Son of Albert
| Son of Albert | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by | |
| Released | 7 May 1990 (Australia)[1] 22 May 1990 (US) |
| Recorded | 1989–1990 |
| Genre | Rock |
| Length | 46:22 |
| Label | Columbia CK-46188 |
| Producer | Andrew Ridgeley, Gary Bromham and Martyn "Max" Heyes |
| Singles from Son of Albert | |
| |
Son of Albert is the debut and only solo album of Andrew Ridgeley. Originally released in May 1990, Ridgeley's effort was a sharp turn away from his former pop image with Wham! years earlier. Focusing more on guitars and drums, the critical reaction to Ridgeley's attempt at a solo record was mixed. After rather unimpressive sales from Son of Albert, Ridgeley gradually quit playing music professionally.
Two singles from the album, "Red Dress" and "Shake", were released in 1990 with little success (with the exception of a top twenty hit in Australia for the latter). Another song, "Mexico", was scheduled to be released as the album's third single, but was dropped.[2]
Ridgeley's album is named after himself, as the son of Albert Ridgeley.[3]
In January 2018, a remastered and expanded edition of the album was released in the UK on Cherry Red Records.
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Entertainment Weekly | (C+)[4] |
Entertainment Weekly praised the instrumental "verve" of the songs, but criticized for lacking conviction: "Ridgeley seems to have redefined himself as a kick-in-the-pants rock & roller, but his songs still come out sounding like manufactured pop."[4]
Track listing
All songs arranged and produced by Andrew Ridgeley and Gary Bromham, unless noted otherwise. The 2018 Expanded Edition includes the original album tracks from the vinyl, CD and Cassette release plus extra bonus tracks.[5]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Red Dress" | Gary Bromham, Ridgeley | 4:09 |
| 2. | "Shake" | David Austin, Ridgeley | 3:29 |
| 3. | "The Price of Love" (The Everly Brothers cover from the album In Our Image (1966)) | Don & Phil Everly | 4:08 |
| 4. | "Flame" | David Austin, Ridgeley | 4:58 |
| 5. | "Hangin'" | Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers | 3:21 |
| 6. | "Mexico" | Gary Bromham, Danny Cummings, Ridgeley | 5:46 |
| 7. | "Big Machine" | Gary Bromham, Ridgeley | 4:24 |
| 8. | "Kiss Me" | Hugh Burns, Ridgeley | 4:30 |
| 9. | "Baby Jane" | Michael Cozzi, Ridgeley | 5:09 |
| 10. | "Shake (Hardcore)" | Ridgeley, Gary Bromham, Martyn "Max" Heyes | 6:03 |
| Total length: | 46:29 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Red Dress (12” Mix)" | Gary Bromham, Ridgeley | 6:40 |
| 12. | "Shake (Accapella Version)" | David Austin, Ridgeley | |
| 13. | "Hangin’ (Alternative Extended)" | 6:03 | |
| 14. | "Shake (Extended Version)" | Austin, Ridgeley | 4:55 |
| 15. | "Hangin’ (Extended Version)" | Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers | 6:16 |
| 16. | "Red Dress (Extended Version)" | Andrew Ridgeley, Gary Bromham | 5:10 |
Personnel
Musicians
- Andrew Ridgeley – lead vocals, additional vocals, Spanish vocals on "Mexico", voice box
- Mary Cassidy, Lauren Fownes, Brie Howard, Miss Johnny, George Michael (on "Red Dress" only), Tessa Niles – additional vocals
- Gary Bromham, Danny Cummings, Dan McCafferty, Mark "Bobby" Robinson – Spanish vocals on "Mexico"
- Robert Ahwai, Tony Barnard, Gary Bromham, Hugh Burns, Michael Cozzi, Phil Palmer – guitar
- Tony Barnard, Michael Cozzi – electric guitar
- Hugh Burns – Spanish guitar on "Mexico"
- Gary Masters – keyboards
- Mark Feltham – harmonica
- Graham Edwards, Deon Estus, Davey Faragher, Jerry Ferguson, Paul Gray, Danny Thompson – bass
- Danny Thompson – double bass
- Gary Bromham, Pat Torpey, Paul Ridgeley – drums
- Laurence Cottell, Dave O'Higgins, Paul Spong – horns
- Danny Cummings – percussion
- Richard Gibbs – voice box
Production
- Engineered by Harvey Birrell, Jacques Erhardt, Gordon Fordyce, Paul Gomersall, Martyn "Max" Heyes, Russell Leahy, Gary Wilkinson and Perry Cleveland-Peck
- Mixed at Amazon Studios, Liverpool; Comforts Place, Lingfield; Mayfair Studios, London and Olympic Studios, London
- Mixed by Paul Gomersall, Martyn "Max" Heyes and Tim Weidener
- Photography by Julian Broad
- Album design by Andrew Ridgeley and Simon Halfon
- Management: Lippman Kahane Entertainment
- Recorded at Comforts Place, Lingfield; Compass Point, Nassau; Eden Studios, London, England; EMI/Pathé Studios, Paris, France; Galaxy Sound Studio, Los Angeles; Ground Control, Los Angeles; Great Linford Studios, Great Linford; Maison Rouge, London; Mayfair Studios, London; Olympic Studios, London; Terminal 24, London and Skylight Studios, London
Chart performance
Album
| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[6] | 63 |
| Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[7] | 66 |
| US (Billboard 200)[8] | 130 |
"Shake" single
| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[9] | 16 |
| Netherlands (MegaCharts)[7] | 48 |
| UK Singles Chart[10] | 58 |
| US (Billboard Hot 100)[11] | 77 |
References
- ^ "New Release Summary > Product Available from: 07/05/90 (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 17)". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved 2016-09-04.
- ^ "Mexico" Song Information Archived 2008-12-09 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ AndrewRidgeley.com (UK)
- ^ a b Sandow, Greg (June 1, 1990). Album review, Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ ANDREW RIDGELEY: SON OF ALBERT, SPECIAL EXPANDED EDITION - Cherry Red Records
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
- ^ a b "dutchcharts.nl > Andrew Ridgeley in Dutch Charts" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-09-04.
- ^ "Billboard > Artists / Andrew Ridgeley > Chart History > Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-09-04.
- ^ "australian-charts.com > Andrew Ridgeley in Australian Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-09-04.
- ^ "Official Charts > Andrew Ridgeley". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 2016-09-04.
- ^ "Billboard > Artists / Andrew Ridgeley > Chart History > The Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-09-04.
