How to Be a...Zillionaire!
Encyclopedia
How to Be a... Zillionaire! is an album
by the band ABC
. It was released in January 1985 (see 1985 in music
). Four singles were released from this album, "Be Near Me
" (UK singles chart
: 26, U.S. Billboard Hot 100
: 9), "(How to Be a) Millionaire
" (UK: 49, U.S.: 20), and "Vanity Kills
" (UK: 74, U.S.: 91), and the fourth was "Ocean Blue
", (UK: 54). The album peaked on the UK Albums Chart
at 28 and on the Billboard 200
at 30.
No dialogue at the start of the song "Vanity Kills". Eden
(see band line up in next section) does the harmony vocal on the song "Ocean Blue". Guitars completely absent from Side Two/Tracks 6-10. No cursing from Eden in the song "A to Z". Four seconds of silence between "A to Z" and "(How to Be a) Millionaire". Eden performs the breakdown vocal and plays the instrumental solo in the song "(How to Be a) Millionaire".
artwork
, specifically storyboards for the "Be Near Me" and "(How to Be a) Millionaire" music videos.
Dialogue at the start of the song "Vanity Kills". Same mix of "Ocean Blue" as on previous pressing. Guitars prominently present on side two/tracks 6-10. Eden is censored in the UK pressing in the song "A to Z", but uncensored on the U.S. pressing. "A to Z" immediately segues into "(How to Be a) Millionaire". Session musician David Williams performs the breakdown vocal and plays the instrumental solo in the song "(How to Be a) Millionaire".
Dialogue at the start of the song "Vanity Kills". Same mix of "Ocean Blue" as on the initial pressing. Eden is uncensored in the song "A to Z". Same segue between "A to Z" and "(How to Be a) Millionaire" as on previous pressing. Session musician David Williams performs the breakdown vocal and plays the instrumental solo in the song "(How to Be a) Millionaire".
Dialogue at the start of the song "Vanity Kills". Same mix of "Ocean Blue" as on the initial pressing. Guitars prominently present on side two/tracks 6-10. Eden is uncensored in the song "A to Z". Same segue between "A to Z" and "(How to Be a) Millionaire" as on the previous pressing. Session musician David Williams performs the breakdown vocal and plays the instrumental solo in the song "(How to Be a) Millionaire".
Additional personnel
Production
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by the band ABC
ABC (band)
ABC are an English band, that charted ten UK and five US Top 40 singles between 1981 and 1990. The band continues to tour and released a new album, Traffic, in 2008.-Formation:...
. It was released in January 1985 (see 1985 in music
1985 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1985.-January–March:*January 1 - The newest music video channel, VH-1, debuts on American cable. It is aimed at an older demographic than its sister station, MTV...
). Four singles were released from this album, "Be Near Me
Be Near Me
"Be Near Me" is a song by ABC. The hit single from How to Be a...Zillionaire!, it is a message from the group's lead singer, Martin Fry, to an unknown addressee. He commands the addressee not to leave him. It peaked at #26 on the UK singles chart in 1985, then later in the year it went to #9 on the...
" (UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
: 26, U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
: 9), "(How to Be a) Millionaire
(How to Be A) Millionaire
" Millionaire" is a song by the British band ABC. It was the first single taken from their 1985 album How to Be a...Zillionaire!....
" (UK: 49, U.S.: 20), and "Vanity Kills
Vanity Kills
"Vanity Kills" is a song by ABC released as the third single from their album How to Be a...Zillionaire!.Two music videos were made by the band ABC. The UK video shows the four band members moving against a dark background, using simple stop motion camera tricks...
" (UK: 74, U.S.: 91), and the fourth was "Ocean Blue
Ocean Blue (song)
"Ocean Blue" is a song by ABC released as the fourth single from their album How to Be a...Zillionaire!.The song's music video, shot in black-and-white, features lead singer Martin Fry singing the song, intercut with scenes of violinists and the remaining members of the band.The song peaked at #51...
", (UK: 54). The album peaked on the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
at 28 and on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
at 30.
