Shove It

  • 1. Shove It
  • 2. Cowboys and Indians
  • 3. Contact
  • 4. Heaven for Everyone
  • 5. Stand Up for Love
  • 6. Love on a Tightrope (Like an Animal)
  • 7. Love Lies Bleeding (She Was a Wicked, Wily Waitress)
  • 8. Rough Justice
  • 9. The 2nd Shelf Mix

Work began on new material for Roger’s third solo album, in May 1987, at Mountain Studios in Switzerland. Now, though, it was to be a project as part of a band and while many of the tracks were nearing completion, Roger wanted the new members to play on the album. The songs were re-recorded in Montreux Switzerland and four different studios in England, and co-produced by David Richards, between August and December 1987.

Roger had already secured a recording deal with Virgin Records and the new album, the unambiguously titled ‘Shove It’, was scheduled for release in January 1988. Ahead of the album, the first single ‘Cowboys And Indians’ was released in September 1987, accompanied by a promotional video made by Ralph Zimon. Also in September, the band made their debut TV appearance, in Germany, and the following month came their first UK television show, ‘The Roxy’, performed before a live audience.

A second single, ‘Shove It’, was released in January 1988, with an extended version of the track available on the 12” and CD single formats. It too had an accompanying video and was filmed the previous November at Crazy Larry’s club in Chelsea.

On 25 January 1987 the ‘Shove It’ album was released in the UK and reached number 58 in the charts. All 8 tracks were written by Roger, and so too was an additional track (for the CD version only) ‘The 2nd Shelf Mix’. The album cover design was conceived by Roger and Gary Wathen and features a photograph of the band taken by Sheila Rock.

The ‘Shove It’ title came from a phrase often used at the time by Roger’s personal assistant, but was also Roger’s standard retort to the press during this period, when prying into his personal life.

Two musical guests were featured on the album; fellow Queen band-mate Brian May contributed guitar to ‘Love Lies Bleeding’, and Freddie Mercury sang lead vocals on the track ‘Heaven For Everyone’. This would later be re-recorded by Queen for their final album ‘Made In Heaven’, released in 1995. Freddie’s vocals on that version were taken from this project.

An abbreviated version of the ‘Shove It’ single was released in the USA in January ’88, coupled with the non-album track ‘Feel The Force’ (also written by Roger). Back home in the UK, The Cross began a 16 date tour, kicking off at a Student Union ball in Leeds, and concluding in London at the Town and Country Club on March 10th, where friends and family were in attendance, including Brian May and Robert Plant.

This UK tour was followed in April by 12 concerts in Germany and a one-off appearance in May at the ‘Golden Rose Rock Festival’ in Montreux, Switzerland. Rather than mime, as most artists usually do at this event, The Cross instead performed live versions of ‘Heaven For Everyone’ and a newly written song called ‘Manipulator’ – written by Roger with Spike Edney and Steve Strange.

The third single from the album, the aforementioned ‘Heaven For Everyone’, with lead vocals by Roger (as opposed to the Freddie vocal version) was released on March 28th in the UK, accompanied by a promotional video filmed on a cold night in East Greenwich gas works – now the site of the London 02 arena.

The non-album song ‘Manipulator’ was released as the final single in July, including an extended version, but with no promo video or radio play to help it, did not enter the chart.

1988 ended with a special live performance by The Cross at a Queen Fan Club Christmas party at the Hammersmith Le Palais in London. The band were joined on stage by John Deacon and Brian May for a few songs, including ‘Dust My Broom’ and ‘Early Morning Blues’ with Brian on vocals, ‘Whole Lotta Shaking Going On’ with guest Chris Thompson on vocals, and Roger singing his Queen classic ‘I’m In Love With My Car’.

With Roger working full time with Queen in 1989, the rest of The Cross took time off during this period, though they did also work on new material in readiness for the next album.