Working in the Backroom

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox album | name = Working in the Backroom | type = studio | artist = Howard Jones | cover = HowardJonesWorkingInTheBackroom.jpg | alt = | released = 1993 | recorded = | venue = | studio = * The Shed (Maidenhead, England) | genre = Rock, pop | length = 50:52 | label = Dtox | producer = * Howard Jones * Andy Ross | prev_title = The Best of Howard Jones | prev_year = 1993 | next_title = Live Acoustic America | next_year = 1996 }} '''''Working in the Backroom''''' is the sixth album by the British pop musician Howard Jones.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/howard-jones-mn0000228099/biography|title=Howard Jones Biography, Songs, & Albums|website=AllMusic}}</ref> It was released in 1993, and was the first album to be released on Dtox Records, Jones's own label.<ref name="auto">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&pg=PA2006-IA18|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|first=Colin|last=Larkin|date=27 May 2011|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=9780857125958 |via=Google Books}}</ref> Jones sold over 20,000 copies of the album at his shows. Jones's parents often helped him sell the copies.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Buttars |first1=Lori |title=HOWARD JONES FINDS HAPPINESS DOING THINGS HIS WAY |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=6 Nov 1993 |page=C6}}</ref> He supported the album with a North American solo tour designated "The Synthesizer Tour"; The Fat Lady Sings opened some of the shows.<ref>{{cite news |title=SMALL FACES |work=Los Angeles Times |date=17 Oct 1993 |department=Calendar |page=69}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Keyboard heaven |work=The Star-Ledger |date=October 21, 1993 |department=News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Balsamini |first1=Dean |title=HOWARD JONES IS AT THE ACADEMY |work=Staten Island Advance |date=October 22, 1993 |page=B14}}</ref>

==Production== Jones recorded and produced the album at his home studio.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Varga |first1=George |title=All in the family |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=November 10, 1993 |page=E8}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Robbins |first1=Ira |title=Synthesized Simplicity |work=Newsday |date=22 Oct 1993 |department=WEEKEND |page=91}}</ref> He spent about a year working on it.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mayhew |first1=Malcolm |title=Back to the synthesizer for Howard Jones |work=The Fort Worth Star-Telegram |date=November 12, 1993 |department=Star Time |page=12}}</ref>

==Critical reception== {{album ratings |rev1 = ''The Encyclopedia of Popular Music'' |rev1score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="auto"/> }} ''The Washington Post'' wrote: "A collection of not-very-experimental experiments, the album sounds like mainstream Jones on such songs as 'Over & Above' and 'Left No Evidence'."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jenkins |first1=Mark |title=Jones's 'Backroom' Needs Some Work |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=15 Oct 1993 |page=N21}}</ref>

==Track listing== All tracks composed by Howard Jones; except where indicated. #"Cathedral of Chutai Excerpt" – 1:19 #"Cookin' in the Kitchen" (Howard Jones, Andy Ross) – 4:58 #"Over & Above" (Howard Jones, Andy Ross) – 4:48 #"You Are Beautiful to Me" (Howard Jones, Andy Ross) – 4:52 #"Left No Evidence" – 4:09 #"You Can Say It's All Over" – 5:27 #"Don't Get Me Wrong" – 7:10 #"Blue" – 4:23 #"Egypt Love Trance" – 5:20 #"Let the Spirit Carry Me" – 4:17 #"Cathedral of Chutai" – 4:05

== Personnel == * Howard Jones – vocals, keyboards, Macintosh computer * Andy Ross – guitars, Macintosh computer * Carol Steele – caxixi (5), congas (5)

=== Production === * Howard Jones – producer * Andy Ross – producer * Paul Ridout – art direction, photography * David Stopps – management for Friars Management, Ltd.

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Working In The Backroom}} Category:1993 albums Category:Howard Jones (English musician) albums Category:Self-released albums