Bang! (Corey Hart album) explained

Bang!
Type:	Studio album
Artist:	Corey Hart
Cover:	Bang! (Corey Hart album).jpg
Released:	March 12, 1990
Recorded:	1989–1990
Studio:	Rumbo Recorders (Los Angeles, California); Can-Am Recorders (Tarzana, California).
Genre:	Pop, rock
Length:	42:57
Label:	EMI
Producer:	Corey Hart, Greg Edward
Prev Title:	Young Man Running
Prev Year:	1988
Next Title:	Singles
Next Year:	1992

Bang! is an album by the Canadian musician Corey Hart, released in 1990.^{[1] [2]} It was his last album to chart in the U.S., reaching No. 134, and generated one hit single, "A Little Love", which reached No. 37.^[3] Hart supported the album with a North American tour.^[4]

Production

The album was recorded in California.^[5] The track "Ballade for Nien Cheng" was inspired by Cheng's memoir Life and Death in Shanghai.^[6] "Chase the Sun" is a re-recorded version of a track from Hart's previous album, Young Man Running. Kenny Aronoff played drums.^[7]

Critical reception

The Toronto Star wrote that Hart's voice "is a martyr's bleat that strains for soulfulness but ends up suggesting something closer to discomfort."^[8] The Orlando Sentinel noted Hart's "continuing bid to prove Canadian MOR can be just as middle-of-the-road as American MOR."^[9]

Track listing

All songs written by Corey Hart.

1. "A Little Love" 4:09
2. "Bang! (Starting Over)" 3:48
3. "Rain On Me" 4:38
4. "Chase the Sun" 3:15
5. "Diamond Cowboy" 4:32
6. "Icon" 3:52
7. "Can't Stand Losin' You" 4:30
8. "Kisses on the Train" 4:15
9. "Art of Color" 4:17
10. "Slowburn" 2:50
11. "Ballade for Nien Cheng" 2:51

Production

• Corey Hart – producer
• Greg Edward – producer, recording, mixing
• Matt D'Arbanlay-Butler – engineer
• Jeff Poe – assistant engineer
• Andy Udoff – assistant engineer
• Toby Wright – assistant engineer
• Bob Ludwig – mastering at Masterdisk (New York City, New York).
• Julia Eisenthal – album coordinator
• Henry Marquez – art direction
• Erika Gagnon – art direction, design
• Dewey Nicks – photography

Personnel

• Corey Hart – lead and backing vocals, keyboards, acoustic piano
• Charles Judge – keyboards
• Randy Kerber – additional keyboards
• Michael Landau – guitars
• Michael Hehir – additional guitars
• John Pierce – bass
• Kenny Aronoff – drums, percussion, additional backing vocals (1)
• Gerald Albright – saxophones
• Jimmy Z. – harmonica
• Doug Cameron – violin (7)
• Greg Edward – additional backing vocals (1)
• Ruby Turner – backing vocals

Notes and References

1. News: Slotek . Jim . Furthermore . Toronto Sun . January 10, 1990 . Entertainment . 59.
2. News: Potter . Mitch . Here are the shapes of sounds to come . Toronto Star . January 16, 1990 . C1.
3. Web site: Corey Hart . Billboard . 18 February 2023.
4. News: Beck . Marilyn . The Inside Track . Los Angeles Daily News . February 21, 1990 . L18.
5. News: Burliuk . Greg . Introspection and Happy Disarray . The Kingston Whig-Standard . April 14, 1990 . Magazine.
6. Bang! album liner notes
7. News: Thompson . Bob . Back On . Toronto Sun . March 29, 1990 . Entertainment . 62.
8. News: Dafoe . Chris . Corey spins his wheels . Toronto Star . March 16, 1990 . D18.
9. News: Gettelman . Parry . Here's what's new at the record shops . Orlando Sentinel . April 6, 1990 . Calendar . 23.