Automatic was an attempt to recapture the success of Sharpe & Numan's collaboration single "Change Your Mind", which reached number 17 in the UK charts in 1985. Although "Change Your Mind" was initially supposed to be a one-off single, Numan recalled that "the whole experience was great fun and Bill and I left the door open for more work together."[2] However, Numan was ambivalent about recording a Sharpe + Numan album:
After the third Sharpe and Numan single we decided to make a Sharpe and Numan album. My dad talked about it as a 'second string to our bow.' I like Bill very much, he is a very gifted writer and player, but I didn't really want a second string to my bow. I was concerned, as I had been from the start with all the collaborations I was 'encouraged' to get involved in, that it would alienate and drive away the few fans I had left. Loyalty could only be stretched so far.[3]
Numan wrote the majority of the song lyrics on Automatic and performed the lead vocals, however, he did not contribute to the writing of the album's music. Backing vocals were provided by Tessa Niles, who had sung on Numan's four preceding solo albums. Automatic has a more lightweight-pop and commercial style in comparison to Numan's solo material of the time, although its sound is not especially incongruous in the Numan discography. The opening line of the track "I'm on Automatic" ("This is metal rhythm/A new song on the radio") explicitly references Metal Rhythm, Numan's previous solo album. Most of the album was recorded in late 1987 and part of 1988, but took 18 months for the deal to come together with Polydor Records.[citation needed]
Releaseedit
Automatic includes "Change Your Mind" and a remixed version of the third Sharpe + Numan single, "No More Lies" (1988, UK#34). The second Sharpe + Numan single, "New Thing from London Town" (1986, UK#52) was not included on Automatic, presumably because it had already been included (albeit in re-recorded form) on Numan's 1986 solo album, Strange Charm. "I'm on Automatic" was the only single to be released from Automatic; it reached No. 44 on the UK singles chart. The album itself reached No. 59 on the UK Album Chart, eleven spots lower than Metal Rhythm, which was released nine months before.[4] Its disappointing sales led to plans for a second Sharpe + Numan album being abandoned, however, the electro-jazz-pop style of Automatic would influence the general sound of Numan's next solo album, Outland (1991).
Numan expressed dissatisfaction with Automatic's lack of promotion on the part of Polydor Records. Of the album itself, he recalled:
I had nothing against the Sharpe and Numan album. I think it's a good album actually, well written and beautifully produced. If my own [solo] career had been going well I would have had no qualms whatsoever about making that album, because my own status and musical direction would have been solid and successful. It was because my own career was taking on a slightly aimless feel that I was so concerned.[3]
Re-releaseedit
Automatic was out of print for two decades; it was re-released on 18 October 2010 by the London-based reissue label Cherry Pop (CRPOP67). This expanded edition features additional tracks, extensive sleevenotes by Steve Thorpe, track comments from Bill Sharpe & Gary Numan, lyrics to all tracks, and remastered sound by Tim Turan. The release is a Captain Oi! Production (the same team behind the label's Kim Wilde and Animotion reissues released in 2009–2010).
Track listingedit
1989 editionedit
All tracks were written by Gary Numan and Bill Sharpe except where otherwise noted.
All tracks were written by Gary Numan and Bill Sharpe except where otherwise noted.
"Change Your Mind" (Sharpe, Roger Odell) – 4.12
"Turn Off the World" – 3.58
"No More Lies" ('89 mix) – 4.01
"Breathe in Emotion" – 3.25
"Some New Game" – 4.00
"I'm on Automatic" – 4.08
"Rip it Up" – 4.13
"Welcome to Love" – 3.29
"Voices" (Numan, Sharpe, Odell) – 3.49
"Night Life" – 3.42
"Love Like a Ghost" (single B-side) – 3:27
"No More Lies" (7" version) – 3.25
"I'm on Automatic" (12" extended version) – 7.34
"Voices" (extended version) – 5:34
"No More Lies" (12" extended version) – 7.44
Sharpe and Numan tracks not included on this re-release include the 12" extended version of "Change Your Mind"; all known versions of "New Thing from London Town" (original single version, the extended 12" version, and the Strange Charm remake), and the unreleased demo "They Say."
