Roger Waters - Amused to Death

Amused to Death is a solid album both conceptually and musically, showcasing Waters as an artist who, like his work with Pink Floyd, conveys his thoughts and ideals with pinpoint accuracy so that they are engraved within his audience's mind. With this album, Waters touches heavily on the dangers of capitalism, the insensitivity of the human race, the ridiculousness of war, and the onslaught of mindless entertainment that encroaches on mankind on a day-to-day basis. Fitting all these aspects into 14 songs is a task in itself, but accomplishing this task alongside music that is forceful and appealing is extremely difficult, and still Waters succeeds in doing this throughout the duration of the album. "The Ballad of Bill Hubbard" is a moving spoken intro from Alf Razzell, a former member of Britain's Royal Fusiliers. A stab at the false sense of security that lies within religion is dealt with on the powerful "What God Wants, Pt. 1," and the cowardice of the world's leaders is addressed in "The Bravery of Being Out of Range," one of the albums most blatant tracks. Guest guitarist Jeff Beck rises to the occasion on a number of songs here, and both Rita Coolidge and Don Henley fill in behind and beside Waters on a couple of the longer tunes. Ending with the title track, a song that sums up the whole of the album with it's subtle yet hard-hitting demeanor, Waters proves that he can still reveal his conceptual ideas with pristine clarity, only on Amused to Death, the music is as equally entertaining and effective. ~ Mike DeGagne, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alf Razzell Vocals Alf Razzelli Vocals Andy Bradfield Assistant Engineer Andy Fairweather Low Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals, Guitar (Rhythm), Guitar (12 String), Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Vocals (Background) B.J. Cole Guitar (Steel) Brian Burrows Assistant Engineer Brian MacLeod Drums, Percussion Bruce Gaitsch Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic) Charles Fleischer Voices, ? Chris Brown Assistant Engineer Christopher Austopchuk Creative Director Dary Sulich Assistant Engineer Denny Fongheiser Drums Don Henley Vocals Doreen Chanter Vocals, Vocals (Background) Doug Sax Mastering Geoff Whitehorn Guitar Graham Broad Percussion, Drums Guo Yi Oboe, Dulcimer, Lute, Zhen, Bass Haydn Bendall Engineer James Guthrie Mixing James Johnson Bass Jeff Beck Guitar Jeff Porcaro Drums Jeremy Wheatley Assistant Engineer Jerry Jordan Engineer Jessica Leonard ?, Screams, Voices Jim Haas Vocals (Background) John "Rabbit" Bundrick Organ John Brundrick Organ (Hammond) John Dupree Arranger, Conductor, String Arrangements John Lowson Assistant Engineer John Patitucci Guitar (Electric), Bass (Upright), Bass (Electric), Bass John Pierce Bass Jon Joyce Vocals, Vocals (Background) Jordan Leonard ?, Voices, Screams Katie Kisoon Vocals (Background) Katie Kissoon Vocals Kenneth Bowen Conductor Linsey Fiddmont Vocals London Welsh Chorale ? Luis Conte Percussion Lynn Fiddmont Vocals (Background) Marc Moreau Assistant Engineer Mark Burdett Art Direction Marv Albert Voices, ? McLaugh Engineer Michael Bosley Assistant Engineer Michael Kamen Conductor, Arranger N'Dea Davenport Vocals (Background), Vocals Natalie Jackson Vocals (Background), Vocals National Philharmonic Orchestra ? Nick Griffiths Producer, Engineer P.P. Arnold Vocals Patrick Leonard Vocal Arrangement, Arranger, Programming, Synthesizer, Organ (Hammond), ?, Producer, Voices, Piano, Keyboards Paul M. Martin Art Direction Randy Jackson Bass Richard Haughton Photography Rick DiFonzo Guitar Rita Coolidge Vocals Roger Waters Vocals, Synthesizer, Bass, Guitar (12 String), Producer, Guitar Ron Lewter Mastering Ross Donaldson Assistant Engineer Roy Sweeting Assistant Engineer Sean O'Dwyer Mixing Assistant Stan Laurel Vocals (Background), Vocals Stephen McLaughlan Engineer Steve Heinke Assistant Engineer Steve Lukather Guitar Steve Sidwell Cornet Tim Pierce Bass, Choir, Chorus, Guitar Tony Kaye Photography