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

1. "These Times Are Hard for Lovers" Desmond Child, John Waite 4:12
2. "Act of Love" Waite 4:27
3. "Encircled" Waite, John McCurry, John Regan 4:23
4. "Woman's Touch" Waite 3:50
5. "Wild One" Waite 3:50
6. "Don't Lose Any Sleep" Diane Warren 3:45
7. "Sometimes" Dan Hartman, Charlie Midnight 4:55
8. "She's the One" Waite, Ivan Kral 5:47
9. "Big Time for Love" Waite, Rick Nowels 4:56

Recording information:

John Waite – producer

Frank Filipetti – producer, recording, mixing

Desmond Child – producer (1)

Rick Nowels – producer (6, 7)

Dave Dale – additional engineer

Michael Frondelli – additional engineer

Bradshaw Leigh – additional engineer

Tom Lord-Alge – additional engineer

Phil Magnotti – additional engineer

Billy Miranda – additional engineer, assistant engineer

Arthur Payson – additional engineer

Debi Cornish – assistant engineer

Mark Cobrin – assistant engineer

Jay Healy – assistant engineer

Peter Hefter – assistant engineer

Tim Kramer – assistant engineer

Tim Leitner – assistant engineer

Scott Mabuchi – assistant engineer

Dan Mormando – assistant engineer

Don Rodenbach – assistant engineer

Craig Vogel – assistant engineer

Paul D. Spriggs – production coordinator

Trevor Key – photography

Henry Marquez – art direction

Norman Moore – art direction

Richard Duardo – artwork (silkscreen print)

Billy Joel "Storm Front"

Storm Front is the eleventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel, released on October 17, 1989. It was Joel's third album to reach No. 1 in the U.S. and features "We Didn't Start the Fire", a fast-paced song that cataloged a list of historical events, trends, and cultural icons from 1949 (when Joel was born) until 1989, which was Joel's third Billboard No. 1 hit.

"I Go to Extremes", a song describing the ups and downs of his emotional life, placed at No. 6. Other songs that placed in the top 100 were "And So It Goes" (No. 37), "The Downeaster 'Alexa'" (No. 57), and "That's Not Her Style" (No. 77). The album was also nominated for five Grammy Awards. The album's cover depicts the maritime storm warning flag indicating wind forces 10–12, the highest intensity on the Beaufort scale. Joel has stated in recent Sirius XM segments that he was inspired by Peter Gabriel's 1986 track "Sledgehammer", as an inspiration for the "driving rhythm section" when he was writing the title track.

In 1991, Garth Brooks recorded "Shameless" on his album Ropin' the Wind. Brooks' cover version was also released as a single and reached the top of the US country charts, and also entered the UK Singles Chart.

Storm Front marked a radical change in Joel's backing band. Since his last studio album (The Bridge), both Russell Javors and Doug Stegmeyer, long-time members of Joel's band, were discharged from their respective duties as rhythm guitarist and bass guitarist. Javors was replaced with Joey Hunting for the record and by Tommy Byrnes on tour while Stegmeyer was replaced by Schuyler Deale. Band regulars Liberty DeVitto, David Brown and Mark Rivera were retained. Joel also hired the percussionist and multi-instrumentalist Crystal Taliefero beginning with this album.

Track listing

All songs written by Billy Joel.

1. "That's Not Her Style" – 5:10
2. "We Didn't Start the Fire" – 4:50
3. "The Downeaster 'Alexa'" – 3:44
4. "I Go to Extremes" – 4:23
5. "Shameless" – 4:26
6. "Storm Front" – 5:17
7. "Leningrad" – 4:06
8. "State of Grace" – 4:30
9. "When in Rome" – 4:44
10. "And So It Goes" – 3:38

Produced by Billy Joel and Mick Jones

Mixed by Tom Lord-Alge (tracks 1–3) and Jay Healy (tracks 3–10).

Engineered by Jay Healy

Assistant engineers – Dana Becker, Tim Crich, David Dorn, Suzanne Hollander, Joe Pirrera and Gary Solomon.

Mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound (New York, NY).

Art direction – Chris Austopchuk

Back photo – Timothy White

Front photo – Frank Ockenfels

Billy Joel "Storm Front (Vinyl)"

Storm Front is the eleventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel, released on October 17, 1989. It was Joel's third album to reach No. 1 in the U.S. and features "We Didn't Start the Fire", a fast-paced song that cataloged a list of historical events, trends, and cultural icons from 1949 (when Joel was born) until 1989, which was Joel's third Billboard No. 1 hit.

"I Go to Extremes", a song describing the ups and downs of his emotional life, placed at No. 6. Other songs that placed in the top 100 were "And So It Goes" (No. 37), "The Downeaster 'Alexa'" (No. 57), and "That's Not Her Style" (No. 77). The album was also nominated for five Grammy Awards. The album's cover depicts the maritime storm warning flag indicating wind forces 10–12, the highest intensity on the Beaufort scale. Joel has stated in recent Sirius XM segments that he was inspired by Peter Gabriel's 1986 track "Sledgehammer", as an inspiration for the "driving rhythm section" when he was writing the title track.

In 1991, Garth Brooks recorded "Shameless" on his album Ropin' the Wind. Brooks' cover version was also released as a single and reached the top of the US country charts, and also entered the UK Singles Chart.

Storm Front marked a radical change in Joel's backing band. Since his last studio album (The Bridge), both Russell Javors and Doug Stegmeyer, long-time members of Joel's band, were discharged from their respective duties as rhythm guitarist and bass guitarist. Javors was replaced with Joey Hunting for the record and by Tommy Byrnes on tour while Stegmeyer was replaced by Schuyler Deale. Band regulars Liberty DeVitto, David Brown and Mark Rivera were retained. Joel also hired the percussionist and multi-instrumentalist Crystal Taliefero beginning with this album.

Track listing

All songs written by Billy Joel.

Side one

1. "That's Not Her Style" – 5:10
2. "We Didn't Start the Fire" – 4:50
3. "The Downeaster 'Alexa'" – 3:44
4. "I Go to Extremes" – 4:23
5. "Shameless" – 4:26

Side two

1. "Storm Front" – 5:17
2. "Leningrad" – 4:06
3. "State of Grace" – 4:30
4. "When in Rome" – 4:44
5. "And So It Goes" – 3:38

Produced by Billy Joel and Mick Jones

Mixed by Tom Lord-Alge (tracks 1–3) and Jay Healy (tracks 3–10).

Engineered by Jay Healy

Assistant engineers – Dana Becker, Tim Crich, David Dorn, Suzanne Hollander, Joe Pirrera and Gary Solomon.

Mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound (New York, NY).

Art direction – Chris Austopchuk

Back photo – Timothy White

Front photo – Frank Ockenfels