Original British promo pressing
On the cover the album's title is in the foreground lit up like a spotlight against a tri-tone background on which various quotes of the albums lyrics can be seen. There is also a drop shadow behind the title.No dialogue at the start of the song "Vanity Kills". Eden
Fiona Russell-Powell
Fiona Russell Powell is a British journalist. She is best known for her series of interviews throughout the 1980s in The Face magazine. For a brief period in the mid 1980s, she performed with the pop group ABC in videos and onstage to support their cartoon-synth album How to Be a...Zillionaire!...
(see band line up in next section) does the harmony vocal on the song "Ocean Blue". Guitars completely absent from Side Two/Tracks 6-10. No cursing from Eden in the song "A to Z". Four seconds of silence between "A to Z" and "(How to Be a) Millionaire". Eden performs the breakdown vocal and plays the instrumental solo in the song "(How to Be a) Millionaire".
International commercial release
On the cover the spotlight effect is gone. The tri-tone background is rotated 180°. There is a third layer of elements on the cover consisting of animationAnimation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
artwork
Visual arts
The visual arts are art forms that create works which are primarily visual in nature, such as ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts, and often modern visual arts and architecture...
, specifically storyboards for the "Be Near Me" and "(How to Be a) Millionaire" music videos.
Dialogue at the start of the song "Vanity Kills". Same mix of "Ocean Blue" as on previous pressing. Guitars prominently present on side two/tracks 6-10. Eden is censored in the UK pressing in the song "A to Z", but uncensored on the U.S. pressing. "A to Z" immediately segues into "(How to Be a) Millionaire". Session musician David Williams performs the breakdown vocal and plays the instrumental solo in the song "(How to Be a) Millionaire".
Record Club and initial CD version
On the cover the Spotlight effect is retained. Solid blue background.Dialogue at the start of the song "Vanity Kills". Same mix of "Ocean Blue" as on the initial pressing. Eden is uncensored in the song "A to Z". Same segue between "A to Z" and "(How to Be a) Millionaire" as on previous pressing. Session musician David Williams performs the breakdown vocal and plays the instrumental solo in the song "(How to Be a) Millionaire".
2005 version
The cover is a recreation of the cover to the international commercial release.Dialogue at the start of the song "Vanity Kills". Same mix of "Ocean Blue" as on the initial pressing. Guitars prominently present on side two/tracks 6-10. Eden is uncensored in the song "A to Z". Same segue between "A to Z" and "(How to Be a) Millionaire" as on the previous pressing. Session musician David Williams performs the breakdown vocal and plays the instrumental solo in the song "(How to Be a) Millionaire".
Track listing
Personnel
- Martin FryMartin FryMartin Fry is lead singer of the band, ABC.-Biography:He grew up in Bramhall, Stockport, alongside his younger brother Jamie .-ABC:...
– vocals - Mark WhiteMark White (musician)Mark White is an English musician, best known for being part of the pop band ABC, from 1980 to 1992. His last contribution to the band was their 1991 album, Abracadabara....
– Emulator II, Fairlight CMIFairlight CMIThe Fairlight CMI is a digital sampling synthesizer. It was designed in 1979 by the founders of Fairlight, Peter Vogel and Kim Ryrie, and based on a dual-6800 microprocessor computer designed by Tony Furse in Sydney, Australia...
, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s - Fiona Russell-PowellFiona Russell-PowellFiona Russell Powell is a British journalist. She is best known for her series of interviews throughout the 1980s in The Face magazine. For a brief period in the mid 1980s, she performed with the pop group ABC in videos and onstage to support their cartoon-synth album How to Be a...Zillionaire!...
, also known as Eden – vocals and record scratching - David YarrituDavid YarrituDavid Yarritu is an American musician and photographer. He was best known for his short stint as a member of new wave group ABC in the 1980s. He was featured in several videos from the band's How to Be a...Zillionaire! album, including "Be Near Me" ....
– Spoken voice - Gary Moberley – Fairlight CMIFairlight CMIThe Fairlight CMI is a digital sampling synthesizer. It was designed in 1979 by the founders of Fairlight, Peter Vogel and Kim Ryrie, and based on a dual-6800 microprocessor computer designed by Tony Furse in Sydney, Australia...
