Wired (Hugh Cornwell album)
Wired is Hugh Cornwell's third solo album.[2] It was released on 21 June 1993 on the Transmission label.[3][4] The album was produced by Gary Langan (Art of Noise),[5] with the exception of "Ain't It Strange", which was produced by Cornwell. It was recorded in 1992 at Metropolis Studios in London. The album's progress was affected by contractual disputes.[6][7] Cornwell was initially signed to Phoenix Records, but the label started to fall into difficulties and Cornwell cited them for breach of contract. A new deal was struck with NTV (Transmission) to finish the album. Phoenix then maintained that NTV had no right to release the album with arguments over the matter continuing until February 1994. As a result, the album was initially only released in Europe.[8] Two singles were released from the album, "The Story of He & She" in 1993, and "My Kind of Loving" in 1994.[4]
| Wired | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 21 June 1993 | |||
| Recorded | 1992 | |||
| Studio | Metroplis Studios, London Soundlab Studios, Wiltshire | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock Post-punk | |||
| Length | 42:51 | |||
| Label | Transmission | |||
| Producer | Gary Langan | |||
| Hugh Cornwell chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Wired | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative cover | ||||
 American release | ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
The album was re-released by Griffin Records in 1995 in both CD and cassette formats.[9]
The album was released in the United States on 27 April 1999 on the Velvel Record label, under the title First Bus To Babylon[1][10] with different artwork and different track listing. The album includes a cover version of Jimi Hendrix's "Stone Free", which according to Cornwell was originally considered for inclusion on the initial release of Wired.[11]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Hugh Cornwell.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hot Cat on a Tin Roof" | 4:08 |
| 2. | "Make It with You" | 3:32 |
| 3. | "My Kind of Loving" | 3:25 |
| 4. | "Wasted Tears" | 4:11 |
| 5. | "Story of He & She" | 4:56 |
| 6. | "Ain't It Strange" (produced by Hugh Cornwell) | 3:10 |
| 7. | "Stop" | 4:19 |
| 8. | "Mr Insignificant" | 3:39 |
| 9. | "Turn Your Body Down" | 3:34 |
| 10. | "Love in Your Eyes" | 3:58 |
| 11. | "First Bus to Babylon" | 3:59 |
The American edition retitled First Bus to Babylon dropped the track "Make It With You" and includes "Stone Free" and "My Kind of Loving" (12" version).
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hot Cat on a Tin Roof" | 4:08 |
| 2. | "My Kind of Loving" | 3:26 |
| 3. | "Wasted Tears" | 4:11 |
| 4. | "Story of He & She" | 4:57 |
| 5. | "Ain't It Strange" (produced by Hugh Cornwell) | 3:10 |
| 6. | "Stop" | 4:19 |
| 7. | "Mr Insignificant" | 3:38 |
| 8. | "Turn Your Body Down" | 3:33 |
| 9. | "Love in Your Eyes" | 3:58 |
| 10. | "First Bus to Babylon" | 3:58 |
| 11. | "Stone Free" (a Jimi Hendrix cover) | 3:39 |
| 12. | "My Kind of Loving" (12" mix) | 7:32 |
Personnel
Musicians
- Hugh Cornwell – guitar, vocals
- Chris Goulstone – guitar
- Ted Mason – guitar
- Robert Williams – drums, percussion
- Steve Ferrera – drum programming
- Alex Gifford – bass guitar
- Phil Andrews – keyboards
- George De Angelis – Hammond organ
- Tomoyasu Hotei – guitar
Production and design
- Hugh Cornwell – producer
- James Cadsky – engineer
- Jamie Cullum – assistant engineer
- Gary Langan – producer, photography
- David Mach – artwork
- John Pashe – design
- David Scheinmann – photography
Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalogue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | 21 June 1993 | Transmission Records | CD | TRANS CD 1 |
| United Kingdom | 6 June 1995 | Griffin Records | CD/CS | 131 |
| United States | 27 April 1999 | Velvel Record | CD | 63467-79767-2 |
References
- Ankeny, Jason. "First Bus to Babylon". Allmusic. All Media Guide (Rovi). Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- Clarkson, John (22 October 2006). "Hugh Cornwell: Interview". Penny Black Music. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
- "Hugh Cornwell Discography". The Stranglers official website. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- "Hugh Cornwell Discography". Official Hugh Cornwell website. Invisible Hands Music. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
- "Hugh Cornwell Biography". Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- Zebbyn, Ken. "Hugh Cornwell back in America". Stubble Music Magazine. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- "Hugh Cornwell interview". HIS magazine. February 1997. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
- Baker, Stephen (September 1997). "Hugh Cornwell interview". Mumble Jumble. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
- "Wired". Allmusic. All Media Guide (Rovi). Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- "First Bus to Babylon". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- Zebbyn, Ken. "Another Night with Hugh". Stubble Music magazine. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
Further reading
- Cornwell, Hugh, A Multitude of Sins. London. Harper Collins Publishers, 2004. ISBN 0-00-719082-4