Ringo Starr's first album release on the Mercury label. Credited to Ringo Starr Produced by Mark Hudson and Ringo Starr. Engineered by Geoff Emerick. The title "Vertical Man" actually came from a quotation from a book that Ringo's stepdaughter Francesca had won at school. The full quote was, Let's hear it for the vertical man, there's always so much praise for the horizontal one. Recorded at WHATINTHEWHATHE? studios, A & M studios and the Village Recorders L.A. And in England at The Mill, F.P.S.H.O.T., Air London, Abbey Road, and Sarm Hook End Studios. Recording took place gradually from February 1997 to February 1998, and once again Ringo managed to get together some great guest performers, who are listed in the track list detail below. Although the final mixing was done on 19th February, Tom Petty had to re-record his vocal part for "Drift Away". This vocal was actually put on tape at Abbey Road on 2nd May, whilst Tom was singing in L.A., with the recording sent down an ISDN line. As well as the 13 tracks issued below, four others were recorded which were planned for single B-sides : "Sometimes", "Mr. Doubleitup", "Everyday", and "Good News". Even though Ringo carries out a hectic promotion schedule, the C.D. fails to chart (actually reaching no.85 on it's first week of release) and sells barely over 2,000 copies in the U.K. Mercury even pull the plug on the planned single release, which was to be "La De Da", even though the video was included on the "Chart Show" on 4th July. Geoff Emerick actually described this album as "Ringo's Sgt. Pepper, with 13 number ones on it." The C.D. "booklet" is not a booklet but is a folded paper, with eight sections. It holds the full lyrics. The Art direction was by Margery Greenspan, with the design and layout by Sandra Monteparo (and could they possibly have made the detail and writing any smaller ??!!). Artwork was by Ringo and Barbara, and Mark and Barbara. The poster photography was by Adam Weiner and the "Vertical Man" shot was taken by Henry Diltz on Tuesday 14th April 1998 at Ringo's Beverly Hills home.