High Drama

by Adam Lambert

Overview

High Drama is such an ideal title for Adam Lambert, a singer who specializes in grand, overheated gestures, that it comes as a slight disappointment to realize that it arrives in service of a covers album. Thankfully, Lambert doesn't take his task lightly here: he takes pains to give the 11 songs on High Drama distinctive arrangements that clearly delineate his version from the original. Also, he doesn't stick to classics, either of the canon or cult variety. A few warhorses are hauled out onto the track -- Duran Duran's "Ordinary World," Bonnie Tyler's "Holding Out for a Hero," Ann Peebles' "I Can't Stand the Rain," Culture Club's "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" -- but they're heard alongside selections from Billie Eilish, Sia, Lana Del Rey, P!nk, and Kings of Leon. For good measure, he adds an unexpected coda of pioneering glam rocker Jobriath's "I'm a Man" and Noel Coward's "Mad About the Boy," functioning as a nod to queer pop history. This pair of songs are the only tunes on High Drama that couldn't conceivably be heard on American Idol, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. There's a certain kick in hearing Lambert effectively return to his roots, scheming to deliver snazzy, memorable renditions of songs the audience knows by heart. More often than not, he delivers on High Drama, particularly on the insistent glitter march of "Holding Out for a Hero" and a smoldering electro makeover of "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me." ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	03/31/2023
Label:	Bmg
UPC:	4050538887938
Rank:	64617

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Adam Lambert   Primary Artist,Vocals
Mike Byrne   Drums
Laurence Juber   Guitar
Robin Mullarkey   Guitar
Billy Adamson   Guitar
Fiona Bonds   Viola
Jack LaVelle   Guitar
Reiad Chibah   Viola
Thomas Gould   Violin
Oliver Langford   Violin
Lauren Salamone   Vocals (Background)
Mark Crew   Keyboards
Jeremy Isaac   Violin
Jeremy Hatcher   Bass,Guitar,Keyboards,Guitar (Bass)
Reuben Priddy   Bass,Guitar
Ashok Klouda   Cello
Peteris Sokolovskis   Cello
Stephanie Tress   Cello
Tommy English   Guitar,Keyboards
Dan Priddy   Keyboards
Charley Bagnall   Drums,Synthesizer
Andrew Wells   Bass,Drums,Guitar,Synthesizer
Roberto Ruisi   Violin
Charlie Laffer   Bass
Venetia Jollands   Violin
Agata Daraskaite   Violin
Will Newell   Violin
Eloise Macdonald   Violin
Elliott Perks   Viola
Toby Hughes   Bass
Benedict Cork   Vocals (Background)
Aliayta Foon-Dancoes   Violin
Juliette Roos   Violin
May Dolan   Viola
Elias Mallin   Drums

Technical Credits

Tony Maserati   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Simon LeBon   Composer
Bernard Miller   Composer
Don Bryant   Composer
Donald Bryant   Composer
Cenzo Townshend   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Eg White   Arranger,String Arrangements
Jon Moss   Composer
Jobriath   Composer
Dean Pitchford   Composer
Nathan Followill   Composer,Lyricist
Matthew Followill   Composer,Lyricist
Roy Hay   Composer
Richard Woodcraft   Engineer,Tracking,Recording
Noel Coward   Composer
Dan Grech-Marguerat   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Mikey Craig   Composer
Sia Furler   Composer
Bill Malina   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Boy George   Composer
Warren Cuccurullo   Composer
Caleb Followill   Composer,Lyricist
Jared Followill   Composer,Lyricist
Jonathan Quarmby   Vocal Producer,Additional Production
Jim Steinman   Composer
Nick Rhodes   Composer
Ann Peebles   Composer
Ilsey Juber   Composer,Producer
Richard Nowels   Composer
Amanda Ghost   A&R,Producer
Mads Perch   Photography
John Taylor   Composer
Ernest Roy   Composer
Jeremy Cooper   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
George Moore   Producer
Adam Lambert   Executive Producer
Jonas Jalhay   Engineer,Recording
Richard Robinson   Art Direction
Jesse Shatkin   Composer
Julia Michaels   Composer
Richard W. Nowels Jr.   Composer
Paul Samuels   A&R
Mark Crew   Engineer,Producer,Recording,Programming
Jeremy Hatcher   Engineer,Producer,Recording,Programming
Ivan Followill   Composer
Freddy Wexler   Composer,Producer
Lana Del Rey   Composer
Tommy English   Producer,Programming
Dan Priddy   Producer,Programming
Jonny Coffer   Producer,Additional Production
Jonny Solway   Engineer,Recording
Charley Bagnall   Producer,Additional Production
Martin Hannah   Engineer,Tracking,Recording
Andrew Wells   Producer
Will Purton   String Engineer
Billie Eilish   Composer
Finneas O'Connell   Composer
Michael Nolasco   Engineer,Tracking,Recording
George O'Doed   Composer
Pia Ashcroft   A&R