Andrew Ridgeley - Son Of Albert (1990)

"Son of Albert" is the debut solo album of Andrew Ridgeley. Originally released in May 1990, Ridgeley's effort was a sharp turn away from his former pop image with Wham! years earlier. Focusing more on guitars and drums, the critical reaction to Ridgeley’s attempt at a solo record was mixed. After rather unimpressive revenue sales from 'Son of Albert', Ridgeley slowly but surely quit playing music professionally.

In addition, two singles from the album, "Red Dress" and "Shake", were released in 1990 with little success. Another song, "Mexico", was scheduled to be released as the album's third single, but was dropped for reasons unknown.

Andrew Ridgeley was last seen four years ago as half of the bouncy pop duo Wham! His partner, George Michael (present here as background vocalist in a song called ''Red Dress''), went on to multiplatinum fame. Now Ridgeley, too, has a song on the charts: ''Shake,'' the second cut on this album, in which, to the tune of fake-raunchy rock & roll, he imagines he's shaking his sexy woman ''like a rag doll.'' Nothing in his eager, tiny voice convinces us he could ever do such a thing, though there is verve in his music and, thanks to his band, snatches of fine, snarly guitar. But you've heard it all a hundred times before. Ridgeley seems to have redefined himself as a kick-in-the-pants rock & roller, but his songs still come out sounding like manufactured pop. Ridgeley's album is named after himself, as the Son of Albert Ridgeley.

Track listing

01.  Red Dress (Additional vocals: George Michael) (Bromham, Ridgeley)  - 4:09

02.  Shake  (David Austin, Ridgeley)  - 3:29

03.  The Price of Love  (Don Everly, Phil Everly)  - 4:08

04.  Flame  (Austin, Ridgeley)  - 4:58

05.  Hangin'  (Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers)  - 3:21

06.  Mexico  (Bromham, Cummings, Ridgeley)  - 5:46

07.  Big Machine  (Bromham, Ridgeley)  - 4:24

08.  Kiss Me  (Burns, Ridgeley)  - 4:30

09.  Baby Jane  (Cozzi, Ridgeley)  - 5:09

10.  Shake (Hardcore)  (Ridgeley, Bromham, Martyn "Max" Heyes)  - 6:03

Released:  May 22, 1990

Recorded at:  Comforts Place, Lingfield; Compass Point, Nassau; Eden Studios, London, England; EMI/Pathé Studios, Paris, France; Galaxy Sound Studio, Los Angeles; Ground Control, Los Angeles; Great Linford Studios, Great Linford; Maison Rouge, London; Mayfair Studios, London; Olympic Studios, London; Terminal 24, London and Skylight Studios, London

Label:  ColumbiaGenre:  Pop, Rock

Length:  46:22

Producer:  Andrew Ridgeley, Gary Bromham, Martyn "Max" Heyes

Personnel

Andrew Ridgeley - Lead vocals, Voice Box

George Michael - Guest Vocal

Mary Cassidy - Background Vocals

Lauren Fownes - Background Vocals

Brie Howard - Background Vocals

Miss Johnny - Background Vocals

Tessa Niles - Background Vocals

Dan McAfferty - Spanish Vocals

Mark "Bobby" Robinson - Spanish Vocals

Robert Ahwai - Guitars  

Phil Palmer - Guitars

Tony Barnard - Electric guitars, Guitars

Mike Cozzi - Electric guitars, Guitars

Hugh Burns - Spanish Guitar, Guitars

Gary Masters - Keyboards

Mark Felthan - Harmonica

Graham Edwards - Bass guitars

Deon Estus - Bass guitars

David Faragher - Bass guitars

Jerry Ferguson - Bass guitars

Paul Gray  Bass guitars

Danny Thompson - Bass guitars, Double Bass

Gary Bromham - Drums, Guitars, Spanish Vocals

Pat Torpey - Drums

Laurence Cottell - Horns

David O'Higgins - Horns

Paul Spong - Horns

Danny Cummings - Percussion, Spanish Vocals

Richard Gibbs - Voice Box