Rightly hailed as David Bowie's high-flying guitar ace, the self-effacing Ronson had been recording only his third solo album in a 30-year career when he died of liver cancer in 1994. Undaunted, his surviving colleagues completed the project, which stands as a forceful reminder of his wide-ranging talents. Ronson's gleeful, anything-goes eclecticism holds true here. The recipe extends to bluesy pop ("When the World Falls Down"), brooding soundscapes ("You and Me"), an unlikely rearrangement of Giorgio Moroder's "Midnight Love," and even rock-funk ("Colour Me"). Aficionados of Ronson's strangled, Jeff Beck-style string-bending won't be disappointed -- especially on the thunderous "Don't Look Down" and on "Life's a River," where he squarely addresses his imminent mortality. Not surprisingly, every track boasts a different lineup, yet two key factors provide continuity. Ronson writes or co-writes five of the ten songs. Additionally, guitarist-keyboardist Sham Morris -- like his famous collaborator a native of the English industrial city of Hull -- provides key instrumental and production support. The all-star lineup attests to Ronson's appeal and influence. Old co-conspirator Bowie lends suitably jittery vocals to a giddy trashing of the Bob Dylan standard "Like a Rolling Stone." Additional reinforcement comes from Def Lepperd vocalist Joe Elliott, Pretenders singer-guitarist Chrissie Hynde, and rustic rocker John Mellencamp -- whose 1982 hit, "Jack and Diane," benefited from Ronson's arranging prowess. The closing spot naturally falls to ex-Mott the Hoople frontman Ian Hunter, Ronson's longest-serving partner during the 1970s and 1980s. Hunter leads a rousing take on "All the Young Dudes," the Bowie-penned number that his band made famous. The latter track hails from Ronson's last major public appearance, at the 1992 all-star tribute to Queen's late vocalist, Freddie Mercury, which closes the circle nicely. The back cover features a shot of the Humber Bridge, in Ronson's hometown of Hull. Part of the proceeds were intended for the T.J. Martell Foundation, to help the fight against cancer. ~ Ralph Heibutzki, All Music Guide
Peter Denenberg (Mixing), Mick Ronson (Instrumentation), Roger Taylor (Drums), Mick Ronson (Multi Instruments), Bob Rock (Mixing), Joe Elliott (Vocals), Martin Barker (Drums), Ian Hunter (Liner Notes), KK (Engineer), Sham Morris (Engineer), Ted Jensen (Mastering), Timothy Manteau (Design Assistant), Suzanne Ronson (Photography), Sham Morris (Producer), Andre Gauchat (Mixing), Sham Morris (Mixing), Mike Wanchic (Engineer), David Bowie (Vocals), John Mellencamp (Vocals), Linda Woods (Photography), David Bowie (?), Ken Regan (Photography), John Holbrook (Mixing), Ross Halstand (Photography), Brian May (Guitar), Suzanne Ronson (Executive Producer), John Lappen (Executive Reissue Producer), John Holbrook (Engineer), Mick Ronson (Mixing), Rene Wurst (Bass), George Cowan (Photography), Ian Hunter (Vocals), Keith Scott (Guitar), Joe Elliott (Mixing), Chrissie Hynde (Vocals), Penny Smith (Photography), Andre Gauchat (Mixing Assistant), Sham Morris (Drum Machine), John Webster (Keyboards), George Corsillo (Hand Tinting), David Bowie (Vocals (Background)), Martin Bakker (Drums), KK (Mixing), Sham Morris (Vocals), Sam Lederman (Executive Producer), David Richards (Mixing), John Deacon (Bass), Steve Popovich (Executive Producer), Sheila Rock (Photography), David Leonard (Engineer), Bruce Fairbairn (Producer), Mick Curry (Drums), Mick Rock (Photography), Erwin Musper (Engineer), Sham Morris (Guitar (Acoustic)), Peter Kinski (Bass), Mick Ronson (Vocals), Phil Collen (Vocals), Mick Ronson (Guitar), Mick Ronson (Bass), Wayne Maser (Photography), Francesca Restrepo (Art Direction), Frankie La Rocka (Mixing), Martin Chambers (Drums), Sham Morris (Bass), Sham Morris (Guitar), Mick Ronson (Producer), Peter Gabriel (Photography), Sham Morris (Keyboards), Justin Shirley-Smith (Mixing Assistant), Peter Noone (Bass), Francesca Restrepo (Design), Joe Elliott (Vocals (Background)), Pennie Smith (Photography)
Heaven and Hull was the final soloalbum by Mick Ronson, released in 1994 following Ronson's death the previous year. With collaborations by long time friends of Ronson including: David Bowie, Joe Elliott, and Ian Hunter. Other artists include: Peter Noone, Martin Chambers and Chrissie Hynde, Phil Collen and John Mellencamp. The "All the Young Dudes" track on Heaven and Hull is from the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, where Ronson himself was suffering from cancer. He appears very thin on the DVD, while still playing blistering guitar. It was his last concert. On the CD notes, there is a striking photo of the Humber Bridge from Ronson's home town and a quote from Sham Morris, one of the album's producers: " During the making of Heaven and Hull, (working title To Hull and Back ) I asked Mick to visualize a characteristic from his home town of Hull. His first thought was the Humber Bridge. The Bridge became very symbolic for those of us working on the album and it was his wish to incorporate it in the artwork. Mick has crossed the Bridge now and left us this swan song. "
Track listing
All tracks composed by Mick Ronson and Sham Morris; except where indicated