^Sutton, Michael. Automatic at AllMusic. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
^Praying to the Aliens: An Autobiography by Gary Numan with Steve Malins. (1997, André Deutsch Limited), p.197
^ abPraying to the Aliens: An Autobiography by Gary Numan with Steve Malins. (1997, André Deutsch Limited), p.180
^Strong, Martin C.: "The Great Alternative Discography", 1999, Canongate, ISBN0-86241-913-1
External linksedit
AllMusic
Discogs
April 27, 2024
automatic, sharpe, numan, album, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, automatic, sharpe, numan, album, ne. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Automatic Sharpe amp Numan album news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message Automatic is a 1989 album released by Sharpe amp Numan a collaboration between Gary Numan and jazz keyboardist producer Bill Sharpe member of the jazz fusion group Shakatak AutomaticStudio album by Sharpe amp NumanReleasedJune 1989 1989 06 RecordedEarly 1988GenreSynthpopnew waveLength54 28LabelPolydor839 520 2ProducerBill SharpeGary Numan chronologyMetal Rhythm 1988 Automatic 1989 Outland 1991 Bill Sharpe chronologyAutomatic 1989 Famous People 1989 Singles from Automatic Change Your Mind Released 9 February 1985 No More Lies Released 30 January 1988 I m on Automatic Released 3 June 1989 Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllmusicpositive 1 Contents 1 Background 2 Release 2 1 Re release 3 Track listing 3 1 1989 edition 3 2 2010 edition 4 Personnel 4 1 Musicians 4 2 Production 5 References 6 External linksBackground editAutomatic was an attempt to recapture the success of Sharpe amp Numan s collaboration single Change Your Mind which reached number 17 in the UK charts in 1985 Although Change Your Mind was initially supposed to be a one off single Numan recalled that the whole experience was great fun and Bill and I left the door open for more work together 2 However Numan was ambivalent about recording a Sharpe Numan album After the third Sharpe and Numan single we decided to make a Sharpe and Numan album My dad talked about it as a second string to our bow I like Bill very much he is a very gifted writer and player but I didn t really want a second string to my bow I was concerned as I had been from the start with all the collaborations I was encouraged to get involved in that it would alienate and drive away the few fans I had left Loyalty could only be stretched so far 3 Numan wrote the majority of the song lyrics on Automatic and performed the lead vocals however he did not contribute to the writing of the album s music Backing vocals were provided by Tessa Niles who had sung on Numan s four preceding solo albums Automatic has a more lightweight pop and commercial style in comparison to Numan s solo material of the time although its sound is not especially incongruous in the Numan discography The opening line of the track I m on Automatic This is metal rhythm A new song on the radio explicitly references Metal Rhythm Numan s previous solo album Most of the album was recorded in late 1987 and part of 1988 but took 18 months for the deal to come together with Polydor Records citation needed Release editAutomatic includes Change Your Mind and a remixed version of the third Sharpe Numan single No More Lies 1988 UK 34 The second Sharpe Numan single New Thing from London Town 1986 UK 52 was not included on Automatic presumably because it had already been included albeit in re recorded form on Numan s 1986 solo album Strange Charm I m on Automatic was the only single to be released from Automatic it reached No 44 on the UK singles chart The album itself reached No 59 on the UK Album Chart eleven spots lower than Metal Rhythm which was released nine months before 4 Its disappointing sales led to plans for a second Sharpe Numan album being abandoned however the electro jazz pop style of Automatic would influence the general sound of Numan s next solo album Outland 1991 Numan expressed dissatisfaction with Automatic s lack of promotion on the part of Polydor Records Of the album itself he recalled I had nothing against the Sharpe and Numan album I think it s a good album actually well written and beautifully produced If my own solo career had been going well I would have had no qualms whatsoever about making that album because my own status and musical direction would have been solid and successful It was because my own career was taking on a slightly aimless feel that I was so concerned 3 Re release edit Automatic was out of print for two decades it was re released on 18 October 2010 by the London based reissue label Cherry Pop CRPOP67 This expanded edition features additional tracks extensive sleevenotes by Steve Thorpe track comments from Bill Sharpe amp Gary Numan lyrics to all tracks and remastered sound by Tim Turan The release is a Captain Oi Production the same team behind the label s Kim Wilde and Animotion reissues released in 2009 2010 Track listing edit1989 edition edit All tracks were written by Gary Numan and Bill Sharpe except where otherwise noted Change Your Mind Sharpe Roger Odell 4 14 Turn Off the World 3 58 No More Lies 89 mix 4 02 Breathe in Emotion 3 25 Some New Game 4 01 I m on Automatic 4 08 Rip it Up 4 13 Welcome to Love 3 30 Voices Numan Sharpe Odell 3 50 Night Life 3 41 No More Lies original 12 mix 7 46 I m on Automatic 12 mix 7 33 CD bonus tracks marked with an asterisk 2010 edition edit All tracks were written by Gary Numan and Bill Sharpe except where otherwise noted Change Your Mind Sharpe Roger Odell 4 12 Turn Off the World 3 58 No More Lies 89 mix 4 01 Breathe in Emotion 3 25 Some New Game 4 00 I m on Automatic 4 08 Rip it Up 4 13 Welcome to Love 3 29 Voices Numan Sharpe Odell 3 49 Night Life 3 42 Love Like a Ghost single B side 3 27 No More Lies 7 version 3 25 I m on Automatic 12 extended version 7 34 Voices extended version 5 34 No More Lies 12 extended version 7 44 Sharpe and Numan tracks not included on this re release include the 12 extended version of Change Your Mind all known versions of New Thing from London Town original single version the extended 12 version and the Strange Charm remake and the unreleased demo They Say Personnel editMusicians edit Gary Numan lead vocals Bill Sharpe keyboards Roger Odell drums Tessa Niles backing vocals John Davies synthesiser programming tracks 2 to 12 Mitch Dalton guitar tracks 2 5 and 7 Linda Taylor backing vocals track 1 Production edit Bill Sharpe producer Nick Smith mixer engineer Wally Brill mixer track 1 References edit Sutton Michael Automatic at AllMusic Retrieved 7 July 2011 Praying to the Aliens An Autobiography by Gary Numan with Steve Malins 1997 Andre Deutsch Limited p 197 a b Praying to the Aliens An Autobiography by Gary Numan with Steve Malins 1997 Andre Deutsch Limited p 180 Strong Martin C The Great Alternative Discography 1999 Canongate ISBN 0 86241 913 1External links editAllMusic Discogs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Automatic Sharpe 26 Numan album amp oldid 1098685305, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
