Additional information
Martha Davis (of The Motels) does not sing "Monkey Time" on the CD as she did on the original LP release. She was replaced on disc by Michele Gray, who toured with the group as a dancer and singer. Personnel: Roger Steen, Bill Spooner (vocals, guitar); Patti Austin, Bill Champlin, Bobby Kimball (vocals, background vocals); Fee Waybill, Martha Davis (vocals); Fred Washington , Steve Lukather, Freddy Washington (guitar); Larry Williams , Gary Grant, Gary Herbig, Jerry Hey, Chuck Finley, William Frank "Bill" Reichenbach Jr. (horns); David Paich, James Newton Howard, Steve Porcaro, Vince Welnick , David Foster (keyboards); Michael Cotten (synthesizer); Prairie Prince (drums); Mingo Lewis (percussion). Audio Mixers: Fee Waybill; George Massenburg; Greg Ladanyi; Humberto Gatica. Recording information: Automatt, San Francisco, CA; Capitol studios, Los Angeles, CA; Complex Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Davlen Recording Studio, North Hollywood, CA; Davlin Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Different Fur Recording Studios, San Francisco, CA; Lion Share Recording Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Manor, Los Angeles, CA; Record One Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Record One, LA; Record One, Los Angeles, CA; Russian Hill Recording, San Francisco, CA; The Automatt SF; The Automatt, San Francisco, CA; The Complex, Los Angeles, CA; The Manor, LA; Tubesound, San Francisco, CA; Tubesound, SF. Photographer: Jim McCrary. Unknown Contributor Roles: Jay Graydon; Rick Anderson . Arranger: Jerry Hey. Another bit of clever packaging outside (the record label featured an iris that appeared through a cutout on the sleeve) and inside, where producer David Foster and even more members of Toto help the Tubes punch up their new radio-ready sound with added energy. If their last record showed a newfound dancefloor sensibility, Outside Inside is absolutely funky. There are plenty of over-the-top arena pop numbers on here, including the hit "She's a Beauty," "No Not Again," and "Tip of My Tongue." Yet with so many cooks in the kitchen, the record is peppered with some strange entries, like "Wild Women of Wongo," "Drums," and "Outside Looking Inside." Maybe the Tubes were trying to exorcise their own artistic demons, the better to play a song like "Fantastic Delusion" or "The Monkey Time" with a clear conscience. Outside Inside is definitely a party record, which is fine, except that the Tubes were never a party band (after all, their most radio-friendly album to date, The Completion Backward Principle, was still pretty dark). The change in direction will probably alienate old fans, just as it clearly attracted new ones (the record reached the U.S. Top 20). If you enjoyed their hits from the '80s (e.g., "Talk to You Later," "She's a Beauty"), this is the album to own. ~ Dave Connolly
