Vertical Man

Ringo Starr
 
Vertical Man - Front cover Vertical Man - Rear Cover
Vertical Man - Front Cover Vertical Man - Rear Cover
Vertical Man - The C.D. Vertical Man - Inside Rear Cover
Vertical Man - The C.D. Vertical Man - Inside Rear Cover
Vertical Man - Booklet Picture
Top Section of "Vertical Man" Picture
Label Mercury
Catalogue No. 558 598-2
Release date 3rd August 1998
Total time 51:50
U.K. Chart Detail :
Entry Date :15th August 1998
Highest Position :85
Weeks in Chart :1
Detail : Ringo Starr's eleventh official studio album, sixteenth overall and first album release on the Mercury label.
Credited to Ringo Starr
Produced by Mark Hudson and Ringo Starr.
Engineered by Geoff Emerick.

The title "Vertical Man" actually came from a quotation from a book that Ringo's stepdaughter Francesca had won at school. The full quote was, Let's hear it for the vertical man, there's always so much praise for the horizontal one..
Before seeing the quote, originally the album was to be entitled, "Thanks For Comin'".

Recorded at WHATINTHEWHATHE? studios, A & M studios and the Village Recorders L.A.
And in England at The Mill, F.P.S.H.O.T., Air London, Abbey Road, and Sarm Hook End Studios.
Recording took place gradually from February 1997 to February 1998, and once again Ringo managed to get together some great guest performers, including; Paul & George, Brian Wilson, Alanis Morissette, Ozzy Osbourne, Tom Petty and Steve Tyler and others who are all listed in the track list detail below.

Although the final mixing was done on 19th February, Tom Petty had to re-record his vocal part for "Drift Away".
This vocal was actually put on tape at Abbey Road on 2nd May, whilst Tom was singing in L.A., with the recording sent down an ISDN line.
As well as the 13 tracks issued below, four others were recorded which were planned for single B-sides :
"Sometimes", "Mr. Doubleitup", "Everyday", and "Good News".
The German release of this album did include "Mr. Doubleitup", while the Japanese release also included "Everyday".

Even though Ringo carries out a hectic promotion schedule, the C.D. fails to chart (actually reaching no.85 on it's first week of release) and sells barely over 2,000 copies in the U.K. Mercury even pull the plug on the planned single release, which was to be "La De Da", even though the video was included on the "Chart Show" on 4th July.
Geoff Emerick actually described this album as "Ringo's Sgt. Pepper, with 13 number ones on it."

The C.D. "booklet" is not a booklet but is a folded paper, with eight sections. It holds the full lyrics.
The Art direction was by Margery Greenspan, with the design and layout by Sandra Monteparo (and could they possibly have made the detail and writing any smaller ??!!). Artwork was by Ringo and Barbara, and Mark and Barbara. The poster photography was by Adam Weiner and the "Vertical Man" shot was taken by Henry Diltz on Tuesday 14th April 1998 at Ringo's Beverly Hills home.

True love is possible only with understanding.
When there is understanding, compassion is born.

