Michael Hutchence
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Albums:
Top
Michael Hutchence
- Artist: Michael Hutchence
- Rating:
- Release Date: December 14, 1999
- Total Time: 52:43
- Type: Lyrics are included with the album
- Genre: Rock
Review
Whether his name is enough to sell the posthumous solo debut of former INXS leader Michael Hutchence is a question that should be easy to answer. The magnetism that made him one of the most dynamic singers of the '80s is still evident here, but what's not clear is whether or not there's a hit as charged as, say, INXS' "New Sensation" -- particularly considering Hutchence is an old sensation within the time frame of the album's release date -- at a time when this year's model became this moment's thrill. Nevertheless, there is enough good material here to warrant a listen, perhaps even shed a tear. More than two years after Hutchence hung himself in a sexually fraught suicide comes the debut of one of the most erotic, exciting singers of the '80s. Produced by Gang of Four leader Andy Gill (Hutchence was enthralled by that group's guitar sound), and refined by Black Grape's Danny Saber, this curious, occasionally exciting collection showcases the more vulnerable side of Hutchence, best-known for such defiant, proud rock tunes as "The One Thing," "What You Need," and "New Sensation." Songs such as the soul-tinged "Get on the Inside" and the edgy, hard-rocking "A Straight Line" contrast with the cool, paradoxically self-revealing "All I'm Saying" the oddly metered "Don't Save Me From Myself," and the spectral, beautiful "Strip Away." Such lyrical coexistence suggests Hutchence was far from being a spent force, even as it indicates the kind of demons that had been dogging him. Studded with guest appearances from the likes of Bono (whose vocals dubbed over those of Hutchence "complete" the eerily prescient "Slide Away") and various high-end session people, this autobiographical album resonates beyond its sad, faintly kinky pedigree. Crafted from a collection the artist had been working on since 1995, it's an assured, polished release. Apparently, Hutchence had been working on it even as INXS was crafting their swan song, the underrated (and beautifully titled) 1997 album Elegantly Wasted. One wonders what the demos were like; the power shines through despite the polish which Gill and Saber had two years to apply. Given the public's ghoulish appetite for celebrity, it wouldn't be surprising if those demos, along with the interim tracks that Gill and Saber worked over, turned up in a bootleg. ~ Carlo Wolff, Rovi| Michael Hurley (Album by Michael Hurley) | |
| Michael J. Ro (2010 Album by Michael J. Ro) |
AMG AllMovie Guide:
Top
Michael Hutchence
Biography
Best-known as the lead singer of Australia's most popular rock band, INXS, slinky, sexy-voiced Michael Hutchence played Percy Shelley in Roger Corman's Frankenstein Unbound (1990). On November 23, 1997, Hutchence was found dead in a Sydney hotel room. The coroner's report ruled his death a suicide. ~ Sandra Brennan, RoviFilmography:
Top
Michael Hutchence
Wikipedia on Answers.com:
Top
Michael Hutchence (album)
| Michael Hutchence | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||
| Studio album by Michael Hutchence | |||
| Released | 14 December 1999 | ||
| Recorded | 1995–1997 | ||
| Genre | Alternative rock, electronic music | ||
| Length | 52:43 | ||
| Language | English | ||
| Label | V2 | ||
| Producer | Andy Gill, Michael Hutchence, and Danny Saber | ||
| Compiler | Andy Gill | ||
| Professional reviews | |||
|
|||
| Singles from Michael Hutchence | |||
|
|||
Michael Hutchence is the debut (and only) solo album by INXS frontman Michael Hutchence. It was released on 14 December 1999.
Hutchence began work on what would become his posthumous solo album in 1995. Following his death in 1997, Black Grape producer Danny Saber and ex-Gang of Four guitarist Andy Gill completed the album. U2 singer, and Hutchence's friend, Bono recorded lyrics which were added to the track "Slide Away."
The sole commercial single—"A Straight Line"—also included the B-side "Standing on the Rooftop" written by Gill and Hutchence and recorded during these sessions and the Max Q song "The Passenger". The song "Let the People Talk" was also released digitally on the Internet.
