The Riddle (album)

The Riddle is the second studio album by the English singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw. It was originally released in November 1984, on the label MCA.

The Riddle
Studio album by Nik Kershaw
Released	19 November 1984
Recorded	1984
Studio	Sarm East Studios, London
Genre	Synth-pop[1][2] jazz[2] new wave
Length	42:32
Label	MCA
Producer	Peter Collins
Nik Kershaw chronology
Human Racing (1984) The Riddle (1984) Radio Musicola (1986)
Singles from The Riddle
"The Riddle" Released: November 1984 "Wide Boy" Released: March 1985 "Don Quixote" Released: August 1985

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Billboard	favourable[3]
Džuboks	favourable[4]
Record Mirror	[5]
Rolling Stone	[2]
Smash Hits	[6]

On release, the album was received favourably by the majority of music critics. It went on to peak at #8 on the UK Albums Chart and reached #39 on the Australian ARIA Charts. The album launched three charting singles in the UK. "The Riddle" peaked at #3 on the UK Singles Chart; "Wide Boy" at #9; "Don Quixote" at #10. The album was certified platinum by the BPI.

The album was re-released on 9 August 2013 on Universal's Re-presents imprint featuring rare bonus content. The reissue is a 2-CD set with the original album digitally remastered from the original 1/2" mix tapes; the bonus content consists of associated B-sides, 12" mixes, and live versions of the songs featured on the album.

Cover artwork

The album's cover photograph was shot on Chesil Beach in Dorset. On the back sleeve of the album, the Isle of Portland is seen in the background.[7] Additionally, the single release of the title song "The Riddle" used the same image of Kershaw on the beach, whilst the back sleeve featured a photograph of Kershaw reading a map, standing at Portland Bill. The Trinity House Obelisk is highlighted in the photograph.[8]

Critical reception

Smash Hits gave the album a mostly positive review calling it "a commendable offering from the thinking man's Limahl".[6] Reviewing retrospectively for AllMusic, critic Scott Bultman wrote of the album "Kershaw's second album finally garnered some deserved attention. The rest is his unique style of well-crafted synth-pop."[1]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Nik Kershaw.

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Don Quixote"	4:55
2.	"Know How"	4:52
3.	"You Might"	3:17
4.	"Wild Horses"	3:59
5.	"Easy"	4:13

Side two

No.	Title	Length
6.	"The Riddle"	3:52
7.	"City of Angels"	3:56
8.	"Roses"	3:58
9.	"Wide Boy"	3:28
10.	"Save the Whale"	6:02
Total length:		42:32

US release

The US edition of the album reordered the track listing and substituted the already-released hit "Wouldn't It Be Good" for "City of Angels." Side one No. Title Length 1. "The Riddle" 3:52 2. "Know How" 4:49 3. "You Might" 3:13 4. "Don Quixote" 4:57 5. "Easy" 4:12 Side two No. Title Length 6. "Wouldn't It Be Good" 4:10 7. "Wide Boy" 3:19 8. "Wild Horses" 3:58 9. "Roses" 3:25 10. "Save the Whale" 5:57

Bonus tracks on 2012 release

The track listing of the second disc is:[9] No. Title Length 1. "Roses (Live)" 4:43 2. "The Riddle (Extended 12" Remix)" 5:09 3. "Know How (Live)" 4:53 4. "Don Quixote (Extra Special Long Mix)" 8:42 5. "City Of Angels (Live)" 3:57 6. "So Quiet" 3:11 7. "Wild Horses (Live)" 3:57 8. "Wide Boy (Extended 12" Remix)" 5:08 9. "You Might (Live)" 3:28 10. "Don't Lie" 3:52 11. "Save The Whale (Live)" 6:04 All of the live tracks were recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon on 31 December 1984.[10] The website "Super Deluxe Edition" noted that the second disc had some notable absences, specifically "Progress (Live)", which was the B-side of "The Riddle", an extended mix of "Wild Horses", which had been on the 12" version of "When a Heart Beats", and the single edits of "Wide Boy" and "Don Quixote".[10] Kershaw defended the omissions,[11] calling "Progress" "...a dodgy performance of a mediocre song, badly recorded". Of the "Wild Horses" extended mix, he commented: The 12" "Remix" of Wild Horses was never any such thing. It was cobbled together by MCA whilst I was away on tour and without my knowledge. It was created by editing together sections from the half inch master of the backing track with the half inch master of the album version. No "Remixing" whatsoever was involved and, as such, I considered it pointless, a fraud and not worthy of a place on this album. He also noted that his choice of material was limited as master copies of certain items had gone missing in the intervening years.

