Adrian Belew / The Atlantic Years 1989-1992

Guitar wizard Adrian Belew’s late ’80s / early ’90s solo albums are soon to be collected in a 3CD clamshell box. The Atlantic Years 1989-1992 comprises Mr Music Head (1989), Young Lions (1990) and Inner Revolution (1992).

The run of solo albums capped off a remarkable decade for Belew. In 1977, he was playing in a Nashville covers band called Sweetheart when Frank Zappa – acting on a tip-off from his chauffeur (naturally) – asked him to join his band. Zappa’s exacting standards and crack backing band added up to a crash course in experimental music and Belew flourished. The guitarist caught Brian Eno’s eye, who recommended him to David Bowie. When Bowie approached Belew after a gig in Berlin with an offer to join his band, Zappa was apparently furious. “Quite a guitar player you have here, Frank,” Bowie said, according to Belew, when Zappa discovered them dining together. “Fuck you, Captain Tom,” said Zappa.

Despite Zappa’s blunt reaction, Belew joined Bowie for the 1978 Isolar II world tour and played on 1979’s Lodger. The following year, Belew formed his own band, GaGa, and started a relationship with Talking Heads which saw him play on Remain In Light and become a touring member of the band, as well as contributing to solo projects. During this time, Belew also became the frontman of King Crimson (as you do) for Discipline (1981), Beat (1982) and Three Of A Perfect Pair (1984) and recorded the 1982 solo album Lone Rhino (1982).

Post-Crimson, Belew formed The Bears, recording two albums of melodic guitar-pop crammed with angular riffs and hooks, while following his experimental urges on the 1986 instrumental album Desire Caught By The Tail. But his solo career really took off with Mr Music Head, an art-rock tour-de-force on which Belew recorded almost every instrument. The opening track, ‘Oh Daddy’ – a duet with his daughter Audie – even became an unexpected novelty hit. Belew reunited with Bowie on the Sound + Vision tour, leading to Bowie penning ‘Pretty Pink Rose’ for him (not a classic) and co-writing ‘Gunman’, both from 1990’s Young Lions. This second album in the box set is the only one to offer bonus tracks: two of them: ‘Shoe Salesman’ and ‘Neptune Pool’.

The last disc offers the ’60s pop-inspired Inner Revolution which followed in 1992, featuring appearances from Belew’s former Bears bandmates Chris Arduser and Mike Barnett.

The Atlantic Years 1989-1992 is out 27 March 2026 via Esoteric.

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ADRIAN BELEW

The Atlantic Years - 3CD set

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Tracklisting

The Atlantic Years 1989-1992 Adrian Belew /

• 3CD set
  • CD 1: Mr. Music Head
    1. Oh Daddy
    2. House Of Cards
    3. One Of Those Days
    4. Coconuts
    5. Bad Days
    6. Peaceable Kingdom
    7. Hot Zoo
    8. Motor Bungalow
    9. Bumpity Bump
    10. Bird In A Box
    11. 1967
    12. Cruelty To Animals
  • CD 2: Young Lions
    1. Young Lions
    2. Pretty Pink Rose
    3. Heartbeat
    4. Looking For A U.F.O.
    5. I Am What I Am
    6. Not Alone Anymore
    7. Men In Helicopters
    8. Small World
    9. Phone Call From The Moon
    10. Gunman

    Bonus tracks

    11. Shoe Salesman (B-side of single)
    12. Neptune Pool
  • CD 3: Inner Revolution
    1. Inner Revolution
    2. This is What I Believe In
    3. Standing In The Shadow
    4. Big Blue Sun
    5. Only A Dream
    6. Birds
    7. I’d Rather Be Right Here
    8. The War In The Gulf Between Us
    9. I Walk Alone
    10. Everything
    11. Heaven’s Bed
    12. Member Of The Tribe