Guitar wizard extraordinaire Adrian Belew’s late ’80s / early ’90s solo albums are collected here in a 3CD clamshell box courtesy of the always excellent  Cherry Red Records. The Atlantic Years 1989-1992 comprises Mr Music Head (1989), Young Lions (1990) and Inner Revolution (1992), Belew having reactivated his solo endeavours following the demise of King Crimson. This was a particularly prolific period in his long career as he was also back performing with David Bowie on 1990’s Sound & Vision tour.

Largely recorded by Belew alone, Mr Music Head offers a decent mix of commercial pop combined with his trademark experimental guitar work and offbeat lyrics. The opening ‘Oh Daddy’ is a really nice pop tune and also a collaboration with his daughter Audie, rewarding Belew with a radio hit on the US Modern Rock charts. Elsewhere ‘Peaceable Kingdom’ and ‘Hot Zoo’ are stand out moments on a quirky collection of songs that have a DIY feel to them.

Young Lions followed on in 1990 and is notable for featuring Bowie on vocals on two tracks, ‘Pretty Pink Rose’ (written by Bowie alone) and ‘Gunmen’ (a collaboration between the pair). It is fair to say that Bowie sounds terrific on both of these numbers and they are unquestionably the high points of what is an oddball collection of songs. A somewhat unlikely cover of the Traveling Wilbury’s ‘Not Alone Anymore’ sits alongside a stripped back reworking of King Crimson’s 1982 single ‘Heartbeat’, along with Belew originals such as ‘Men in Helicopters’ and ‘Phone Call from the Moon’.

A much more upbeat album, Inner Revolution, came along in 1992 and showcases Belew’s love for the 1960’s and, more specifically, all things Beatles related with some definite nods to the Fab Four across the albums 12 tracks. At the time of recording the album, the guitarist was coming off the back of a divorce and ‘The War in the Gulf Between Us’ and ‘Heavens Bed’ successfully combine themes of heartache and loss into catchy pop songs. The obligatory amazing guitar sounds are found in abundance here, check out the likes of ‘This is What I Believe in’ and ‘Member of the Tribe’ as great examples of Belew’s innovative style. The absolute soaraway moment here is ‘Birds’, two and a half minutes of pure pop brilliance including a stellar guitar solo. Overall, Inner Revolution is probably the pick of the three albums in this box set although the other two certainly have their moments. Two years later, Belew was back with Crimson, continuing his on again / off again relationship with Fripp & Co. The guitarist will be appearing here in Wolverhampton later this year, along with Tony Levin and Steve Vai, when Beat perform the music of 80’s Crimson at the Civic Hall on June 7th.

Adrian Belew: The Atlantic Years 1989-1992 is set for release on May 1st 2026.

DISC ONE
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

DISC TWO
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

DISC THREE
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