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Arriving in 2018, The Last King of Pop collects 21 songs from the first three decades of Paul Heaton's recording career, including his time with the beloved U.K. alternative pop bands the Housemartins and the Beautiful South, and through his third album with Jacqui Abbott (2017's Crooked Calypso). To sweeten the pot, it also includes two newly recorded tracks. Known for his playful, very often sardonic lyrics, the songwriter seems to poke fun at himself here, opening a record with such a self-aggrandizing title with a song that features someone else on lead, the Jacqui Abbott vehicle "I Gotta Praise." Taking the form of a career-long playlist set on shuffle, from there the collection alternates between decades and projects, with no one incarnation of Heaton appearing back-to-back until the final two exclusive tracks. Necessarily omitting fan favorites with dozens of charting singles under his belt and limited slots here, the Housemartins selections include the hit "Happy Hour" but not their U.K. number one "Caravan of Love." In the case of the Beautiful South, it does include Top Three hits like the group's 1989 debut single "Song for Whoever" and 1998's "Perfect 10," though their sole number one, "A Little Time," while present, takes the form of a re-recorded version with Abbott replacing Briana Corrigan. The song is also transformed from a country-inflected conversation to a rollicking '50s rock ditty. The Heaton-Abbott duets from the 2010s are well-represented, making up more than a third of the track list. Not technically a greatest hits, or even very representative of his career, The Last King of Pop includes only one song from Heaton's three solo albums ("Poems" is taken from 2001's Fat Chance, which was recorded under the alias Biscuit Boy). However, what becomes clear and even emphasized by its jaunty final track, the original song "7" Singles," is that it was curated with an emphasis on "pop." As a set of uptempo Heaton songs that leaves the more poignant and sparer tunes behind, this one's a pleaser, with no harm done setting it on shuffle.
© Marcy Donelson /TiVo
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Ash Howes, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Heaton, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Guy Davie, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Owen Williams, Producer - Pete Marshall, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Large, Keyboards, Hammond Organ, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Gary Hammond, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Marcus Walker, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Watts, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jacqui Abbott, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jonny Lexus, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Scully, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Wise, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Jamie Ross-Robson, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2018 Virgin EMI Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Dave Rotheray, ComposerLyricist - Paul Heaton, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jon Kelly, Producer - JOHN BROUGH, Producer, Additional Producer - The Beautiful South, MainArtist - David Rotheray, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Sean Welch, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - David Stead, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jacqui Abbott, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1996 Go! Discs Ltd.
Zoe Johnston, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Heaton, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Richard Flack, Producer, Additional Producer - Scott Shields, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Martin Slattery, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2001 Go! Discs Ltd.
Norman Cook, Bass Guitar, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Heaton, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - John Williams, Producer - Phil Bodger, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ian Peter Cullimore, ComposerLyricist - The Housemartins, MainArtist - Stan Cullimore, Guitar, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Hugh Whitaker, Drums, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1986 Go! Discs Ltd.
Paul Heaton, String Arranger, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Cenzo Townshend, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - John Owen Williams, Producer - Pete Marshall, String Arranger, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Liz Hanks, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Large, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Beer, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - James Mottershead, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jacqui Abbott, MainArtist - Jonny Lexus, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jacqueline Abbott, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - John Purton, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Wise, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Natalie Purton, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Corey Moore, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Blair Goddard, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2014 Virgin EMI Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Dave Rotheray, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Paul Heaton, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jon Kelly, Producer - JOHN BROUGH, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Beautiful South, MainArtist - Dave Stead, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Sean Welch, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Jacqui Abbott, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - The Magic Pumpkin, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1994 Go! Discs Ltd.
Norman Cook, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Paul Heaton, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - John Williams, Producer - Ian Peter Cullimore, ComposerLyricist - The Housemartins, Producer, MainArtist - Stan Cullimore, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1987 Go! Discs Ltd.
Dave Rotheray, ComposerLyricist - Paul Heaton, ComposerLyricist - Jon Kelly, Producer - JOHN BROUGH, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - The Beautiful South, MainArtist - The Magic Pumpkin, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1994 Go! Discs Ltd.
Paul Heaton, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Cenzo Townshend, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - John Owen Williams, Producer - Ben Dixon, Brass Band, AssociatedPerformer - Pete Marshall, Drums, Glockenspiel, Mandolin, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Large, Co-Arranger, Keyboards, Conductor/Piano, AssociatedPerformer - James Mottershead, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sam Jackson, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jacqui Abbott, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jonny Lexus, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Hobbins, Brass Band, AssociatedPerformer - Jamie Cooper, Brass Band, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Gledhill, Brass Band, AssociatedPerformer - Vicky Kennedy, Brass Band, AssociatedPerformer - Miles Davison, Brass Band, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Cavanagh, Brass Band, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Gomersall, Brass Band, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Windle, Brass Band, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Dodd, Brass Band, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Wise, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 2014 Virgin EMI Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Michael Hedges, Producer - Dave Rotheray, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Paul Heaton, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ian Grimble, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Beautiful South, MainArtist - Dave Stead, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Sean Welch, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Dave Hemingway, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Briana Corrigan, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1989 Go! Discs Ltd.
Paul Heaton, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Guy Davie, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cenzo Townshend, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - John Owen Williams, Producer - Pete Marshall, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Large, Keyboards, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Gary Hammond, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Yvonne Shelton, Clapping, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Colin Williams, Clapping, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Sam Jackson, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jacqui Abbott, MainArtist - Jonny Lexus, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jacqueline Abbott, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Wise, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - George Priestly, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mica Townshend, Clapping, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ella Bridge, Clapping, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 Virgin EMI Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Norman Cook, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Paul Heaton, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - John Williams, Producer - Ian Peter Cullimore, ComposerLyricist - The Housemartins, Producer, MainArtist - Ted Key, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Stan Cullimore, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Hugh Whitaker, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1987 Go! Discs Ltd.