This album was simply dedicated to "Tiger" in reference to Hutchence's daughter, Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily Hutchence. The last song that Hutchence worked on before his death was "Possibilities," which is track 2 on the album.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writers | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Let Me Show You" | 3:38 | |
| 2. | "Possibilities" | 4:31 | |
| 3. | "Get on the Inside" | 4:48 | |
| 4. | "Fear" | 3:43 | |
| 5. | "All I'm Saying" | 4:05 | |
| 6. | "A Straight Line" | 3:38 | |
| 7. | "Baby It's Alright" | 3:52 | |
| 8. | "Don't Save Me from Myself" | 3:21 | |
| 9. | "She Flirts for England" | 3:12 | |
| 10. | "Flesh and Blood" | 5:03 | |
| 11. | "Put the Pieces Back Together" | 4:38 | |
| 12. | "Breathe" | 3:52 | |
| 13. | "Slide Away" | 4:22 | |
|
Total length:
|
52:43 | ||
Personnel
- Michael Hutchence – vocals, production
- Kenny Aronoff – drums on "Possibilities", "Baby It's Alright", and "Breathe"
- Bono – vocals on "Slide Away"
- Harry Borden – photography
- Jonathan Cohen – cello on "Flesh and Blood" and "Slide Away"
- Kevin Cummins – photography
- Gail Ann Dorsey – backing vocals on "Flesh and Blood" and "Slide Away"
- Bernard Fowler – backing vocals on "Get on the Inside", "A Straight Line", and "Baby It's Alright"
- Joanna Gammie – viola on "Flesh and Blood" and "Slide Away"
- Andy Gill – guitar on "Let Me Show You", "Fear", "A Straight Line", "Don't Save Me from Myself", "She Flirts for England", "Flesh and Blood", "Put the Pieces Back Together", and "Slide Away"; bass guitar on "Fear", "Flesh and Blood", and "Slide Away"; keyboards on "She Flirts for England"; programming on "Let Me Show You", "Fear", "All I'm Saying", "A Straight Line", "Don't Save Me from Myself", "She Flirts for England", "Flesh and Blood", "Put the Pieces Back Together", and "Slide Away"; production
- Denise Johnston – backing vocals on "Get on the Inside", "Fear", "A Straight Line", "Put the Pieces Back Together"
- Nick Lane – trombone on "Get on the Inside"
- Ged Lynch – drums on "Let Me Show You", "Fear", "A Straight Line", "Don't Save Me from Myself", "Put the Pieces Back Together" and percussion on "Get on the Inside" and "All I'm Saying"
- Steve Madaio – trumpet on "Get on the Inside"
- Monty – drums on "Fear"
- Susan McGill – violin on "Flesh and Blood" and "Slide Away"
- Tony Morse – string arrangement on "Possibilities" and "Baby It's Alright"
- Tim Palmer – mixing on "Flesh and Blood" and "Slide Away"
- Guy Pratt – bass guitar on "Let Me Show You", "Fear", "Don't Save Me from Myself", "Put the Pieces Back Together"
- Steven Price – acoustic guitar on "Flesh and Blood" and string arrangement on "Flesh and Blood" and "Slide Away"
- Herb Ritts – photography
- Danny Saber – bass guitar on "Let Me Show You", "Possibilities", "Get on the Inside", "A Straight Line", "Baby It's Alright", "Don't Save Me from Myself", "Put the Pieces Back Together", "Breathe"; guitar on "Let Me Show You", "Possibilities", "Get on the Inside", "Fear", "All I'm Saying", "A Straight Line", "Baby It's Alright", "Don't Save Me from Myself", "Put the Pieces Back Together", "Breathe"; keyboards on "Possibilities", "Get on the Inside", "All I'm Saying", "A Straight Line", "Baby It's Alright", "Breathe"; drums on "Breathe", programming on "Let Me Show You", "Possibilities", "Get on the Inside", "Fear", "All I'm Saying", "A Straight Line", "Baby It's Alright", "Don't Save Me from Myself", "Flesh and Blood", "Put the Pieces Back Together", "Breathe"; production
- Stevie Salas – guitar on "Baby It's Alright"
- Joe Strummer – vocals on "Let Me Show You"
- Natalie Thompson – violin on "Flesh and Blood" and "Slide Away"
- Waddy Wachtel – guitar on "A Straight Line"
- Doug Wimbish – bass guitar on "All I'm Saying"
- David L. Woodruff – horn on "A Straight Line"
- John 'X' – backing vocals on "Get on the Inside", mixing on "Let Me Show You", "Possibilities", "Get on the Inside", "Fear", "All I'm Saying", "A Straight Line", "Baby It's Alright", "Don't Save Me from Myself", "She Flirts for England", "Put the Pieces Back Together" and "Breathe"
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:
Copyrights:
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Albums
Copyright © 2012 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.
Read more
Mentioned in
Michael Hutchence: The Loved One
(Music Film)
INXS
(1980 Album by INXS)
Listen Like Thieves
(1985 Album by INXS)
Brits '96
(Album by Oasis)
Paula Yates
(late British personality)
» More