Ordinary Heroes (album)

Ordinary Heroes is the ninth studio album by the British pop musician Howard Jones, released on 9 November 2009. A simpler album production than the previous release Revolution of the Heart was present here. Strings and piano dominate, and while there are some upbeat tracks, the album has a mellow, mature atmosphere. Some of the tracks were performed with the Morrison Orpheus Choir in St David's Hall in Cardiff at a special one-off gig.

Track listing

 * Standard Version


 * 1) "Straight Ahead" (Howard Jones, Cori Josias) – 4:13
 * 2) "Say It Like You Mean It" (Jones, Josias) – 3:35
 * 3) "Someone You Need" (Jones, Duncan Sheik, Martha Schuyler Thompson) – 3:31
 * 4) "Collective Heartbeat" (Jones) – 3:48
 * 5) "Fight On" (Jones) – 4:06
 * 6) "Even If I Don't Say" (Jones, Josias) – 3:50
 * 7) "Ordinary Heroes" (Jones, Josias) – 4:33
 * 8) "You Knew Us So Well" (Jones) – 4:55
 * 9) "Love Never Wasted" (Jones) – 4:48
 * 10) "Soon You'll Go" (Jones, Josias) – 4:38

A limited edition 2CD pack was sold exclusively by Jones' website. The second disc included piano and vocal versions of each track from the standard album, plus two additional songs.


 * Bonus Disc


 * 1) "Straight Ahead"
 * 2) "Say It Like You Mean It"
 * 3) "Someone You Need"
 * 4) "Collective Heartbeat"
 * 5) "Fight On"
 * 6) "Even If I Don't Say"
 * 7) "Ordinary Heroes"
 * 8) "You Knew Us So Well"
 * 9) "Love Never Wasted"
 * 10) "Soon You'll Go"
 * 11) "Your Heart Has Won" (Jones) - 3:47
 * 12) "Love Never Wasted (Revisited)" - 4:57

Personnel

 * Howard Jones – Steinway piano, lead vocals, musical arrangements, string arrangements
 * Robin Boult – guitar
 * Martin Cohen – bass
 * Jonathan Atkitson – drums
 * Vicky Matthews – cello
 * Racheal Robson – viola
 * Deborah White – 1st violin
 * Natalia Bonner – 2nd violin
 * Ty Unwin – additional strings on "Soon You'll Go"
 * Fiona Brice – string arrangements, conductor
 * Daniel Pierce – backing vocals
 * Morriston Orpheus Choir – choir on "Soon You'll Go"
 * Joy Amman Davies – choir conductor

Production

 * Produced, recorded and mixed by Robbie Bronniman.
 * Recorded at Robot Studios and Level View Studio (Somerset, England).
 * Strings recorded by Matthew Lawrence at Assault & Battery and Metropolis Studio (London, England).
 * Choir recorded by Stephen W. Taylor in Swansea, Wales.
 * Album Artwork – Hush Creative