Ordinary Heroes (album)

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Ordinary Heroes
Studio album by
Released9 November 2009
GenrePop
Length41:57
LabelDTox
ProducerRobbie Bronnimann
Howard Jones chronology
Live in Birkenhead
(2007)
Ordinary Heroes
(2009)
Engage
(2015)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Ordinary Heroes is the ninth studio album by the British pop musician Howard Jones, released on 9 November 2009.[2][3] 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[edit]

  • 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.[4]

  • 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[edit]

  • 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[edit]

  • 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

References[edit]

  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Howard Jones – Ordinary Heroes". AllMusic.
  2. ^ Services, Eazyweb Internet. "Howard Jones records with the Orpheus :: Morriston Orpheus Choir". morristonorpheus.com.
  3. ^ "Swansea: The latest news, sport, what's on and business from Swansea and Gower". thisissouthwales.co.uk.
  4. ^ "Howard Jones - Ordinary Heroes". Discogs.