Cheapness and Beauty
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| Cheapness and Beauty | ||||
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| Studio album by Boy George | ||||
| Released | 1995 | |||
| Recorded | Sarm Hook End Studios, 1993-95 | |||
| Genre | punk/rock, acoustic ballad, country music | |||
| Length | 50:20 | |||
| Label | Virgin Records | |||
| Producer | Jessica Corcoran, John Themis (5, 6 & 13) |
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| Professional reviews | ||||
| Boy George chronology | ||||
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Cheapness and Beauty is a 1995 album by Boy George.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
The album opens with a cover version of Iggy Pop's "Funtime", which reached #45 in the UK Singles Chart. Also featured is the ballad "Il Adore" (later featured on the soundtrack album Taboo) which peaked at #50, and "Same Thing in Reverse", which reached #56 in the UK and #28 on the Billboard dance charts in the US.
The album includes many fans' favourite tracks like "If I Could Fly", "God Don't Hold A Grudge" and "Unfinished Business". It was released at the same time as George's autobiography, named "Take It Like A Man".[1]
This was a bold and daring move for Boy George's career. Having scored his biggest solo success in USA and Canada with the theme song of the movie The Crying Game, an electronic-pop cover with a highly syntetizer production from the Pet Shop Boys, George had the need to experiment again and release some rock-oriented tracks with a glam-rock edge. One of the reason he cited for this move was revisiting his teenage years while writing his autobiograhy. Some tracks had an abrasive use of guitars. The lyrics were also even more personnal for an artist already known for his vulnerability and honesty. It was also the first time where he didn't hide his gay sexuality in the lyrics.
The album received some good reviews but the sales were not as high as during his earlier Culture Club fame. Some sources have accused Virgin Records for not promoting the record.
This was George's last original studio album on Virgin.
[edit] Track listing
All tracks composed by George O'Dowd (Boy George) and John Themis; except where indicated
- "Funtime" - 3:05 (Iggy Pop, David Bowie)
- "Satan's Butterfly Ball" - 3:03
- "Sad" - 3:52
- "God Don't Hold a Grudge" - 2:49
- "Genocide Peroxide" - 3:44
- "If I Could Fly" - 4:04
- "Same Thing in Reverse" - 3:33
- "Cheapness and Beauty" - 3:59
- "Evil Is So Civilised" - 3:32
- "Your Love Is What I Am" - 4:12
- "Blindman" - 4:42
- "Unfinished Business" - 3:33
- "Il Adore" - 6:12
[edit] Musicians/Staff/Production
- Boy George: lead vocals & lyrics
- John Themis: guitar, vocals & musical director
- Winston Blisset: bass
- Tansay Ibrahim: drums
- Mike Timothy: keyboards
- Lady Zee, Linda Duggan: other vocals
- Stefan Frank: percussion
- Luis Jardim: ethnic percussion on 11
- Hossam Ramzy: mandolin
- Martin Bell: extra drums
- Uli Webber: cover picture
- Jessica Corcoran: production
- John Themis: production on 5, 6 & 13
