Rover's Return (album) explained

Rover's Return
Type:studio
Artist:John Waite
Cover:John Waite Rover's Return 1987 Album Cover.jpg
Released:1987
Studio:Right Track Recording, The Hit Factory and The Power Station (New York, NY); Carnage House Studios (Stamford, CT).
Genre:Pop rock
Length:40:26
Label:EMI America Records
Producer:Frank Filipetti, John Waite (all tracks)
Desmond Child (track 1)
Rick Nowels (tracks 6 & 7).
Prev Title:Mask of Smiles
Prev Year:1985
Next Title:Temple Bar
Next Year:1995

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

Background

Rover's Return reached No. 77 on the US Billboard 200 and remained in the charts for twelve weeks.[1] 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.[2]

Recording

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.[3]

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.[4] In 2001, Waite's recording was released on the One Way Records release Live & Rare Tracks.[5]

Release

Rover's Return was released via EMI America on vinyl, cassette and CD. It was released in the US, Canada, UK, and Europe.[6] On 25 June 2012, the British label BGO Records digitally remastered the album and re-issued it in the UK.[7]

Critical reception

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."

Personnel

Production

Charts

Chart (1987)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[8] 99
Swedish Albums Chart[9] 30
US (Billboard 200)77

Notes and References

  1. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=john waite|chart=Billboard 200}} John Waite - Chart history ]. Billboard . 2013-05-02.
  2. Web site: Rover's Return - John Waite : Awards . AllMusic . 2013-05-02.
  3. Web site: Images for John Waite - Rover's Return . Discogs.com . 2013-05-02.
  4. Web site: Recording: I Drove All Night - John Waite . Second Hand Songs . 2013-05-02.
  5. Web site: Ruhlmann . William . Live & Rare Tracks - John Waite : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards . AllMusic . 2001-09-11 . 2013-05-02.
  6. Web site: John Waite - Rover's Return at Discogs . Discogs.com . 2013-05-02.
  7. Web site: Rover's Return: Amazon.co.uk: Music . Amazon.co.uk . 2013-05-02.
  8. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 331.
  9. Web site: Steffen Hung . John Waite - Rover's Return . swedishcharts.com . 2013-05-02.