"Life is life ..... this was just a record." - Ringo


Side 1

No. Track Composer Recording Information Time
1 One Starkey-Hudson-Grakal-Dudas Ringo - Lead vocals, drums, bongos and percussion
Steve Dudas - Bass, electric guitar
Mark Hudson - Electric guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
Jeff Baxter - Pedal Steel guitar
Jim Cox - B3 organ
Scott Gordon - Harmonica, percussion
3:02
2 What In The World Starkey-Hudson-Grakal-Dudas Ringo - Lead vocals, drums and percussion
Paul McCartney - Bass, backing vocals
Joe Walsh - Electric guitar (+ the solo)
Steve Dudas - Electric guitar, acoustic guitar
Mark Hudson - Electric guitar, acoustic guitar, percussion, backing vocals
3:29
3 Mindfield Starkey-Hudson-Grakal-Dudas Ringo - Lead vocals, drums, and percussion
Joe Walsh - Electric guitar (+ the solo)
Steve Dudas - Electric guitar, acoustic guitar
Mark Hudson - Bass, Electric guitar, acoustic guitar, synthesiser, backing vocals
Jeff Baxter - Pedal Steel guitar
Jim Cox - B3 organ, cello synth
John Bergamo - Tabla
Star backing Vocals - Steve Tyler, Alanis Morissette
4:07
4 King Of Broken Hearts Starkey-Hudson-Grakal-Dudas Ringo - Lead vocals, drums, and percussion
George Harrison - Slide guitar solo
Steve Dudas - Electric guitar, acoustic guitar
Mark Hudson - Bass, acoustic guitar, keyboard, mellotron, percussion and backing vocals
Jeff Baxter - Pedal Steel guitar
Jim Cox - Wurlitzer
Graham Preskett - String arrangement.
4:44
5 Love Me Do Lennon McCartney Ringo - Lead vocals, drums, percussion, handclaps
Steven Tyler - Harmonica and backing vocals
Steve Dudas - Electric guitar, handclaps
Mark Hudson - Bass, electric guitar, percussion, handclaps and backing vocals
Dean Grakal - Handclaps
Scott Gordon - Handclaps.
3:45
6 Vertical Man Starkey-Hudson-Grakal-Dudas Ringo - Lead vocals, drums, Mellotron, synthesiser strings, and percussion
Ozzy Osbourne - Backing vocals
Steve Dudas - Electric guitar, guitar solo
Mark Hudson - Bass, electric guitar, piano, Mellotron, synthesiser strings, string arrangement and backing vocals
Nina Piaseckyj - Cello
Sarah Hudson - Backing vocals
Barbara Vander Linde - Backing vocals
Jogn Goodwin - Backing vocals
4:42
7 Drift Away Williams Ringo - Vocals, rhythmatic guitar, percussion, tambourine, handclaps
Tom Petty - Vocals
Alanis Morissette - Vocals
Steve Cropper - Electric guitar
Steven Tyler - Drums
Steve Dudas - Bass, handclaps
Mark Hudson - Acoustic guitar, percussion, handclaps and backing vocals
Jim Cox - B3 organ
Scott Gordon - Percussion, handclaps.
Other backing vocals :
  Rose Stone, Lisa Banks, Ollie Woodson, Howard McCrary, Christina Rasch
4:10
8 I Was Walkin' Starkey-Hudson-Grakal Ringo - Lead vocals, drums, keyboard, percussion, handclaps
Paul McCartney - Backing vocals
Alanis Morissette - Backing vocals
Steve Cropper - Electric guitar solo
Steven Tyler - Harmonica, backing vocals
Steve Dudas - Electric guitar
Mark Hudson - Bass, electric guitar, percussion, backing vocals
Jim Cox - Piano, sax synth
Scott Gordon - Percussion
3:21
9 La De Da Starkey-Hudson-Grakal-Dudas Ringo - Lead vocals, drums, percussion, bongos
Paul McCartney - Backing vocals
Steven Tyler - Backing vocals
Joe Walsh - Electric guitar, slide guitar solo, backing vocals
Mark Hudson - Bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
Steve Dudas - Electric guitar, acoustic guitar
Jim Cox - B3 organ
Plus 43 others ! ... of particular mention :
Barbara Bach Starkey, Nils Lofgren, Van Dyke Parks, Lady Marjorie Rufus-Iasaacs, Timothy B. Schmit, and Lee Starkey
5:41
10 Without Understanding Starkey-Hudson-Dudas Ringo - Lead vocals, drums, plastic guitar solo, keyboard, percussion
Brian Wilson - Backing vocals
Mark Hudson - Bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, string synth, backing vocals
Steve Dudas - Electric guitar, electric guitar solo, acoustic guitar
Jim Cox - B3 organ
Scott Gordon - Percussion
John Bergamo - Tabla
Christian Phillippe Quilici - Featured opera vocal
and a gospel choir.
4:22
11 I'll Be Fine Anywhere Starkey-Hudson-Grakal-Dudas Ringo - Lead vocals, drums, percussion
George Harrison - Electric guitar solo, slide guitar solo
Steve Dudas - Bass, electric guitar
Mark Hudson - Electric guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
Jim Cox - Piano
3:41
12 Puppet Starkey-Hudson-Grakal-Dudas Ringo - Lead vocals, drums, percussion
Steve Cropper - Electric guitar, and solo
Mark Hudson - Bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, banjo, percussion, backing vocals
Steve Dudas - Electric guitar
Jim Cox - B3 organ
Joel Peskin - Saxophone
Timothy B. Schmit - Backing vocals
Dave Gibbs - Backing vocals
3:21
13 I'm Yours Starkey-Hudson-Nevin Ringo - Lead vocals
Mark Nevin - Acoustic guitar
Mark Hudson - Acoustic guitar, celeste
George Martin - String arrangement
3:23

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