Automatic was an attempt to recapture the success of Sharpe & Numan's collaboration single "Change Your Mind", which reached number 17 in the UK charts in 1985. Although "Change Your Mind" was initially supposed to be a one-off single, Numan recalled that "the whole experience was great fun and Bill and I left the door open for more work together." However, Numan was ambivalent about recording a Sharpe + Numan album: Numan wrote the majority of the song lyrics on Automatic and performed the lead vocals, however, he did not contribute to the writing of the album's music. Backing vocals were provided by Tessa Niles, who had sung on Numan's four preceding solo albums. Automatic has a more lightweight-pop and commercial style in comparison to Numan's solo material of the time, although its sound is not especially incongruous in the Numan discography. The opening line of the track "I'm on Automatic" explicitly references Metal Rhythm, Numan's previous solo album. Most of the album was recorded in late 1987 and part of 1988, but took 18 months for the deal to come together with Polydor Records.
Release
Automatic includes "Change Your Mind" and a remixed version of the third Sharpe + Numan single, "No More Lies". The second Sharpe + Numan single, "New Thing From London Town" was not included on Automatic, presumably because it had already been included on Numan's 1986 solo album, Strange Charm. "I'm on Automatic" was the only single to be released from Automatic; it reached No. 44 on the UK singles chart. The album itself reached No. 59 on the UK Album Chart, eleven spots lower than Metal Rhythm, which was released nine months before. Its disappointing sales led to plans for a second Sharpe + Numan album being abandoned, however, the electro-jazz-pop style of Automatic would influence the general sound of Numan's next solo album, Outland. Numan expressed dissatisfaction with Automatic's lack of promotion on the part of Polydor Records. Of the album itself, he recalled:
Re-release
Automatic was out of print for two decades; it was re-released on 18 October 2010 by the London-based reissue label Cherry Pop. This expanded edition features additional tracks, extensive sleevenotes by Steve Thorpe, track comments from Bill Sharpe & Gary Numan, lyrics to all tracks, and remastered sound by Tim Turan. The release is a Captain Oi! Production.
Track listing
1989 edition
All tracks were written by Gary Numan and Bill Sharpe except where otherwise noted.
All tracks were written by Gary Numan and Bill Sharpe except where otherwise noted.
"Change Your Mind" – 4.12
"Turn Off the World" – 3.58
"No More Lies" – 4.01
"Breathe in Emotion" – 3.25
"Some New Game" – 4.00
"I'm on Automatic" – 4.08
"Rip it Up" – 4.13
"Welcome to Love" – 3.29
"Voices" – 3.49
"Night Life" – 3.42
"Love Like a Ghost" – 3:27
"No More Lies" – 3.25
"I'm on Automatic" – 7.34
"Voices" – 5:34
"No More Lies" – 7.44
Sharpe and Numan tracks not included on this re-release include the 12" extended version of "Change Your Mind"; all known versions of "New Thing from London Town", and the unreleased demo "They Say."
