1989 China Crisis – Diary Of A Hollow Horse

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Released in May 1989, Diary of a Hollow Horse is the fifth studio album by the English new wave group China Crisis. It is widely regarded as one of their most musically mature and sophisticated works. The album reunites the band with producer Walter Becker (of Steely Dan), who produced eight of the 11 tracks. Virgin Records sought a more “commercial” sound for potential singles. Consequently, they had producer Mike Thorne re-record and remix three tracks, including “St. Saviour Square” and “Red Letter Day”. It peaked at #58 on the UK Albums Chart

Tracks

1  St. Saviour Square (Gary Daly; Gary Johnson; Eddie Lundon; Brian McNeill; Kevin Wilkinson) 03:38
2  Stranger By Nature (Gary Daly; Gary Johnson; Eddie Lundon; Brian McNeill; Kevin Wilkinson) 03:56
3  Sweet Charity In Adoration (Gary Daly; Gary Johnson; Eddie Lundon; Brian McNeill; Kevin Wilkinson) 04:52
4  Day After Day (Gary Daly; Gary Johnson; Eddie Lundon; Brian McNeill; Kevin Wilkinson) 05:06
5  Diary Of A Hollow Horse (Gary Daly; Gary Johnson; Eddie Lundon; Brian McNeill; Kevin Wilkinson) 03:15
6  Red Letter Day (Gary Daly; Gary Johnson; Eddie Lundon; Brian McNeill; Kevin Wilkinson) 04:37
7  In Northern Skies (Gary Daly; Gary Johnson; Eddie Lundon; Brian McNeill; Kevin Wilkinson) 05:01
8  Singing The Praises Of Finer Things (Gary Daly; Gary Johnson; Eddie Lundon; Brian McNeill; Kevin Wilkinson) 05:21
9  All My Prayers (Gary Daly; Gary Johnson; Eddie Lundon; Brian McNeill; Kevin Wilkinson) 04:05
10  Age Old Need (Gary Daly; Gary Johnson; Eddie Lundon; Brian McNeill; Kevin Wilkinson) 03:21
11  Back Home (Gary Daly; Gary Johnson; Eddie Lundon; Brian McNeill; Kevin Wilkinson) 03:55

The Band

Bass Gazza Johnson
Drums Kevin Wilkinson
Guitar Eddie Lundon
Acoustic Guitar Eddie Lundon
Bouzouki Kevin Wilkinson
Keyboards Brian McNeill
Marimba Brian McNeill
Percussion Kevin Wilkinson
Background Vocals Eddie Lundon
Background Vocals Brian McNeill
Vocals Gary Daly

Other Musicians

2 Stranger By Nature

Guitar Tim Weston
Flute Martin Green
Sax Martin Green


3 Sweet Charity In Adoration

Acoustic Guitar Tim Weston
Flute  Jim Horn
Percussion Paulinho Da Costa
Background Vocals Angie Jaree
Background Vocals Myrna Matthews
Background Vocals Linda Harmon


4 Day After Day

Guitar Tim Weston
Guitar Walter Becker
Keyboards Robbie Buchanan
Sax Jim Horn
Background Vocals Connie Reed


5 Diary Of A Hollow Horse

Guitar Tim Weston
Synthesizer Walter Becker
Sax Jim Horn
Background Vocals Myrna Matthews
Background Vocals Maxine Willard Waters
Background Vocals Linda Harmon


7 In Northern Skies

Guitar Tim Weston


8 Singing The Praises Of Finer Things

Guitar Tim Weston
Piano Robbie Buchanan
Background Vocals Myrna Matthews
Background Vocals Maxine Willard Waters
Background Vocals Linda Harmon


11 Back Home

Guitar Tim Weston
Background Vocals Connie Reed

 

Liner Notes

Producer – Mike Thorne (Tracks 1, 6, 9)
Producer – Walter Becker (Tracks 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11)
Producer – China Crisis (Track 2)
Arranged By – China Crisis
Engineered By – Carl Beatty, Mark Phythian, Roger Nichols
Engineered By (Assistant) – Dave Russell, Robbie Hart, Val Ghent
Mastered By – Mike Reese

Art Direction – Gary Daly, Gary Wathen
Design – Icon
Photography – Spencer Rowell

Mastered At The Town House
Recorded At Pure Sound, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii
Recorded At Village Recorder, LA
Recorded At Townhouse 3, London
Recorded At Sigma Sound Studios, NY
Recorded At Stereo Society, NY
Recorded At Amazon Studios, Liverpool
Phonographic Copyright Virgin Records Ltd
Copyright Virgin Records Ltd