Tao (album) explained

Tao
Type:	studio
Artist:	Rick Springfield
Cover:	Ricktao.jpg
Released:	27 March 1985^[1]
Length:	41:00
Label:	RCA
Producer:	Rick Springfield, Bill Drescher
Prev Title:	Beautiful Feelings
Prev Year:	1984
Next Title:	Rock of Life
Next Year:	1988

Tao is the tenth studio album by Australian musician Rick Springfield. It was released on 27 March 1985, by RCA Records.

Production

In the liner notes for the collector's edition CD of Tao, Springfield comments, "I was going through a major depression back then, and had been for a few years. I was spiritually lost, and finding it hard to cope with everything that was going on. Even my success was causing me pain. I couldn't come to terms with earning so much money while others were struggling to find small change even to eat. It seemed so wrong, but what could I do about it? On top of that, I had real problems dealing with my father's death. It all meant that I was in such a mess, which is why the lyrics on the "Tao" album are definitely the darkest of my career."

Critical reception

Cash Box described the lead single "Celebrate Youth" as a "slamming rocker" and an "impassioned anthem."^[2]

Track listing

All songs written by Rick Springfield, except where noted.

1. "Dance This World Away" (Tim Pierce, Springfield) - 4:36
2. "Celebrate Youth" - 4:24 (the song is 3:53 followed by a 30-second outro featuring a child's voice repeating the words "who's there")
3. "State of the Heart" (Eric McCusker, Tim Pierce, Springfield) - 4:02
4. "Written in Rock" - 4:34
5. "The Power of Love (The Tao of Love)" - 5:00
6. "Walking on the Edge" - 5:09
7. "Walk Like a Man" - 4:14
8. "The Tao of Heaven" - 1:28
9. "Stranger in the House" - 4:03
10. "My Father's Chair" - 3:27

Total length: 41:02

Personnel

• Rick Springfield - vocals, guitar, Emulator II, DMX programs, bass, DX7, percussion, JX-3P, backing vocals
• Mitchell Froom - Emulator II, Optigan, DX7
• Tim Pierce - guitar, GR707
• John Philip Shenale - ppg, OB8, DX7
• Jeff Silverman - GR707
• Mike Baird - drums
• Mike Fischer - acoustic percussion
• Pino Palladino - fretless bass
• Nicky Hopkins - DX7, JX-3P
• Richard Page, Edie Lehmann - backing vocals and lines on "Dance This World Away"
• Tommy Funderburk, Tom Kelly, Mike Selfrit - backing vocals
• Nigel Lundemo Pierce - "talking boy"
• Produced by Rick Springfield and Bill Drescher
• Engineered by Bill Drescher
• Mastered by Greg Fulginiti at Artisan Sound, Hollywood

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1985)	Peak position
Australia Albums (Kent Music Report)^[3]	85
Canadian Albums (RPM)	50

Year-end charts

Chart (1985)	Position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[4]	16
US Billboard 200^[5]	81

Notes and References

1. Dome, Malcolm (2008). [Liner notes]. Tao (Re-Mastered Edition) [CD]. Catalog: CANDY041. Rock Candy Records.
2. Single Releases. Cash Box. April 6, 1985. 2022-07-26. 13.
3. 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. 289.
4. Web site: Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts. de. GfK Entertainment. offiziellecharts.de. 11 November 2021.
5. Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1985. Billboard. 11 November 2021.