Wired is the second solo studio album by Hugh Cornwell, released on 21 June 1993 on the Transmission label.[2][3] It follows the collaboration album with Robert Williams, Nosferatu (1979), and first proper solo outing, Wolf (1988).[4][5] Wired was produced by Gary Langan (Art of Noise),[6] with the exception of "Ain't It Strange", which was produced by Cornwell. It was recorded in 1992 at Metropolis Studios in London and Soundlab Studios in Wiltshire. The album's progress was affected by contractual disputes.[7][8] Cornwell was initially signed to Phoenix Records, but the label started to fall into difficulties and Cornwell cited them for breach of contract. A new deal was struck with NTV (Transmission) to finish the album. Phoenix then maintained that NTV had no right to release the album with arguments over the matter continuing until February 1994. As a result, the album was initially only released in Europe.[9] Two singles were released from the album, "The Story of He & She" in 1993, and "My Kind of Loving" in 1994.[3]
| Wired | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 21 June 1993 | |||
| Recorded | 1992 | |||
| Studio | Metroplis Studios, London Soundlab Studios, Wiltshire | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock Post-punk | |||
| Length | 42:51 | |||
| Label | Transmission | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Hugh Cornwell chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Wired | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative cover | ||||
 American release | ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
The album was re-released by Griffin Records in 1995 in both CD and cassette formats.[10]
The album was released in the United States on 27 April 1999 on the Velvel Record label, under the title First Bus To Babylon[1][11] with different artwork and different track listing. The album includes a cover version of Jimi Hendrix's "Stone Free", which according to Cornwell was originally considered for inclusion on the initial release of Wired.[12]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Hugh Cornwell, except where noted
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hot Cat on a Tin Roof" | 4:08 |
| 2. | "Make It with You" | 3:32 |
| 3. | "My Kind of Loving" | 3:25 |
| 4. | "Wasted Tears" | 4:11 |
| 5. | "Story of He & She" | 4:56 |
| 6. | "Ain't It Strange" | 3:10 |
| 7. | "Stop" | 4:19 |
| 8. | "Mr Insignificant" | 3:39 |
| 9. | "Turn Your Body Down" | 3:34 |
| 10. | "Love in Your Eyes" | 3:58 |
| 11. | "First Bus to Babylon" | 3:59 |
The American edition retitled First Bus to Babylon dropped the track "Make It With You" and includes "Stone Free" and "My Kind of Loving" (12" version).
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hot Cat on a Tin Roof" | 4:08 | |
| 2. | "My Kind of Loving" | 3:26 | |
| 3. | "Wasted Tears" | 4:11 | |
| 4. | "Story of He & She" | 4:57 | |
| 5. | "Ain't It Strange" | 3:10 | |
| 6. | "Stop" | 4:19 | |
| 7. | "Mr Insignificant" | 3:38 | |
| 8. | "Turn Your Body Down" | 3:33 | |
| 9. | "Love in Your Eyes" | 3:58 | |
| 10. | "First Bus to Babylon" | 3:58 | |
| 11. | "Stone Free" | Jimi Hendrix | 3:39 |
| 12. | "My Kind of Loving" (12" mix) | 7:32 |
Personnel
editCredits adapted from the album liner notes.[13]
- Musicians
- Hugh Cornwell – guitar, vocals
- Chris Goulstone – guitar
- Ted Mason – guitar
- Tomoyasu Hotei – guitar
- Alex Gifford – bass guitar
- Phil Andrews – keyboards
- George De Angelis – Hammond organ
- Robert Williams – drums, percussion
- Steve Ferrera – additional drum programming
- Wesley Magoogan – brass
- Joel Squires – harmonica
- Technical
- Gary Langan – producer (except "Ain't It Strange"), photography
- Hugh Cornwell – producer ("Ain't It Strange")
- James Cadsky – engineer
- Jamie Cullum – assistant engineer
- John Pasche – artwork, design
- David Mach – artwork (hanger head)
- David Scheinmann – photography
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalogue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | 21 June 1993 | Transmission Records | CD | TRANS CD 1 |
| United Kingdom | 6 June 1995 | Griffin Records | CD/CS | 131 |
| United States | 27 April 1999 | Velvel Record | CD | 63467-79767-2 |
References
edit- ^ a b Ankeny, Jason. "First Bus to Babylon". Allmusic. All Media Guide (Rovi). Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ^ "Hugh Cornwell Discography". The Stranglers official website. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ^ a b "Hugh Cornwell Discography". Official Hugh Cornwell website. Invisible Hands Music. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
- ^ Lester, Paul (4 September 2015). "Hugh Cornwell: The Fall And Rise Of Hugh Cornwell". Classic Rock. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ Clarkson, John (22 October 2006). "Hugh Cornwell: Interview". Penny Black Music. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
- ^ "Hugh Cornwell Biography". Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ^ Zebbyn, Ken. "Hugh Cornwell back in America". Stubble Music Magazine. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ^ "Hugh Cornwell interview". HIS magazine. February 1997. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
- ^ Baker, Stephen (September 1997). "Hugh Cornwell interview". Mumble Jumble. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
- ^ "Wired". Allmusic. All Media Guide (Rovi). Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ^ "First Bus to Babylon". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ^ Zebbyn, Ken. "Another Night with Hugh". Stubble Music magazine. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
- ^ Wired (CD liner notes). Hugh Cornwell. Transmission. 1993.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
Further reading
edit- Cornwell, Hugh, A Multitude of Sins. London. Harper Collins Publishers, 2004. ISBN 0-00-719082-4