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[12]

• Nik Kershaw – lead vocals and backing vocals, electric guitars, synthesizers and sequencer
• Paul Wickens – sampler Fairlight CMI and drum machine Oberheim DMX
• Tim Moore – synthesizers and piano on "So Quiet"
• Andy Richards – synthesizers
• Charlie Morgan – drums
• Dennis Smith – bass
• Stuart Curtis – horns
• Dave Land – horns
• Pandit Dinesh – percussions
• Sheri Kershaw – lead vocals and backing vocals on "Don't Lie"
• Don Snow – backing vocals
• Mark King – bass on "Easy"

Production team

• Peter Collins – producer
• Julian Mendelsohn – engineer
• Dave Meegan – assistant engineer
• Greg Fulginiti – mastering

Live personnel (2013 re-release)

• Nik Kershaw – vocals; guitar; keyboards
• Keith Airey – guitar; keyboards; backing vocals
• Tim Moore – keyboards; backing vocals
• Mark Price – drums
• Dennis Smith – bass guitar
• Gary Wallis – percussion

Chart performance

Chart (1984)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[13]	39
Canadian Albums Chart[14]	45
German Albums Chart[15]	12
New Zealand Albums Chart[16]	8
Norwegian Albums Chart[17]	5
Swedish Albums Chart[18]	11
Swiss Albums Chart[19]	23
UK Albums Chart[20]	8
US Billboard 200[21]	113

References

1. Bultman, Scott. "Nik Kershaw – The Riddle". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
2. Henke, James (5 May 1985). "Lone Justice Proves They Are More Than Hype". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
3. Billboard magazine - Reviews: albums - 30 March 1985 - page 72
4. "Nik Kershaw – The Riddle". Džuboks (in Serbian) (194 (second series)): 14.
5. Gardner, Mike (24 November 1984). "Albums". Record Mirror. 31 (48): 20.
6. Sheaff, Claire (22 November 1984). "Album Reviews". Smash Hits. 6 (24): 25.
7. "Images for Nik Kershaw - The Riddle". Discogs.com. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
8. "Nik Kershaw - The Riddle / Progress - MCA - UK - NIK 6". 45cat. 17 March 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
9. "Nik Kershaw To Release Expanded Reissue Of 'The Riddle'". thisisnotretro.com. 5 July 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
10. "Nik Kershaw: The Riddle - Deluxe Edition Track Listing". www.superdeluxeedition.com. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
11. "Nik responds to The Riddle deluxe bonus track selection comments". www.nikkershaw.net. 12 July 2013. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
12. The Riddle liner notes. MCA Records. 1984.
13. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 165. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
14. "Bienvenue au site Web Bibliothèque et Archives Canada / Welcome to the Library and Archives Canada website". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 30 March 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
15. "Charts-Surfer". Charts-surfer.de. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
16. Steffen Hung. "New Zealand charts portal". charts.nz. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
17. Steffen Hung (15 June 2006). "Norwegian charts portal". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
18. Steffen Hung. "Swedish Charts Portal". swedishcharts.com. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
19. Steffen Hung. "Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade und Music Community". swisscharts.com. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
20. http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/21164/nik-kershaw/
21. "Music News, Reviews, Articles, Information, News Online & Free Music". Billboard.com. Retrieved 7 January 2012.

External links

• The Riddle at Discogs (list of releases)
• The Riddle at AllMusic