The Ups and Downs (album)

The Ups and Downs
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 1985
StudioThe Manor, Shipton-on-Cherwell, Oxfordshire; Fallout Shelter, Hammersmith, London
GenrePop[1][2]
Label10 Records
Producer
Stephen Duffy chronology
The Ups and Downs
(1985)
Because We Love You
(1986)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

The Ups and Downs is the debut album by the English singer/songwriter Stephen Duffy (released under the name Stephen "Tin Tin" Duffy). It was released in April 1985 and reached No. 35 on the UK Albums Chart.[3]

It includes the UK No. 4 single, "Kiss Me", a solo re-recording of a song originally recorded with his earlier band, Tin Tin.[3] A second single from the album, "The Icing on the Cake" reached #14 in the UK.[3] Although further singles from the album were released, none charted within the top 75.[3]

During a 2008 interview to promote its expanded CD reissue, Duffy commented that "I never liked The Ups and Downs. I enjoyed mixing with Stephen Street and making 'The Icing on the Cake' but the rest of it is just a mess."[2]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Stephen Duffy; except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Kiss Me" 3:54
2."She Makes Me Quiver" 3:44
3."A Masterpiece" 5:36
4."But Is It Art?"
  • Duffy
  • Robert "Joad" Gannon
3:48
5."Wednesday Jones" 2:12
6."Icing on the Cake" 5:12
7."The Darkest Blues" 3:21
8."Be There" 3:30
9."Believe in Me" 4:26
10."The World at Large Alone" 3:45

Personnel

  • Stephen "Tin Tin" Duffy - vocals
  • Guy Pratt, Eluriel "Tinker" Barfield, David Levy - bass
  • Andy Richards, Danny Schogger - keyboards
  • Charley Charles - drums
  • Toni Childs - vocals on "Kiss Me"
  • Booker T. Jones - piano on "Wednesday Jones"
  • Leroy Williams - percussion on "Icing on the Cake"
  • Roger Freeman - trombone
  • Chris Dean, Steve Sidwell - brass on "The World at Large Alone"
  • Robert "Joad" Gannon, Jane Eugene, Julie Roberts, Gary Osborne - backing vocals
  • Nicky Holland - string arrangement

References

  1. ^ a b Badgley, Aaron. "The Ups and Downs – Stephen Duffy". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  2. ^ a b "STEPHEN DUFFY INTERVIEW [2008]". thisisnotretro.com. 2008. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d Roberts, David, ed. (2005). British Hit Singles & Albums (18 ed.). Guinness World Records. p. 162. ISBN 1-904994-00-8.