''I Was Born a Man'' was the first of five albums of home-made recordings, released by Stephen Jones under the name Baby Bird in 1995. The album was originally a limited edition release, but is now available as part of the 2002 CD

box set A boxed set or (its US name) box set is a set of items (for example, a compilation of books, musical recordings, films or television programs) traditionally packaged in a box, hence 'boxed', and offered for sale as a single unit. Music Artists ...

'' The Original Lo-Fi''. The album includes a version of the song "Cornershop", which was subsequently a hit single for Jones' band

Babybird Babybird are an English rock band formed by songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Stephen Jones, who has been releasing music since 1995. While Jones' early solo work was released under the "Baby Bird" name, the altered "Babybird" was first use ...

(written as one word).

Critical reception

"I'll just say that I Was Born A Man is the only record I've heard this year with lyrics worth remembering and music that's impossible to forget, because I'd rather you listen to it than me talking about it." -

Melody Maker ''Melody Maker'' was a British weekly music magazine, one of the world's earliest music weeklies; according to its publisher, IPC Media, the earliest. In January 2001, it was merged into "long-standing rival" (and IPC Media sister publicatio ...

. "...whatever ultra-naff low-fidelity keyboard tinklings he undertakes; he carries with him incredibly touching pieces like Dead Bird Sings that create, in the middle of this

tank top Tank top may refer to: * Tank top (shirt), a type of sleeveless shirt (US/Australian/Canadian English) * Tank top (sweater) A sweater vest (known as a ''tank top'', ''sleeveless jumper'', ''sleeveless sweater'', ''sleeveless pullover'' or ''sli ...

of a record, an altogether different kind of sadness." -

NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming and culture website, bimonthly magazine, and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a "Rock music, rock inkie", the ''NME'' would be ...

Track listing

All tracks written and composed by Stephen Jones. #"Blow It to the Moon" – 2:40 #"Mans Tight Vest" – 4:14 #"Lemonade Baby" – 4:37 #"C.F.C" – 3:30 #"Cornershop" – 3:09 #"Kiss Your Country" – 4:04 #"Hong Kong Blues" – 3:34 #"Dead Bird Sings" – 4:05 #"Baby Bird" – 3:34 #"Farmer" – 2:59 #"Invisible Tune" – 3:54 #"Alison" – 3:44 #"Love Love Love" – 2:27

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:I Was Born A Man 1995 debut albums Babybird albums