- Don SnowDon SnowDon Snow is a vocalist, Hammond organist, pianist, guitarist, bass guitarist, drummer and saxophonist who is primarily known for his work with Squeeze, the Sinceros, Procol Harum and the new wave act The Catch...
– PianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, synthesizers - Keith LeBlancKeith LeblancKeith Leblanc is an American drummer and record producer, and is a member of the bands Little Axe and Tackhead.His record, "No Sell Out", was the first sample based record. His career started out on Sugar Hill Records recording with rap pioneers, Grandmaster Flash and Melle Melle...
– RhythmRhythmRhythm may be generally defined as a "movement marked by the regulated succession of strong and weak elements, or of opposite or different conditions." This general meaning of regular recurrence or pattern in time may be applied to a wide variety of cyclical natural phenomena having a periodicity or...
beatboxBeatboxingBeatboxing is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of producing drum beats, rhythm, and musical sounds using one's mouth, lips, tongue, and voice. It may also involve singing, vocal imitation of turntablism, and the simulation of horns, strings, and other musical instruments...
programmingProgramming (music)Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock...
, drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Additional personnel
- Skip McDonald – guitar
- Chris WhittenChris WhittenChris Whitten is a British session drummer who provided drums for the hit singles "What I Am" by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, "World Shut your Mouth" by Julian Cope and "The Whole of the Moon" by The Waterboys...
– drums - David Williams – guitar
- David PalmerDavid PalmerDavid Palmer may refer to:*David R. Palmer , American science fiction author*Dave Richard Palmer, retired US Army Lieutenant General and Superintendent of the United States Military Academy from 1986-1991-In Fiction:...
– hi-hat cymbal, drums on "Ocean Blue" on the Record Club/Initial CD version - Guy BarkerGuy BarkerGuy Barker is an English jazz trumpeter and composer. Barker was born in Chiswick, London, the son of an actress and a stuntman. He started playing the trumpet at the age of twelve, and within a year had joined the National Youth Jazz Orchestra...
– trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air... - Brad Lang - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Alan Carvell – background vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
- Jackie Challenor – background vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
- Lorenza Johnson – background vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
- P.P. Arnold – tertiary backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
on "Ocean Blue" (all pressings except Record Club/Initial CD version)
Production
- Martin FryMartin FryMartin Fry is lead singer of the band, ABC.-Biography:He grew up in Bramhall, Stockport, alongside his younger brother Jamie .-ABC:...
– writerSongwriterA songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Mark White – writerSongwriterA songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, arranger - Martyn Webster – chief engineer
- Julian MendelsohnJulian MendelsohnJulian Mendelsohn is a British record producer, audio engineer and mixer. Records bearing his work have been featured on English top ten charts...
– mixing and second engineer - Mark Stent – assistant engineer
- Paul Corkett – assistant engineer
- Dietmar Schillinger – assistant engineer
- Heff Morales – assistant engineer
- Mike Drake – assistant engineer
- Paul Wright – assistant engineer
- Charles Harrowell – assistant engineer
- Ian Cooper – analog mastering engineer
- Daryl Easlea – digital pre-mastering and album sequencing
- Gary Moore – digital mastering engineer
- Nick Knight – photography
- Keith BreedenKeith BreedenKeith Breeden RP is a graphic designer and portraitist. He is a member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters.-Early career:...
at Design KB – art direction - Alan Best – animation art
- Ted Hall – animation art
- Peter Care – dialogue and photo modeling directorFilm directorA film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
- Anne DudleyAnne DudleyAnne Dudley is an English composer and pop musician, and was the first BBC Concert Orchestra's Composer in Association in 2001. She has worked in both the classical and pop genres. She is perhaps best known, however, as one of the core members of the synthpop band Art of Noise and also as a film...
– string arrangement on "Ocean Blue" (record club/initial CD pressing only, uncredited) - Ross BagdasarianRoss Bagdasarian, Jr.Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. is an Armenian-American film producer, record producer, singer, and voice artist and the son of the Alvin and the Chipmunks creator Ross Bagdasarian, Sr.-Life and career:...
– string concertmaster on "Ocean Blue" (record club/initial CD pressing only, uncredited)