On The Road Again: John Waite "Rover's Return (Japan, EMI-America, CP32-5471)"

sábado, 29 de marzo de 2025

John Waite "Rover's Return (Japan, EMI-America, CP32-5471)"

Rover's Return is the fourth studio album from English musician John Waite, which was released by EMI in 1987.

Rover's Return reached No. 77 on the US Billboard 200 and remained in the charts for twelve weeks. Two singles were released from the album, "These Times Are Hard for Lovers", co-written with Desmond Child, and "Don't Lose Any Sleep", written by Diane Warren. "These Times Are Hard for Lovers" peaked at No. 53 on the Billboard Hot 100 and "Don't Lose Any Sleep" reached No. 81.

The album was largely recorded and mixed at Right Track Studios in New York City, with additional recording at The Hit Factory, The Power Station and Carriage House Studios.

During the sessions for Rover's Return, Waite recorded a version of the Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly song "I Drove All Night". but decided not to release it. The song was also recorded by Roy Orbison in 1987 but his was not released until 1992, by which time Cyndi Lauper had her hit version in 1989. In 2001, Waite's recording was released on the One Way Records release Live & Rare Tracks.

Rover's Return was released via EMI America on vinyl, cassette and CD. It was released in the US, Canada, UK, and Europe. On 25 June 2012, the British label BGO Records digitally remastered the album and re-issued it in the UK.

In a retrospective review, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote, "Rover's Return is an attempt to bring Waite back to the top of the charts that just doesn't work. That's not to say that the record is a complete failure, because there are portions that work quite well - the surging opener "These Times Are Hard for Lovers" is good radio rock, and Waite's voice always sounds good in this polished setting. Still, it's a little stiff and predictable, never quite reaching a level that's interesting, either as a period artifact or a piece of professional craft."

Track listing