In the Running [Clear Vinyl]

Personnel: Howard Jones (vocals, piano, keyboards, synthesizer, drums); Midge Ure, David Lindley, Neil Taylor, Steve Farris, Dean Parkslead, Andy Ross, Robbie Mcintosh, Dean Parks (guitar); Kevin Robinson (trumpet); Jai Winding (keyboards, Moog bass); Ian Stanley (keyboards); Richie Hayward, Chris Hughes, Ross Cullum (drums); Mark Brzezicki, Sam Clayton, Luis Conte (percussion); Carol Kenyon, Tessa Niles (background vocals).
Recorded at The Shed, Maidenhead, England and A&M Studios, Hollywood, California between September 1990 and September 1991.
1992's IN THE RUNNING is something of a departure for Howard Jones, a more experimental album than previous commercial work like 1985's DREAM INTO ACTION and 1989's CROSS THAT LINE. Co-produced by Jones and drummer Ross Cullum of Tears For Fears, who also co-wrote four of the album's ten songs, the album is sonically akin to the multilayered arrangements of Tears For Fears' THE SEEDS OF LOVE, only with less ponderous lyrics and more satisfying melodies. The results are akin to '70s keyboard rock gems like Elton John's GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD or Todd Rundgren's poppier albums with Utopia. Stretching out the structures--nearly half the album's songs run over five minutes--without inserting pointless jams, Jones and Cullum, helped out by members of Big Country, the Pretenders and Ultravox plus guitarist extraordinaire David Lindley, have crafted a mature, impressive work.