Heartland (Real Life album) explained

Heartland
Type:	Album
Artist:	Real Life
Cover:	Heartland, Real Life album cover.jpg
Released:	November 1983
Recorded:	1983
Studio:	Rhinoceros Studios, Sydney AAV, Melbourne (Track A1)^[1] Richmond Recorders, Melbourne (Track B3)^[2]
Length:	39:56
Next Title:	Master Mix
Next Year:	1984

Heartland is the debut studio album from Australian band Real Life. The album was released in Australia in November 1983. The album peaked at number 30 on the Australian Kent Music Report and remained in the charts for 27 weeks.

At the Countdown Music and Video Awards of 1983, the album won Best Debut Album.

Reception

Tomas Mureika from AllMusic called Heartland "One of the strongest -- and most unappreciated -- albums of the new wave era" and singled out "Catch Me I'm Falling" as the best track on the album. Mureika said "The title track is a stirring, brooding anthem, worthy of U2's powerful early new wave days, complete with wailing guitar solo. "Broken Again," "Breaking Point," and "Openhearted" are built on solid pop hooks, while the album's closer "Burning Blue" is a melancholic summation of a great record."

Track listing

All songs written by David Sterry and Richard Zatorski.

Personnel

Real Life

• David Sterry – vocals, guitar
• Richard Zatorski – keyboards
• Allan Johnson – bass
• Danny Simcic – drums

Additional musicians

• Lisa Edwards – backing vocals ("Send Me an Angel")^[3]

Technical

• Steve Hillage – producer (except "Send Me an Angel" and "Openhearted"), remix ("Send Me an Angel" and "Openhearted")
• Ross Cockle – producer ("Send Me an Angel")
• Ross Fraser – producer ("Openhearted")
• Andrew Scott – engineer (except "Send Me an Angel" and "Openhearted")
• Steve Hall – mastering
• Geoff Ambler – cover photography

Charts

Chart (1983–1984)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[4]	30
US Billboard 200^[5]	58

Notes and References

1. Send Me an Angel. Real Life. MCA. 1983. MCA 850. liner notes.
2. Openhearted. Real Life. Wheatley Records. 1983. WRS 003. liner notes.
3. Web site: Jeff. Jenkins. The Remarkable Real Life Story Of 'Send Me An Angel', The Aussie Song That Hit The US Top 40… Twice. themusic.com.au. 17 January 2024. 1 February 2024.
4. Book: Kent, David . David Kent (historian) . Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . Australian Chart Book . . 1993 . 247 . 0-646-11917-6.
5. Web site: Heartland – Awards . . 27 April 2014.