U Can Never B2 Straight is an album by English singer and songwriter Boy George, released in 2002 by Virgin Records. It includes acoustic songs from George's then-new London play Taboo, new and previously unreleased songs, as well as selected songs taken from his albums Cheapness and Beauty (1995) and The Martyr Mantras (1990), the latter from when George was part of the band Jesus Loves You.
Album overview The album includes 16 songs (8 previously unreleased), each dedicated to someone in particular or in general. Three songs are dedicated to George's ex-boyfriend Michael Dunne ("If I Could Fly", "Losing Control" and "The Deal"), whereas "Unfinished Business" is for Kirk Brandon (who took George to court for this song, but lost).
The hidden track "Out of Fashion" was taken out as a single in remixed form as a collaboration with dance duo Hi-Gate; a version of the song is also featured on the Taboo musical cast recording. Another track which was released as video-only was the opener "Ich Bin Kunst", a song dealing with the late performance artist Leigh Bowery, a great friend of George's, whose character he took on in his musical. George would re-record the song again as Bowery in a more campy and rock-style arrangement for the 2004 Broadway cast recording of the musical.
U Can Never B2 Straight contains all the acoustic ballads originally on George's 1995 album Cheapness and Beauty, including the single "Il Adore", as well as "Same Thing in Reverse" (a different version from the dance remix which reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Dance Chart). "Same Thing in Reverse" is dedicated in the booklet credits to 'Eminem and all scared, pretty heterosexuals'... The song "Julian", a new song, is also featured on the EP Straight, a CD which was included with George's 2005 autobiography of the same name.
The album also contains the following three tracks: "She Was Never He", taken from the 1999 fan-requested compilation The Unrecoupable One Man Bandit; "Fat Cat", originally on Culture Club's 1999 reunion album Don't Mind If I Do, and the popular Krishna-inspired "Bow Down Mister", which gave George one of his last UK chart successes after splitting from Culture Club.
Critical reception
AllMusic gave the album 4.5 stars out of 5. It also got four stars from Q magazine.
Track listing
Note 28 seconds of silence follows "Bow Down Mister" before hidden track "Out of Fashion" plays, a 2002 acoustic version of a song from Taboo (6:30; writers: Boy George, Paul Masterson, Judge Jules).
Personnel The personnel and dedications as stated in the liner notes for U Can Never B2 Straight.
"Ich Bin Kunst"
dedicated to Leigh Bowery, Nicola and Christine Bateman Boy George – co-production Kevan Frost – keyboards, drum programming & brass arrangements; mix at Frosty Bros. Studio (Kev's flat); co-production Ben Castle – saxophone & brass arrangements Raul D'Olivera – trumpet Mike Innes – trombone
"St. Christopher"
dedicated to Chris Manning Boy George – co-production Kevan Frost – backing vocals, acoustic guitar & brass arrangements; mix at Frosty Bros. Studio (Kev's flat); co-production Ben Castle – saxophone & brass arrangements Raul D'Olivera – trumpet Mike Innes – trombone Sharlene Hector – backing vocals
"She Was Never He"
dedicated to Natasha and Jody Boy George – co-production John Themis – guitars, backing vocals, co-production; mix at Mayfair Studios Kevan Frost – backing vocals Alan Branch – engineer
"Cheapness & Beauty"
dedicated to all tattooed car thieves – dedicated to Jon Moss Jessica Corcoran – production John Themis – guitars, backing vocals, strip & remix Zee Asha – backing vocals Alan Branch – engineer
"Fat Cat"
dedicated to all sexually confused straight boys? John Themis – guitars, production; mix at home Emily Themis, Katherine Themis – backing vocals
"If I Could Fly"
dedicated to Michael Dunne Jessica Corcoran – production John Themis – guitars & string arrangements; mix at Abbey Road Studios Nick Ingman – string arrangements London Chamber Orchestra – strings
"Unfinished Business"
dedicated to Kirk Brandon Jessica Corcoran – production & mix John Themis – guitars, string arrangements & mix
"Julian"
dedicated to Julian Boy George – co-production Kevan Frost – acoustic guitar, backing vocals and co-production; mix at Frosty Bros. Studio (Kev's flat)
"Wrong"
dedicated to Luke and all dreamers Boy George – co-production Kevan Frost – acoustic guitar, bass guitar, backing vocals and co-production; mix at Frosty Bros. Studio (Kev's flat) Pete Adams – piano & Hammond Liz Chi – Chinese violin "edu" solo Joel Pott, Sharlene Hector, John Gibbons – backing vocals
"Letter to a School Friend"
dedicated to Miss Carter and Michael Crome John Themis – guitars, production; mix at Mayfair Studios Zee Asha, Linda Duggan, Mary Pearse – backing vocals Richie Stevens – drums Winston Blisset – bass Peter Adams – keyboards Alan Branch – engineer
"The Deal"
dedicated to Michael Dunne Boy George – co-production Kevan Frost – acoustic guitar, keyboards, backing vocals and co-production; mix at Frosty Bros. Studio (Kev's flat) Liz Chi – violins & violin solo Sarah Chi – violins Sharlene Hector, John Gibbons – backing vocals
"Losing Control"
dedicated to Michael Dunne John Themis – guitars, keyboards, bass, backing vocals, production & mix Sugar Hajishakalli – bouzouki Andy Kyriacou – drums Jimmy "Mixologist" Sarikas – engineer
"Same Thing in Reverse"
dedicated to Eminem and all scared, pretty heterosexuals John Themis – guitars, backing vocals Zee Asha – backing vocals Jessica Corcoran – production & mix
"Il Adore"
dedicated to Stevie Hughes and all the lost boys Jessica Corcoran – production John Themis – guitars, string arrangements; mix at Abbey Road Studios Nick Ingram – string arrangements London Chamber Orchestra – strings Christopher Warren Green – violin solo
"Bow Down Mister"
dedicated to Lord Krishna and John Richardson & family Bruce Forest – production Soho Krishna Temple, London Gospel Choir & Basil – special thanks
References