Dave Rotheray, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Paul Heaton, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - JOHN BROUGH, Producer, Additional Producer - JOHN KELLY, Producer - The Beautiful South, MainArtist - Dave Stead, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Sean Welch, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Dave Hemingway, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Jacqui Abbott, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1996 Go! Discs Ltd.
Ash Howes, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Heaton, Vocals, Horn Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Guy Davie, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Owen Williams, Producer - Pete Marshall, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Large, Keyboards, Hammond Organ, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Gary Hammond, Percussion, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Marcus Walker, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Watts, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jacqui Abbott, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jonny Lexus, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Scully, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Wise, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Jamie Ross-Robson, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kat Curlett, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Gavin Hibberd, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Sam Healey, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Richard McVeigh, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2018 Virgin EMI Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Dave Rotheray, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Paul Heaton, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jon Kelly, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - JOHN BROUGH, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Beautiful South, MainArtist - Dave Stead, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Sean Welch, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Hemingway, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Brianna Corrigan, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1991 Go! Discs Ltd.
Norman Cook, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Paul Heaton, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jeffrey Wood, Producer - Ian Peter Cullimore, ComposerLyricist - Anthony Matthew Key, ComposerLyricist - The Housemartins, MainArtist - Ted Key, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Stan Cullimore, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Hugh Whitaker, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1985 Go! Discs Ltd.
Paul Heaton, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Cenzo Townshend, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - John Owen Williams, Producer - Pete Marshall, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Large, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - James Mottershead, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jacqui Abbott, MainArtist - Jonny Lexus, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jacqueline Abbott, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Wise, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Corey Moore, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Blair Goddard, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2014 Virgin EMI Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Roddy Lorimer, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Sanders, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Simon Clarke, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Rotheray, ComposerLyricist - Paul Heaton, Producer, Mixer, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Jon Kelly, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - JOHN BROUGH, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Annie Whitehead, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Weller, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - The Beautiful South, MainArtist - David Rotheray, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Damon Butcher, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Gary Hammond, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Sean Welch, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - David Stead, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jacqueline Abbott, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1998 Go! Discs Ltd.
Tim Thomas, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Heaton, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Guy Davie, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cenzo Townshend, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - John Owen Williams, Producer - Pete Marshall, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Large, Keyboards, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Gary Hammond, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - James Mottershead, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sam Jackson, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jacqui Abbott, MainArtist - Jonny Lexus, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Jacqueline Abbott, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - John Purton, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Elizabeth Hanks, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Wise, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Natalie Purton, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - George Priestly, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kay Stephen, Viola, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2018 Virgin EMI Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Michael Hedges, Producer - Dave Rotheray, ComposerLyricist - Paul Heaton, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ian Grimble, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Beautiful South, MainArtist - Dave Stead, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Sean Welch, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Dave Hemingway, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Briana Corrigan, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1989 Go! Discs Ltd.
Ash Howes, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Rotheray, ComposerLyricist - Paul Heaton, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Guy Davie, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Owen Williams, Producer - Pete Marshall, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Evans, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shannon Harris, Keyboards, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Jacqui Abbott, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jonny Lexus, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Scully, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Wise, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 2018 Virgin EMI Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Ash Howes, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Heaton, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Guy Davie, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Owen Williams, Producer - Pete Marshall, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Evans, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shannon Harris, Keyboards, Piano, Bongos, AssociatedPerformer - Jacqui Abbott, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jonny Lexus, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Scully, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Wise, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Kat Curlett, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Joshua Poole, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Berry, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2018 Virgin EMI Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Album review
Arriving in 2018, The Last King of Pop collects 21 songs from the first three decades of Paul Heaton's recording career, including his time with the beloved U.K. alternative pop bands the Housemartins and the Beautiful South, and through his third album with Jacqui Abbott (2017's Crooked Calypso). To sweeten the pot, it also includes two newly recorded tracks. Known for his playful, very often sardonic lyrics, the songwriter seems to poke fun at himself here, opening a record with such a self-aggrandizing title with a song that features someone else on lead, the Jacqui Abbott vehicle "I Gotta Praise." Taking the form of a career-long playlist set on shuffle, from there the collection alternates between decades and projects, with no one incarnation of Heaton appearing back-to-back until the final two exclusive tracks. Necessarily omitting fan favorites with dozens of charting singles under his belt and limited slots here, the Housemartins selections include the hit "Happy Hour" but not their U.K. number one "Caravan of Love." In the case of the Beautiful South, it does include Top Three hits like the group's 1989 debut single "Song for Whoever" and 1998's "Perfect 10," though their sole number one, "A Little Time," while present, takes the form of a re-recorded version with Abbott replacing Briana Corrigan. The song is also transformed from a country-inflected conversation to a rollicking '50s rock ditty. The Heaton-Abbott duets from the 2010s are well-represented, making up more than a third of the track list. Not technically a greatest hits, or even very representative of his career, The Last King of Pop includes only one song from Heaton's three solo albums ("Poems" is taken from 2001's Fat Chance, which was recorded under the alias Biscuit Boy). However, what becomes clear and even emphasized by its jaunty final track, the original song "7" Singles," is that it was curated with an emphasis on "pop." As a set of uptempo Heaton songs that leaves the more poignant and sparer tunes behind, this one's a pleaser, with no harm done setting it on shuffle.
© Marcy Donelson /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 23 track(s)
- Total length: 01:19:25
- Main artists: Paul Heaton
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: EMI
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2018 Universal Music Operations Limited This Compilation ℗ 2018 Universal Music Operations Limited
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