Ordinary Heroes (album) explained

Ordinary Heroes
Type:	studio
Artist:	Howard Jones
Border:	yes
Released:	9 November 2009
Genre:	Pop
Length:	41:57
Label:	DTox
Producer:	Robbie Bronnimann
Prev Title:	Live in Birkenhead
Prev Year:	2007
Next Title:	Engage
Next Year:	2015

Ordinary Heroes is the ninth studio album by the British pop musician Howard Jones, released on 9 November 2009.^{[1] [2]} A simpler album production than the previous release Revolution of the Heart was present here. Strings and piano dominate, and while there are some upbeat tracks, the album has a mellow, mature atmosphere.Some of the tracks were performed with the Morrison Orpheus Choir in St David's Hall in Cardiff at a special one-off gig.

Track listing

• Standard Version

1. "Straight Ahead" (Howard Jones, Cori Josias) – 4:13
2. "Say It Like You Mean It" (Jones, Josias) – 3:35
3. "Someone You Need" (Jones, Duncan Sheik, Martha Schuyler Thompson) – 3:31
4. "Collective Heartbeat" (Jones) – 3:48
5. "Fight On" (Jones) – 4:06
6. "Even If I Don't Say" (Jones, Josias) – 3:50
7. "Ordinary Heroes" (Jones, Josias) – 4:33
8. "You Knew Us So Well" (Jones) – 4:55
9. "Love Never Wasted" (Jones) – 4:48
10. "Soon You'll Go" (Jones, Josias) – 4:38

A limited edition 2CD pack was sold exclusively by Jones' website. The second disc included piano and vocal versions of each track from the standard album, plus two additional songs.^[3]

• Bonus Disc

1. "Straight Ahead"
2. "Say It Like You Mean It"
3. "Someone You Need"
4. "Collective Heartbeat"
5. "Fight On"
6. "Even If I Don't Say"
7. "Ordinary Heroes"
8. "You Knew Us So Well"
9. "Love Never Wasted"
10. "Soon You'll Go"
11. "Your Heart Has Won" (Jones) - 3:47
12. "Love Never Wasted (Revisited)" - 4:57

Personnel

• Howard Jones – Steinway piano, lead vocals, musical arrangements, string arrangements
• Robin Boult – guitar
• Martin Cohen – bass
• Jonathan Atkitson – drums
• Vicky Matthews – cello
• Racheal Robson – viola
• Deborah White – 1st violin
• Natalia Bonner – 2nd violin
• Ty Unwin – additional strings on "Soon You'll Go"
• Fiona Brice – string arrangements, conductor
• Daniel Pierce – backing vocals
• Morriston Orpheus Choir – choir on "Soon You'll Go"
• Joy Amman Davies – choir conductor

Production

• Produced, recorded and mixed by Robbie Bronniman.
• Recorded at Robot Studios and Level View Studio (Somerset, England).
• Strings recorded by Matthew Lawrence at Assault & Battery and Metropolis Studio (London, England).
• Choir recorded by Stephen W. Taylor in Swansea, Wales.
• Album Artwork – Hush Creative

Notes and References

1. Web site: Howard Jones records with the Orpheus :: Morriston Orpheus Choir. Eazyweb Internet. Services. morristonorpheus.com.
2. Web site: Swansea: The latest news, sport, what's on and business from Swansea and Gower. thisissouthwales.co.uk.
3. Web site: Howard Jones - Ordinary Heroes. Discogs.