Son of Albert

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 attempt at a solo record was mixed. After rather unimpressive sales from Son of Albert, Ridgeley gradually quit playing music professionally.

Son of Albert
Studio album by
Andrew Ridgeley
Released7 May 1990 (Australia)[1]
22 May 1990 (US)
Recorded1989–1990
GenreRock
Length46:22
LabelColumbia
CK-46188
ProducerAndrew Ridgeley, Gary Bromham and Martyn "Max" Heyes
Singles from Son of Albert
  1. "Shake"
    Released: 19 March 1990
  2. "Red Dress"
    Released: 1990

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
Entertainment Weekly(C+)[4]
AllMusic[5]

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."[4]

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.[6]

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 album In Our Image (1966))Don & Phil Everly4:08
4."Flame"David Austin, Ridgeley4:58
5."Hangin'"Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers3:21
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
  • Andrew Ridgeley: lead vocals, additional vocals, Spanish vocals on "Mexico", voice box
  • Mary Cassidy, Lauren Fownes, Brie Howard, Miss Johnny, George Michael (on "Red Dress" only), Tessa Niles: additional vocals
  • Gary Bromham, Dan McCafferty, Mark "Bobby" Robinson: Spanish vocals on "Mexico"
  • Robert Ahwai, Gary Bromham, Phil Palmer: guitars
  • Tony Barnard, Michael Cozzi: acoustic and electric guitar
  • Hugh Burns: Spanish guitar on "Mexico", acoustic and electric guitars
  • Gary Masters: keyboards
  • Mark Feltham: harmonica
  • Graham Edwards, Deon Estus, Davey Faragher, Jerry Ferguson, Paul Gray: bass
  • Danny Thompson: Spanish vocals on "Mexico", electric bass, double bass
  • Gary Bromham, Pat Torpey, Paul Ridgeley: drums
  • Laurence Cottell, Dave O'Higgins, Paul Spong: horns
  • Danny Cummings: percussion
  • Richard Gibbs: voice box

Production
  • Engineered by Harvey Birrell, Jacques Erhardt, Gordon Fordyce, Paul Gomersall, Martyn "Max" Heyes, Russell Leahy, Gary Wilkinson, and Perry Cleveland-Peck
  • Mixed at Amazon Studios, Liverpool; Comforts Place, Lingfield; Mayfair Studios, London, and Olympic Studios, London
  • Mixed by Paul Gomersall, Martyn "Max" Heyes, and Tim Weidener
  • Photography by Julian Broad
  • Album design by Andrew Ridgeley and Simon Halfon
  • Management: Lippman Kahane Entertainment
  • Recorded at Comforts Place, Lingfield; Compass Point, Nassau; Eden Studios, London, England; EMI/Pathé Studios, Paris, France; Galaxy Sound Studio, Los Angeles; Ground Control, Los Angeles; Great Linford Studios, Great Linford; Maison Rouge, London; Mayfair Studios, London; Olympic Studios, London; Terminal 24, London, and Skylight Studios, London

Chart performance

Album
Chart (1990) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[7] 63
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[8] 66
US (Billboard 200)[9] 130

"Shake" single
Chart (1990) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[10] 16
Netherlands (MegaCharts)[8] 48
UK Singles Chart[11] 58
US (Billboard Hot 100)[12] 77

References
  1. "New Release Summary > Product Available from: 07/05/90 (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 17)". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved 2016-09-04.
  2. "Mexico" Song Information Archived 2008-12-09 at the Wayback Machine
  3. AndrewRidgeley.com (UK)
  4. Sandow, Greg (June 1, 1990). Album review, Entertainment Weekly.
  5. Son of Albert at AllMusic
  6. ANDREW RIDGELEY: SON OF ALBERT, SPECIAL EXPANDED EDITION - Cherry Red Records
  7. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  8. "dutchcharts.nl > Andrew Ridgeley in Dutch Charts" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-09-04.
  9. "Billboard > Artists / Andrew Ridgeley > Chart History > Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-09-04.
  10. "australian-charts.com > Andrew Ridgeley in Australian Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-09-04.
  11. "Official Charts > Andrew Ridgeley". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 2016-09-04.
  12. "Billboard > Artists / Andrew Ridgeley > Chart History > The Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-09-04.
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