Following two anemic-selling albums with his post-Eurythmics outfit, the Spiritual Cowboys, Dave Stewart released his proper solo debut in Greetings From the Gutter. It curtails the more rock-leaning aspects of the prior albums for a funkier, dance approach with Parliament/Funkadelic alumni Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell, and Jerome "Big Foot" Brailey backing Stewart. The sultry, almost campy, "Heart of Stone" is a funky, disco-styled song with infectious backing vocals performed by a female quartet including Lady Miss Kier, Nona Hendryx, and Siobahn Fahey. "Chelsea Lovers" is a deliciously bittersweet, glam ballad (with a nod to Bowie in the lyrics). "Jealous" is stripped down and soulful and "St. Valentine's Day" opens like a Tom Waits song before giving way to a Beatlesque, psychedelic melody. Laurie Anderson adds violin and vocals to the eerie, spacy "Kinky Sweetheart," featuring a wicked guitar solo from Stewart. "Damien Save Me" has a monstrous, hypnotic groove, a smoking sax solo from Lenny Pickett, and some Hendrix-like guitar. The playing is tight, the vibe is loose, and Greetings From The Gutter is some of Stewart's warmest, most compelling work. ~ Tom Demalon, All Music Guide
Dave Stewart (Piano), Teese Gohl (String Arrangements), Bernie Worrell (Keyboards), Chucho Merchán (Bass), Darren Allison (Engineer), Deborah Barsha (Vocals (Background)), John Seymour (Assistant Engineer), Olle Romo (Drums), Sue Shattock (Vocals (Background)), Dave Stewart (Producer), Lawrence Fratangelo (Percussion), Joe Pirrera (Assistant Engineer), John Winfield (Vocals (Background)), Carly Simon (Sound Effects), Peter Thoms (Recorder), Lady Miss Kier (Vocals (Background)), Mick Jagger (Vocals (Background)), Peter Thoms (Flute), Anthony Cole (Vocals (Background)), Henry Benefield (Percussion), Dave Wittman (Engineer), David Sanborn (Saxophone), Susan Kay (Vocals (Background)), Bootsy Collins (Guitar (Acoustic)), Barbara Tucker (Vocals (Background)), Peter Thoms (Piccolo), Elliot Ness (Assistant Engineer), Lou Reed (Guitar), Lenny Pickett (Saxophone), Olle Romo (Engineer), Laurie Anderson (Violin), Jerome Brailey (Drums), Gary "Mudbone" Cooper (Percussion), Bob Rosa (Mixing), Bootsy Collins (Space Bass), Dave Stewart (Vocals), Siobhan Fahey (Vocals (Background)), Terry Disley (Keyboards), Olle Romo (Producer), Dave Stewart (Guitar), Bootsy Collins (Vocals (Background)), Dave Stewart (Keyboards), Olle Romo (Programming), Henry Benefield (Vocals (Background)), Bootsy Collins (Drums), Olle Romo (Mixing), Michael Parsons (Photography), David Sanborn (Sound Effects), Bootsy Collins (Bass), Gary "Mudbone" Cooper (Vocals (Background))
