The Riddle (album)
| The Riddle | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Nik Kershaw | ||||
| Released | 19 November 1984 | |||
| Recorded | 1984 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 42:32 | |||
| Label | MCA | |||
| Producer | Peter Collins | |||
| Nik Kershaw chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Riddle | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Džuboks | (Favorable)[3] |
| Rolling Stone |  [2] |
| Smash Hits | [4] |
The Riddle is the second solo studio album by the English singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw. It was released in November 1984 on MCA Records. The album peaked at #8 on the UK Album Chart and was certified Platinum by the BPI.
The album spawned three singles. The lead single was "The Riddle", which peaked at #3 in the UK and was a commercial hit across Europe. "Wide Boy" was the second single and peaked at #9 in the UK, whilst the third and final single release "Don Quixote" peaked at #10 in the UK.[5][6]
Cover artwork
The album cover was shot on Chesil Beach in Dorset. On the back sleeve of the album, the Isle of Portland is seen in the background.[7] Additionally, the single release of the title song "The Riddle" used the same image of Kershaw on the beach, whilst the back sleeve featured a photograph of Kershaw reading a map, standing at Portland Bill. The Trinity House Obelisk is highlighted in the photo.[8]
Critical reception
Smash Hits gave the album a mostly positive review calling it "a commendable offering from the thinking man's Limahl".[4] Reviewing for AllMusic, critic Scott Bultman wrote of the album "Kershaw's second album finally garnered some deserved attention. The rest is his unique style of well-crafted synth-pop."[1]
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Nik Kershaw
- "Don Quixote" – 4:55
- "Know How" – 4:52
- "You Might" – 3:17
- "Wild Horses" – 3:59
- "Easy" – 4:13
- "The Riddle" – 3:52
- "City of Angels" – 3:56
- "Roses" – 3:58
- "Wide Boy" – 3:28
- "Save the Whale" – 6:02
| US release | |
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| Bonus tracks on 2012 release | |
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On 24 December 2012, Kershaw revealed that he was working with Universal on a remastered version of The Riddle for release in 2013. This will be of a similar format to the 2012 double-CD re-release of his debut album.[10] On 20 June 2013,[11] the full track listing was released. As with the Human Racing re-release, the first disc contains the original album, while the second disc contains remixes, B-sides and live tracks. The album will be re-released on 12 August 2013. The track listing of the second disc is:[12]
All of the live tracks were recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon on 31 December 1984.[11] The website "Super Deluxe Edition" noted that the second disc had some notable absences, specifically "Progress (Live)", which was the B-side of "The Riddle", an extended mix of "Wild Horses", which had been on the 12" version of "When A Heart Beats", and the single edits of "Wide Boy" and "Don Quixote".[11] Kershaw defended the omissions,[13] calling "Progress" "...a dodgy performance of a mediocre song, badly recorded". Of the "Wild Horses" extended mix, he commented: The 12” “Remix” of Wild Horses was never any such thing. It was cobbled together by MCA whilst I was away on tour and without my knowledge. It was created by editing together sections from the half inch master of the backing track with the half inch master of the album version. No “Remixing” whatsoever was involved and, as such, I considered it pointless, a fraud and not worthy of a place on this album. He also noted that his choice of material was limited as master copies of certain items had gone missing in the intervening years. | |
Chart performance
| Chart (1984) | Peak position |
Total weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[14] | 39 | 26 |
| Canadian Albums Chart[15] | 45 | 18 |
| German Albums Chart[16] | 12 | ? |
| New Zealand Albums Chart[17] | 8 | 33 |
| Norwegian Albums Chart[18] | 5 | 17 |
| Swedish Albums Chart[19] | 11 | 7 |
| Swiss Albums Chart[20] | 23 | 7 |
| UK Albums Chart[21] | 8 | 36 |
| U.S. Billboard 200[22] | 113 | 10 |
Credits
Studio Sessions Credits[23]
- Nik Kershaw - Vocals, vocal percussion, guitars, bass and keyboards
- Tim Moore - Keyboards (and acoustic piano on "So Quiet" (2013 re-release only))
- Andy Richards - Keyboards
- Paul (Wix) Wickens: Fairlight and DMX programming
- Dennis Smith - Bass
- Charlie Morgan - Drums
- Pandit Dinesh - Percussion
- Stuart Curtis and Dave Land - Horns
- Sheri Kershaw - Backing Vocals (and lead vocal on "Don't Lie" (2013 re-release only))
- Don Snow - Backing Vocals
- Mark King - Special guest bass on "Easy"
- Produced by Peter Collins
- Engineered by Julian Mendelsohn
- Assisted by Dave Meegan
- Recorded and mixed at Sarm East, Sarm West
Live Credits (2013 re-release)
- Nik Kershaw - Vocals, guitar and keyboards
- Keith Airey - Guitar, keyboards and backing vocals
- Tim Moore - Keyboards and backing vocals
- Dennis Smith - Bass
- Gary Wallis - Percussion
- Mark Price - Drums
- Mastered by Greg Fulginiti US
Singles
- The Riddle #3
- B-side - Progress (live)
- Wide Boy #9
- B-side - So Quiet
- Don Quixote #10
- B-side - Don't Lie
References
- 1 2 3 Bultman, Scott. "Nik Kershaw – The Riddle". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
- 1 2 3 Henke, James (5 May 1985). "Lone Justice Proves They Are More Than Hype". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
- ↑ "Nik Kershaw – The Riddle". Džuboks (in Serbian) (194 (second series)): 14.
- 1 2 Sheaff, Claire (22 November 1984). "Album Reviews". Smash Hits 6 (24): 25.
- ↑ "Nik Kershaw Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. 1958-03-01. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
- ↑ "NIK KERSHAW | Artist". Official Charts. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
- ↑ "Images for Nik Kershaw - The Riddle". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
- ↑ "Nik Kershaw - The Riddle / Progress - MCA - UK - NIK 6". 45cat. 2012-03-17. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
- ↑ "Nik Kershaw - The Riddle (Vinyl, LP, Album)". Discogs.com. 2015-11-25. Retrieved 2015-11-29.
- ↑ "A Christmas Message from Nik Kershaw". nikkershaw.com. 2012-12-24. Retrieved 2012-12-25.
- 1 2 3 "Nik Kershaw: The Riddle - Deluxe Edition Track Listing". www.superdeluxeedition.com. 2013-06-20. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
- ↑ "Nik Kershaw To Release Expanded Reissue Of ‘The Riddle’". thisisnotretro.com. 2013-07-05. Retrieved 2013-07-09.
- ↑ "Nik responds to The Riddle deluxe bonus track selection comments". www.nikkershaw.net. 2013-07-12. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
- ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 165. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ↑ "Bienvenue au site Web Bibliothèque et Archives Canada / Welcome to the Library and Archives Canada website". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 2012-03-30. Retrieved 2015-11-29.
- ↑ "Charts-Surfer". Charts-surfer.de. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
- ↑ Steffen Hung. "New Zealand charts portal". charts.org.nz. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
- ↑ Steffen Hung (2006-06-15). "Norwegian charts portal". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
- ↑ Steffen Hung. "Swedish Charts Portal". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
- ↑ Steffen Hung. "Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade und Music Community". swisscharts.com. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
- ↑ "UK Singles & Albums Chart Archive". Chart Stats. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
- ↑ "Music News, Reviews, Articles, Information, News Online & Free Music". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
- ↑ Kershaw, Nik (2013). The Riddle (2CD Expanded Edition) (CD Booklet). Nik Kershaw. Universal/Island Records Ltd. UMCREP2024.
External links
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