Big City Secrets

Big City Secrets
Studio album by Joseph Arthur
Released	March 11, 1997
Recorded	Real World Studios, England
Genre	Alternative Rock
Length	55:47
Label	Real World Records
Producer	Markus Dravs
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link
Joseph Arthur chronology
Cut and Blind EP (1996) Big City Secrets (1997) Vacancy (EP) (1999)

Big City Secrets is the first studio album by Joseph Arthur, released by Real World Records on March 11, 1997. Peter Gabriel and Brian Eno contribute backing vocals on the song "Mercedes."

Track listing

1. "Big City Secret" - 4:37
2. "Mercedes" - 6:18
3. "Mikel K" - 3:54
4. "Good About Me" - 4:58
5. "Daddy's on Prozac" - 4:05
6. "Marina" - 4:03
7. "Birthday Card" - 5:36
8. "Crying Like a Man" - 6:16
9. "Porcupine" - 4:42
10. "Dessert" - 1:05
11. "Haunted Eyes" - 4:44
12. "Bottle of You" - 5:29

Artists

• Joseph Arthur: Guitars, Vocals - all tracks, Harmonica - track 2, Highly-Strung bass - track 5.
• Ron Aslan: Drum loop - track 7.
• Roger Beaujolais: Vibes - track 1.
• Martyn Barker: Treated Tubular Kit - track 1, Drums - track 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, Caxixi - track 4, Military Snare - track 7, Bondage Snare - track 8, Scaffolphoneum - track 9, Birimbau - track 11, Cow Gong - track 11, Percussion - track 12.
• Markus Dravs: Keyboard instruments - track 1, Desert Storm - track 1, Gravel Percussion - track 1, Corn Horn - track 2, Drum Programming - track 4, 7, 9, Lesley Accordion - track 7, Low Drum - track 8, Sheet Percussion - track 8.
• Nigel Eaton: Hurdy gurdy - track 3.
• Simon Edwards: bass - all tracks, Piano - track 4, Coal Bass - track 7, Additional Guitars - track 7, String Fossil Bass - track 8, Maze Bass - track 9, Sas - track 9, Birimbau - track 11, Mellotron - track 11, Persian Fretless - track 11, Filter Bass - track 12, Harmonic Missiles - track 12.
• Brian Eno: Backing vocals - track 2.
• Peter Gabriel: Backing vocals - track 2.
• Nick Plytas: Mellotron - track 7.
• Ashley Slater: Trombone - track 6, 8.

Credits

• Produced by Markus Dravs (c/o Fundamental Music)
• Engineered and digitally edited by Ben Findlay
• Mixed by Markus Dravs with Ben Findlay
• Additional engineers Justin Griffith, Lee Phillips, Lee Fitzgerald, Mark Aubury
• Additional editors Crispin Murray, Paul Morris
• Recorded and mixed at Real World Studios, England.
• Additional venues Swanyard Studios, Eascote Studios, Berwick Street Studios in England; Shelter Island Studios in New York.
• Brian Eno appears courtesy of Opal Ltd.
• Peter Gabriel appears courtesy of Peter Gabriel Ltd/Real World Records Ltd/Geffen Records and Virgin Records Ltd.
• All songs written and composed by Joseph Arthur.
• A Real World Design
• Graphic Design by Tristan Manco
• Photography by Michele Turriani (front and back of booklet)
• Anna Gabriel (inlay & CD label).
• Paintings & drawings by Joseph Arthur
• all tracks published by Real World Music Ltd/EMI Virgin Music Ltd
• Special thanks to Harvey Schwarts, Rob Bozas, and Peter Gabriel

Trivia

Background vocals on the second track, "Mercedes," were provided by Peter Gabriel (founder of Real World Records) and Brian Eno.

External links

• Official Album Page.
• Big City Secrets at allmusic.com.
• Big City Secrets at amazon.com.