Ordinary Heroes (album)

Ordinary Heroes is the ninth studio album by the British pop musician Howard Jones, released on 9 November 2009.[2][3] A simpler album production than the previous release Revolution of the Heart was present here. Strings and piano dominate, and while there are some upbeat tracks, the album has a mellow, mature atmosphere. Some of the tracks were performed with the Morrison Orpheus Choir in St David's Hall in Cardiff at a special one off gig.

Ordinary Heroes
Studio album by Howard Jones
Released	9 November 2009
Genre	Pop
Length	41:57
Label	DTox
Producer	Robbie Bronnimann
Howard Jones chronology
Live in Birkenhead (2007) Ordinary Heroes (2009) Engage (2015)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

Track listing

• Standard Version

1. "Straight Ahead" (Howard Jones, Cori Josias) – 4:13
2. "Say It Like You Mean It" (Jones, Josias) – 3:35
3. "Someone You Need" (Jones, Duncan Sheik, Martha Schuyler Thompson) – 3:31
4. "Collective Heartbeat" (Jones) – 3:48
5. "Fight On" (Jones) – 4:06
6. "Even If I Don't Say" (Jones, Josias) – 3:50
7. "Ordinary Heroes" (Jones, Josias) – 4:33
8. "You Knew Us So Well" (Jones) – 4:55
9. "Love Never Wasted" (Jones) – 4:48
10. "Soon You'll Go" (Jones, Josias) – 4:38

A limited edition 2CD pack was sold exclusively by Jones' website. The second disc included piano and vocal versions of each track from the standard album, plus two additional songs.[4]

• Bonus Disc

1. "Straight Ahead"
2. "Say It Like You Mean It"
3. "Someone You Need"
4. "Collective Heartbeat"
5. "Fight On"
6. "Even If I Don't Say"
7. "Ordinary Heroes"
8. "You Knew Us So Well"
9. "Love Never Wasted"
10. "Soon You'll Go"
11. "Your Heart Has Won" (Jones) - 3:47
12. "Love Never Wasted (Revisited)" - 4:57

Personnel

• Howard Jones – Steinway piano, lead vocals, musical arrangements, string arrangements
• Robin Boult – guitar
• Martin Cohen – bass
• Jonathan Atkitson – drums
• Vicky Matthews – cello
• Racheal Robson – viola
• Deborah White – 1st violin
• Natalia Bonner – 2nd violin
• Ty Unwin – additional strings on "Soon You'll Go"
• Fiona Brice – string arrangements, conductor
• Daniel Pierce – backing vocals
• Morriston Orpheus Choir – choir on "Soon You'll Go"
• Joy Amman Davies – choir conductor

Production

• Produced, recorded and mixed by Robbie Bronniman.
• Recorded at Robot Studios and Level View Studio (Somerset, England).
• Strings recorded by Matthew Lawrence at Assault & Battery and Metropolis Studio (London, England).
• Choir recorded by Stephen W. Taylor in Swansea, Wales.
• Album Artwork – Hush Creative

References

1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Howard Jones – Ordinary Heroes". AllMusic.
2. Services, Eazyweb Internet. "Howard Jones records with the Orpheus :: Morriston Orpheus Choir". www.morristonorpheus.com.
3. "Swansea: The latest news, sport, what's on and business from Swansea and Gower". www.thisissouthwales.co.uk.
4. "Howard Jones - Ordinary Heroes". Discogs.