Son of Albert

Last updated

Son of Albert
Andrew Ridgeley Son of Albert album art.JPG
Studio album by
Released7 May 1990 (Australia) [1]
Recorded1989–1990
Genre Rock
Length46:22
Label Columbia
CK-46188
Producer Andrew Ridgeley, Gary Bromham and Martyn "Max" Heyes
Singles from Son of Albert
  1. "Shake"
    Released: 19 March 1990
  2. "Red Dress"
    Released: 1990

Son of Albert is the only studio album by 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 solo record was mixed. After the album's disappointing sales, Ridgeley gradually quit playing music professionally.

Contents

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

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Entertainment Weekly (C+) [5]
New Musical Express 1/10 [6]

Entertainment Weekly praised the instrumental "verve" of the songs, but criticized them 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." [5]

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. [7]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Red Dress"Gary Bromham, Ridgeley4:09
2."Shake" David Austin, Ridgeley3:29
3."The Price of Love" (The Everly Brothers cover from the 1966 album In Our Image ) Don Everly, Phil Everly 4:08
4."Flame"David Austin, Ridgeley4:58
5."Hangin'" (Chic cover from the 1982 album Tongue in Chic ) Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers 3:21
6."Mexico"Gary Bromham, Danny Cummings, Ridgeley5:46
7."Big Machine"Gary Bromham, Ridgeley4:24
8."Kiss Me" Hugh Burns, Ridgeley4:30
9."Baby Jane"Michael Cozzi, Ridgeley5:09
10."Shake (Hardcore)"Ridgeley, Gary Bromham, Martyn "Max" Heyes6:03
Total length:46:29
2018: Expanded Edition: Bonus Tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Red Dress" (12” mix)Gary Bromham, Ridgeley6:40
12."Shake" (A cappella version) David Austin, Ridgeley 
13."Hangin'" (Alternative extended) 6:03
14."Shake" (Extended version)Austin, Ridgeley4:55
15."Hangin'" (Extended version)Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers6:16
16."Red Dress" (Extended version)Andrew Ridgeley, Gary Bromham5:10

Personnel

Musicians

Production

Chart performance

Album

Chart performance for Son of Albert
Chart (1990)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [8] 63
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts) [9] 66
US Billboard 200 [10] 130

"Shake" single

Chart performance for "Shake"
Chart (1990)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [11] 16
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [9] 48
UK Singles Chart [12] 58
US Billboard Hot 100 [13] 77

"Red Dress" single

Chart performance for "Red Dress"
Chart (1990)Peak
position
UK Singles Chart 132

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References

  1. "New Release Summary > Product Available from: 07/05/90", from The ARIA Report Issue No. 17, published by ARIA
  2. "Mexico" Song Information Archived 9 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  3. AndrewRidgeley.com (UK)
  4. Son of Albert at AllMusic
  5. 1 2 Sandow, Greg (1 June 1990). Album review, Entertainment Weekly.
  6. Quantick, David (5 May 1990). "Long Play". New Musical Express . p. 34.
  7. ANDREW RIDGELEY: SON OF ALBERT, SPECIAL EXPANDED EDITION - Cherry Red Records
  8. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 234.
  9. 1 2 "dutchcharts.nl > Andrew Ridgeley in Dutch Charts" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  10. "Billboard > Artists / Andrew Ridgeley > Chart History > Billboard 200". Billboard . Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  11. "australian-charts.com > Andrew Ridgeley in Australian Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  12. "Official Charts > Andrew Ridgeley". The Official UK Charts Company . Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  13. "Billboard > Artists / Andrew Ridgeley > Chart History > The Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 4 September 2016.