Merseybeast

Merseybeast
Studio album by
Ian McNabb
Released19 April 1996
Recorded1996
VenueKing's College, London
StudioRockfield Studios; Swanyard Studios, Islington, London; Parr Street Studios, Liverpool
GenrePop rock[1]
Length69:27
LabelThis Way Up
ProducerRobert Ian McNabb, Bruce Lampcov, Pete Schwier
Ian McNabb chronology
Head Like a Rock
(1994) 		Merseybeast
(1996) 		A Party Political Broadcast on Behalf of the Emotional Party
(1998)
Singles from Merseybeast
  1. "Don't Put Your Spell on Me"
    Released: April 1996
  2. "Merseybeast"
    Released: May 1996

Merseybeast is an album by Ian McNabb, his third as a solo artist. The name is a play on "Merseybeat", a 1960s musical genre and movement. Merseybeast is also the title of Ian McNabb's autobiography, published in 2008. A second CD entitled North West Coast was also released in limited quantities.[2] The album peaked at No. 30 on the official UK charts.[3]

Critical reception

Roch Parisien of Allmusic praised McNabb's "open, wide-eyed innocence" on the album, remarking that the sentiments expressed in the songs defy the conventions of rock music, and that his sincerity makes them work. The site gave Merseybeast a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5.[1]

Track listings

All tracks composed by Ian McNabb, except where indicated.

  1. "Merseybeast" (6:44)
  2. "Affirmation" (3:33)
  3. "Beautiful Old Mystery" (4:10)
  4. "Love's Young Dream" (4:33)
  5. "Camaraderie" (4:17)
  6. "Don't Put Your Spell on Me" (5:38)
  7. "Heydays" (5:45)
  8. "Little Bit of Magic" (4:54)
  9. "You Stone My Soul" (6:16)
  10. "Too Close to the Sun" (3:47)
  11. "They Settled for Less Than They Wanted" (7:20)
  12. "I'm a Genius" (4:19)
  13. "Available Light" (6:20)
  14. "Merseybeast (reprise)" (1:51)
North West Coast (Live bonus CD)
  1. "What She Did to My Mind" (7:26)
  2. "Evangeline" (6:29)
  3. "I Don't Want to Talk About It" (Danny Whitten) (6:15)
  4. "When It All Comes Down" (8:18)
  5. "Understanding Jane" (4:08)
  6. "Pushin' Too Hard" (Sky Saxon) (7:16)

Personnel

  • Ian McNabb - vocals, guitar, Moog synthesizer, piano, bass, harmonica, autoharp
  • Russell Milton - bass
  • Don Richardson - double bass
  • Henry Priestman - Hammond B3 organ, backing vocals
  • Daniel Strittmatter - drums
  • Preston Heyman - percussion
  • Andrew Findon - flute
  • Nick Warren - programming
  • Craig Leon - conductor, strings
  • Cassell Webb - conductor, strings
  • Billy Talbot - bass. backing vocals on North West Coast
  • Ralph Molina - drums, backing vocals on North West Coast
  • Nick Warren - keyboards on North West Coast
  • Mike Hamilton - rhythm guitar, backing vocals on North West Coast

Sources

  1. ^ a b "Merseybeast - Ian McNabb - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  2. ^ "Ian McNabb". Merseybeasts. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  3. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 341. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.