The Riddle (album)

The Riddle is the second studio album by English singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw, released on 19 November 1984 by MCA Records.

The Riddle
Studio album by
Nik Kershaw
Released19 November 1984 (1984-11-19)
Recorded1984
StudioSarm East (London)
Sarm West (London)
Genre
Length42:32
LabelMCA
ProducerPeter Collins
Nik Kershaw chronology
Human Racing
(1984)		 The Riddle
(1984)		 Radio Musicola
(1986)
Singles from The Riddle
  1. "The Riddle"
    Released: November 1984
  2. "Wide Boy"
    Released: March 1985
  3. "Don Quixote"
    Released: August 1985
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
BillboardFavourable[3]
DžuboksFavourable[4]
Record Mirror[5]
Rolling Stone[2]
Smash Hits[6]

On release, the album was received favourably by the majority of music critics. It peaked at number eight on the UK Albums Chart and reached the top 10 in New Zealand and Norway. The album spawned three charting singles in the United Kingdom—"The Riddle" peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart; "Wide Boy" at number nine; "Don Quixote" at number 10. The album has been certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

The album was re-released on 9 August 2013 on Universal Music Group's Re-presents imprint featuring rare bonus content. The reissue is a two-disc 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, England. 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 that the 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.TitleLength
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.TitleLength
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 reorders the track listing and replaces "City of Angels" with "Wouldn't It Be Good".

Side one
No.TitleLength
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.TitleLength
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

2013 reissue

The track listing of the second disc is:[9]

No.TitleLength
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 New Year's Eve 1984.[10]

The website SuperDeluxeEdition 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]

Musicians

Production team

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

Charts

Certifications
Certifications for The Riddle
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[29] Platinum 300,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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). No. 194 (second series). p. 14.
  5. Gardner, Mike (24 November 1984). "Albums". Record Mirror. Vol. 31, no. 48. p. 20.
  6. Sheaff, Claire (22 November 1984). "Album Reviews". Smash Hits. Vol. 6, no. 24. p. 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. "Exclusive: Nik Kershaw / "The Riddle" deluxe edition track listing". SuperDeluxeEdition. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  11. "Nik responds to The Riddle deluxe bonus track selection comments". 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. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0520". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  15. "Dutchcharts.nl – Nik Kershaw – The Riddle" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  16. "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 1, no. 38/39. 17 December 1984. p. 18. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  17. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  18. "Offiziellecharts.de – Nik Kershaw – The Riddle" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  19. "Charts.nz – Nik Kershaw – The Riddle". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  20. "Norwegiancharts.com – Nik Kershaw – The Riddle". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  21. "Swedishcharts.com – Nik Kershaw – The Riddle". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  22. "Swisscharts.com – Nik Kershaw – The Riddle". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  23. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  24. "Nik Kershaw Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  25. "Top 100 Albums (January 3–December 29, 1984)" (PDF). Music Week. 26 January 1985. p. 42. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
  26. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 1985" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  27. "Top Selling Albums of 1985". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  28. "Top 100 Albums (January 5–December 28, 1985)" (PDF). Music Week. 18 January 1986. p. 11. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
  29. "British album certifications – Nik Kershaw – The Riddle". British Phonographic Industry. 28 December 1984. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
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