique as peculiar, involving gulping air and opening her mouth wide, but found it original and likable. He also stated the album retains the film's scary overtones and is not recommended for the faint-hearted. In Smash Hits, Red Starr called the album utterly uninteresting and thoroughly unconvincing, asserting that O'Connor's songwriting relies on embarrassing lyrical clichés with no melodic gift, and her singing resembles bad impersonations of Lene Lovich.

Tour

To promote the album, O'Connor toured the UK and chose an unknown group called Duran Duran as her opening act, which helped them secure a recording contract with EMI. At the time, Duran Duran were so financially strained that one of their managers sold a flat to pay for the support slot, and the band could only afford one hotel room, taking turns sleeping inside while others slept in a van. O'Connor recalled that lead vocalist Simon Le Bon faced nightly abuse and spitting from audiences due to differing music styles, but she also said the band showed promise for future success.