Vertical Man
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| Vertical Man | |||||
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| Studio album by Ringo Starr | |||||
| Released | 15 June 1998 | ||||
| Recorded | February 1997 - February 1998 |
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| Genre | Rock | ||||
| Length | 51:48 | ||||
| Label | Mercury | ||||
| Producer | Mark Hudson and Ringo Starr |
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| Professional reviews | |||||
| Ringo Starr chronology | |||||
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Vertical Man is Ringo Starr's eleventh studio album, issued in 1998. The release represents Starr's attempt at a comeback following the enormous success of The Beatles Anthology project. Like some of his best-loved projects, Starr would engage the help of many of his musician friends in making Vertical Man.
Following 1992's Time Takes Time, Starr began a musical partnership with musician and songwriter Mark Hudson - one that has stretched to this day. Using Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick to mix the tracks, with Starr and Hudson producing, Vertical Man was cut sporadically mostly in 1997. Among the celebrity guests were Scott Weiland, Brian Wilson, Alanis Morissette, Ozzy Osbourne, Tom Petty, Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler (with whom Hudson had composed "Livin' On The Edge"), and last but not least, Paul McCartney and George Harrison.
With The Beatles' fame having extended to newer and younger fans, thanks to the recent Anthology, it was reasoned that Starr would benefit from the exposure; McCartney's Flaming Pie had done very well upon its 1997 release. With Starr newly signed to a worldwide major label deal with Mercury Records, he was hoping for a similar reaction.
Released in June 1998 - with "La De Da" as the lead single - Vertical Man received average reviews and reached #61 in the US, the highest peaking album by Starr since 1976's Ringo's Rotogravure. In the UK, the album bubbled below the official Top 75, reaching #85 there. Although the reaction was encouraging, it was ultimately not enough to make Vertical Man or "La De Da" a hit. The album was no longer distributed shortly after 2000.
[edit] Track listing
All songs by Richard Starkey/Mark Hudson/Dean Grakal/Steve Dudas, except where noted.
- "One" – 3:02
- "What in the... World" – 3:29
- features Paul McCartney on bass and backing vocals, with Joe Walsh on electric guitar and guitar solo
- "Mindfield" – 4:06
- features Joe Walsh on electric guitar and guitar solo; Steven Tyler and Alanis Morissette on backing vocals
- "King of Broken Hearts" – 4:44
- features George Harrison on slide guitar solo
- "Love Me Do" (John Lennon/Paul McCartney) – 3:45
- features Steven Tyler on harmonica and backing vocals
- "Vertical Man" – 4:42
- features Ozzy Osbourne on backing vocals
- "Drift Away" (Mentor Williams) – 4:09
- features Steven Tyler on drums, with Tom Petty and Alanis Morissette sharing vocals with Starr
- "I Was Walkin'" (Richard Starkey/Mark Hudson/Dean Grakal) – 3:19
- features Steven Tyler on harmonica, as well as backing vocals with Paul McCartney and Alanis Morissette
- "La De Da" – 5:41
- features Joe Walsh on electric and slide guitar and solo, as well as backing vocals with Paul McCartney, Steven Tyler and forty-three additional vocalists
- "Without Understanding" (Richard Starkey/Mark Hudson/Steve Dudas) – 4:22
- features Brian Wilson on backing vocals
- "I'll Be Fine Anywhere" – 3:39
- features George Harrison on electric guitar and guitar solo
- "Puppet" – 3:19
- features Timothy B. Schmit on backing vocals
- "I'm Yours" (Richard Starkey/Mark Hudson/Mark Nevin) – 3:24
- string arrangement by George Martin
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