Young Lions (album)

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Young Lions, released in May 1990 (see 1990 in music), is the fifth solo album by Adrian Belew, and his second on Atlantic Records. Released by Atlantic while Belew was on tour with David Bowie, Belew serving as musical director as well as guitarist, the album features vocal assists from Bowie on two tracks ("Pretty Pink Rose", written by Bowie; and "Gunman", co-written by Bowie and Belew).

Two cover versions appear on the album: "Heartbeat", a song Belew had co-written for the King Crimson album Beat while he was a member; and "Not Alone Anymore", a Traveling Wilburys song from Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1.

The other songwriting collaboration on the album, however unwittingly, is with Nashville radio evangelist Prophet Omega. Working decades-old tapes of Prophet Omega's broadcasts into "I Am What I Am", Belew, "listed him as a co-author, so in case a couple of hefty guys drop by my place some day, I can say 'here's your money.' "

The album cover features a five-year-old (then Steven) Belew.

Track listing

All songs written by Adrian Belew unless noted:

1. "Young Lions" – 3:42
2. "Pretty Pink Rose" (David Bowie) – 4:43
3. "Heartbeat" (Belew, Bill Bruford, Robert Fripp, Tony Levin) – 3:59
4. "Looking for a U.F.O." – 3:36
5. "I Am What I Am" (Belew, Prophet Omega) – 4:11
6. "Not Alone Anymore" (Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison) – 3:13
7. "Men in Helicopters" – 3:17
8. "Small World" – 3:45
9. "Phone Call from the Moon" – 3:38
10. "Gunman" (Belew, Bowie) – 3:51

Personnel

Musicians

• Mike Barnett – string bass on (9)
• Adrian Belew – vocals, multi instruments
• David Bowie – vocals on (2) and (10)
• Van Kampen - percussion ensemble on (1)
  • Ellen Gieles – percussion
  • Dree Van Beeck – percussion
  • Willem Van Kruysdijk – percussion
  • Mies Wilbrink – percussion
• The Prophet Omega – spoken words on (5)

Production

• Adrian Belew – producer
• Carol Bobolts – design
• Bob Defrin – art direction
• Rich Denhart – engineer
• Ron Fajerstein – executive producer
• Dan Harjung – assistant engineer
• Justin Hertzman – executive producer
• Ted Jensen – digital mastering, mastering
• Sotto Vocé – cover art concept
• John M. Stevens – lettering
• Curtice Taylor – photo tinting
• Michael White – engineer

External links

• Adrian Belew's website
• Adrian Belew: The mind's turntable