Young Lions (album) explained

Young Lions
Type:Album
Artist:Adrian Belew
Cover:Adrian Belew - Young Lions.jpg
Border:yes
Released:May 1990
Recorded:1989–90
Studio:Royal Recorders, Lake Geneva, WI
Genre:Rock
Length:38:17
Label:Atlantic
Producer:Adrian Belew
Prev Title:Mr. Music Head
Prev Year:1989
Next Title:Desire of the Rhino King
Next Year:1991

Young Lions is the fifth solo album by Adrian Belew released in May 1990 by Atlantic Records. The album featured David Bowie singing on two tracks, "Pretty Pink Rose" and "Gunman", the latter of which Bowie and Belew co-wrote since he was acting as musical director and lead guitarist on the Sound+Vision Tour with Bowie.[1]

Two cover versions appear on the album: "Heartbeat", a song Belew had co-written and performed with King Crimson while he was a member; and "Not Alone Anymore", a Traveling Wilburys song from Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1. This was Belew's tribute to Roy Orbison who had recently died.

The other songwriting "collaboration" on the album is with Nashville radio evangelist Prophet Omega. Working decades-old tapes of 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.' " Al Kooper, who collects "oddball" recordings, gave a 47-minute recording of Omega preaching and Belew made two further recordings: "I Know What I Know" on Coming Attractions and "Troubles" on Side Three.

Belew was pressed for time for the cover artwork and it was hurriedly completed by Atlantic's art department. It features a then five-year-old Robert S. Belew on his way to Sunday school carrying a stuffed animal.

Track listing

All songs written by Adrian Belew unless noted:

  1. "Young Lions" – 3:48
  2. "Pretty Pink Rose" (David Bowie) – 4:44
  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" (music: Belew; lyrics: Bowie) – 3:51

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: P . Matt . Story Of A Song: Adrian Belew/David Bowie’s ‘Pretty Pink Rose’ (1990) . movingtheriver.com . 16 April 2022 . Matt P 2019 . 17 November 2019.