Young Lions (album)

Untitled
Singles from Young Lions
"Pretty Pink Rose" Released: May, 1990

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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 then five-year-old 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

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

Technical

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

External links

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