Automatic (Gary Numan album)

Infobox Album
Name = Automatic
Type = Album
Artist = Sharpe and Numan


Released = June 1989
Recorded =
Genre = Synth Pop, New Wave
Length =
Label = Polydor (UK)
Producer = Bill Sharpe
Reviews =
Chronology = Gary Numan
Last album = "Metal Rhythm" (1988)
This album = "Automatic"
(1989)
Next album = "Outland" (1991)

"Automatic" is a 1989 album released by Sharpe + Numan (a collaboration between Gary Numan and jazz keyboardist/producer Bill Sharpe, member of the jazz fusion group Shakatak). The album was an attempt to recapture their success of their collaboration single "Change Your Mind", which reached number 17 in the UK charts in 1985. Although "Change Your Mind" was initially supposed to be a one-off single, Numan recalled that "the whole experience was great fun and Bill and I left the door open for more work together." ["Praying to the Aliens: An Autobiography" by Gary Numan with Steve Malins. (1997, André Deutsch Limited), p.197] However, Numan was ambivalent about recording a Sharpe + Numan album:

Numan wrote the majority of the song lyrics on "Automatic" and performed the lead vocals, however, he did not contribute to the writing of the album's music. Backing vocals were provided by Tessa Niles, who had sung on Numan's four preceding solo albums. "Automatic" has a more lightweight-pop and commercial style in comparison to Numan's solo material of the time, although its sound is not especially incongruous in the Numan discography.

"Automatic" includes "Change Your Mind" and a remixed version of the third Sharpe + Numan single, "No More Lies" (1988, UK#34). The second Sharpe + Numan single, "New Thing From London Town" (1986, UK#52) was not included on "Automatic", presumably because it had already been included (albeit in re-recorded form) on Numan's 1986 solo album, "Strange Charm". "I'm on Automatic" was the only single to be released from "Automatic"; it reached #44 on the UK singles chart. The album itself reached #59 on the UK Album Chart (11 spots lower than Numan's solo album, "Metal Rhythm", which was released 9 months before).Strong, Martin C.: "The Great Alternative Discography", 1999, Canongate, ISBN 0-86241-913-1] Its disappointing sales led to plans for a second Sharpe + Numan album being abandoned, however, the electro-jazz-pop style of "Automatic" would influence the general sound of Numan's next solo album, "Outland" (1991). "Automatic" itself remains out of print; it has never been re-released since its debut in 1989.

Numan expressed dissatisfaction with "Automatic"'s lack of promotion on the part of Polydor Records. Of the album itself, he recalled:

Track listing

All tracks written by Gary Numan and Bill Sharpe except where otherwise noted.

#"Change Your Mind" (Sharpe, Roger Odell) – 4.14
#"Turn Off the World" – 3.58
#"No More Lies" ('89 mix) – 4.02
#"Breathe in Emotion" – 3.25
#"Some New Game" – 4.01
#"I'm on Automatic" – 4.08
#"Rip it Up" – 4.13
#"Welcome to Love" – 3.30
#"Voices" (Numan, Sharpe, Odell) – 3.50
#"Night Life" – 3.41
#"No More Lies" (original 12" mix)* – 7.46
#"I'm on Automatic" (12" mix)* – 7.33

*CD bonus tracks marked with an asterisk.

Personnel

Musicians

*Gary Numan – lead vocals
*Bill Sharpe – keyboards
*Roger Odell – drums
*Tessa Niles - backing vocals
*John Davies – synthesiser programming (tracks 2 to 12)
*Mitch Dalton – guitar (tracks 2, 5 and 7)
*Linda Taylor – backing vocals (track 1)

Production

* Bill Sharpe – producer
* Nick Smith – mixer, engineer
* Wally Brill – mixer (track 1)

References

External links

* [http://wc10.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:a9foxqehldse All Music Guide]
* [http://www.discogs.com/release/677658 Discogs.com]