Shove It is the debut album by UK rock band the Cross released on 13 April 1988 by Virgin Records. The group was founded and led by Roger Taylor, best known as the drummer for Queen, though he was the rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist for The Cross.

Shove it
Studio album by
Released13 April 1988
RecordedAugust–December 1987 at Mountain Studios (Montreux), Townhouse, Air, Manor, Maison Rouge (England) and Mediterraneo (Ibiza)
GenreRock
Length41:57
LabelVirgin
ProducerRoger Taylor, David Richards, John "Teddy Bear" Brough
The Cross chronology
Shove it
(1988)
Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know
(1990)
Singles from Shove It
  1. "Cowboys And Indians"
    Released: 21 September 1987
  2. "Shove It"
    Released: 3 January 1988
  3. "Heaven For Everyone"
    Released: 28 March 1988
  4. "Manipulator"
    Released: 4 July 1988

The album features a mix of dance and rock, and can be considered Taylor's third solo album after 1984’s Strange Frontier.

History

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Taylor had originally started recording the album with the intention of releasing it as a solo artist. However, he decided to recruit a band and called them the Cross. Most of the album had been completed prior to recruiting the band members, with Taylor playing much of the instrumentation.

The album features Queen members Freddie Mercury (singing lead vocals on the English release of "Heaven for Everyone" and backing vocals on the US version),[1] Brian May (playing lead guitar on "Love Lies Bleeding")[2] and John Deacon (playing bass guitar on a few tracks)[citation needed], who collaborated with Taylor on the album.

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [3]

The album was poorly received by fans and critics and reached only the bottom of the charts, peaking at 58 at the UK Albums Chart. After two weeks it dropped off the chart. In the US, it failed to chart at all.

Track listing

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All songs written by Roger Taylor.

UK version

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Side 1
  1. "Shove It" – 3:28
  2. "Cowboys and Indians" – 5:53
  3. "Contact" – 4:54
  4. "Heaven for Everyone" (Freddie Mercury on lead vocals) – 4:54
Side 2
  1. "Stand Up for Love" – 4:22
  2. "Love on a Tightrope (Like an Animal)" - 4:49
  3. "Love Lies Bleeding (She Was a Wicked, Wily Waitress)" – 4:25
  4. "Rough Justice" – 3:22
CD bonus track
  1. "The 2nd Shelf Mix" – 5:50
  2. Hidden Track - 4:58 Track Ends Outro Of Rough Justice Starts at 0:45

Note: The 2nd Shelf Mix is an extended remix of the track "Shove It". On UK CD pressings it also includes the hidden outro of "Rough Justice".

US version

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  1. "Love Lies Bleeding (She Was a Wicked, Wily Waitress)" – 4:25
  2. "Shove It" – 3:28
  3. "Cowboys and Indians" – 5:53
  4. "Contact" – 4:54
  5. "Heaven for Everyone" (Roger Taylor on lead vocals) – 4:54 Freddie Mercury on Backing Vocals (Uncredited)
  6. "Feel the Force"* – 3:44
  7. "Stand Up for Love" – 4:22
  8. "Love on a Tightrope (Like an Animal)"
  9. "Rough Justice" – 3:22

Non-Album Track

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  1. "Manipulator" (Taylor, Edney, and Steve Strange) 3:58

Personnel

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  • Roger Taylor - vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass, drums (most instruments on album)
  • Spike Edney - keyboards, vocals
  • Clayton Moss - guitar (on some tracks)
  • Peter Noone - bass guitar (on some tracks)
  • Josh Macrae - drums (on some tracks)
Additional personnel
  • Brian May - lead guitar on "Love Lies Bleeding (She Was a Wicked, Wily Waitress)", harmonies on "Bohemian Rhapsody" sampling, and guitar on "Flash" sampling. (uncredited)
  • Freddie Mercury - lead vocals on "Heaven for Everyone" (U.K./European version, B-side of "Heaven for Everyone" single Europe), backing vocals on "Heaven for Everyone" (US version), and harmonies for "Bohemian Rhapsody"/"Fat Bottomed Girls" sampling. (uncredited)
  • Gary Barnacle - Tenor, Alto & Baritone Saxophone on "Cowboys and Indians", "Contact" & "Stand Up For Love".

References

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  1. ^ "Freddie Mercury". QueenVault.com. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  2. ^ "Brian May". QueenVault.com. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  3. ^ AllMusic review