''Shove It'' is the debut album by UK rock band

the Cross The Christian cross, seen as representing the crucifixion of Jesus, is a religious symbol, symbol of Christianity. It is related to the crucifix, a cross that includes a ''corpus'' (a representation of Jesus' body, usually three-dimensional) a ...

released on 13 April 1988 by

Virgin Records Virgin Records is a British record label owned by Universal Music Group. They were originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman (musician), ...

. The group was founded and led by Roger Taylor, best known as the drummer for

Queen Queen most commonly refers to: * Queen regnant, a female monarch of a kingdom * Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king * Queen (band), a British rock band Queen or QUEEN may also refer to: Monarchy * Queen dowager, the widow of a king * Q ...

, though he was the rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist for The Cross. The album features a mix of

dance Dance is an The arts, art form, consisting of sequences of body movements with aesthetic and often Symbol, symbolic value, either improvised or purposefully selected. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...

and rock, and can be considered Taylor's third solo album after 1984’s ''

Strange Frontier ''Strange Frontier'' is the second album by the English musician Roger Taylor (Queen drummer), Roger Taylor, released in 1984. This album includes two covers as well as a heavier sound than the previous album. Although Taylor again played most ...

''.

History

Taylor had originally started recording the album with the intention of releasing it as a solo artist. However, he decided to recruit a band and called them the Cross. Most of the album had been completed prior to recruiting the band members, with Taylor playing much of the instrumentation. The album features

members

Freddie Mercury Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara; 5 September 1946 – 24 November 1991) was a British singer and songwriter who achieved global fame as the lead vocalist and pianist of the rock band Queen (band), Queen. Regarded as one of the gre ...

(singing lead vocals on the English release of "

Heaven for Everyone "Heaven for Everyone" is a song written by British rock band Queen drummer Roger Taylor. It originally appeared on his side project the Cross's album '' Shove It'', with Freddie Mercury as a guest vocalist, and it is the album's fourth track. ...

" and backing vocals on the US version),

Brian May Sir Brian Harold May (born 19 July 1947) is an English musician, songwriter, record producer, animal welfare activist and astrophysics, astrophysicist. He achieved global fame as the lead guitarist and backing vocalist of the rock band Queen ...

(playing lead guitar on "Love Lies Bleeding") and

John Deacon John Richard Deacon (born 19 August 1951) is an English retired musician who was the bass guitarist for the rock band Queen. He wrote several songs for the group, including Top 10 hits " You're My Best Friend", "Another One Bites the Dust" a ...

(playing bass guitar on a few tracks), who collaborated with Taylor on the album.

Reception

The album was poorly received by fans and critics and reached only the bottom of the charts, peaking at 58 at the

UK Albums Chart The Official Albums Chart is the United Kingdom's industry-recognised national record chart for album, albums. Entries are ranked by sales and audio streaming. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the O ...

. After two weeks it dropped off the chart. In the US, it failed to chart at all.

Track listing

All songs written by Roger Taylor.

UK version

;Side 1 #"Shove It" – 3:28 #"Cowboys and Indians" – 5:53 #"Contact" – 4:54 #"

" (Freddie Mercury on lead vocals) – 4:54 ;Side 2 #"Stand Up for Love" – 4:22 #"Love on a Tightrope (Like an Animal)" - 4:49 #"Love Lies Bleeding (She Was a Wicked, Wily Waitress)" – 4:25 #"Rough Justice" – 3:22 ;CD bonus track #"The 2nd Shelf Mix" – 5:50 # Hidden Track - 4:58 Track Ends Outro Of Rough Justice Starts at 0:45 Note: The 2nd Shelf Mix is an extended remix of the track "Shove It". On UK CD pressings it also includes the hidden outro of "Rough Justice".

US version

#"Love Lies Bleeding (She Was a Wicked, Wily Waitress)" – 4:25 #"Shove It" – 3:28 #"Cowboys and Indians" – 5:53 #"Contact" – 4:54 #"Heaven for Everyone" (Roger Taylor on lead vocals) – 4:54

on Backing Vocals (Uncredited) #"Feel the Force"* – 3:44 #"Stand Up for Love" – 4:22 #"Love on a Tightrope (Like an Animal)" #"Rough Justice" – 3:22

Non-Album Track

# "Manipulator" (Taylor, Edney, and

Steve Strange Stephen John Harrington (28 May 1959 – 12 February 2015), known professionally as Steve Strange, was a Welsh singer and nightclub host and promoter. Strange began his career in several short-lived punk rock, punk bands of the late 1970s. Qui ...

) 3:58

Personnel

* Roger Taylor - vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass, drums (most instruments on album) *

Spike Edney Philip "Spike" Edney (born 11 December 1951) is an English musician who has performed with a number of bands since the 1970s, most notably with Queen (band), Queen in their live concerts since 1984. Career Queen Edney's association with Quee ...

- keyboards, vocals *Clayton Moss - guitar (on some tracks) *Peter Noone - bass guitar (on some tracks) *

Josh Macrae Josh MacRae (17 July 1933 – 1977) was a Scottish folk singer. His actual name was Iain Macrae, but he called himself Josh after the blues musician Josh White. He completed his National Service in the British Army, Army and during that time ...

- drums (on some tracks) ;Additional personnel *

- lead guitar on "Love Lies Bleeding (She Was a Wicked, Wily Waitress)", harmonies on "

Bohemian Rhapsody "Bohemian Rhapsody" is a song by the British rock music, rock band Queen (band), Queen, released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, ''A Night at the Opera (Queen album), A Night at the Opera'' (1975). Written by Queen's lead si ...

" sampling, and guitar on "

Flash Flash, flashes, or FLASH may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional aliases * The Flash, several DC Comics superheroes with super speed: ** Flash (Jay Garrick) ** Barry Allen ** Wally West, the first Kid Flash and third adult Flash ...

" sampling. (uncredited) *

- lead vocals on "Heaven for Everyone" (U.K./European version, B-side of "Heaven for Everyone" single Europe), backing vocals on "Heaven for Everyone" (US version), and harmonies for "Bohemian Rhapsody"/"

Fat Bottomed Girls "Fat Bottomed Girls" is a song by the British rock band Queen. Written by guitarist Brian May, the song appears on the band's seventh studio album ''Jazz'' (1978) and later on their compilation album '' Greatest Hits''. When released as a singl ...

" sampling. (uncredited) *

Gary Barnacle Gary Barnacle (born 1959) is an English saxophonist, flautist, brass instrument arranger, composer, and producer. Barnacle is primarily noted for his session work and live work, including various Prince's Trust concerts at Wembley Arena, th ...

- Tenor, Alto & Baritone Saxophone on "Cowboys and Indians", "Contact" & "Stand Up For Love".

References

{{Authority control The Cross (band) albums 1988 debut albums Virgin Records albums Albums produced by David Richards (record producer)