ALBUM OF THE WEEK # 62 BRYAN ADAMS - RECKLESS (1984)

[RJhog (Admin)]

Artist: Bryan Adams

Album: Reckless

Producer: Bryan Adams/Bob Clearmountain

Singles: Run To You #6/Somebody #11/Heaven #1/Summer of '69 #5/One Night Love Affair #13/It's Only Love #15

Favorite Single: Run To You

Favorite Album Cut: Kids Wanna Rock

Most Likely To Skip: Long Gone/Heaven/Ain't Gonna Cry

Album Art: Sucks

Final Rating: 79% Before Curve Downward For Cover Art (75% Total)

 

We stay in the 80's Pop realm this week with Bryan Adams fourth studio album, Reckless.  It was released in 1984 and peaked at Number One on the Billboard 200 Album Chart.  It has sold 13 million units internationally and has been certified 5 X Platinum in the U.S.  Six singles were released from the album, with all 6 reaching the Top 15 in the U.S., including the Number One hit Somebody. 

 

I think it's a pretty good album.  For the most part, I like the singles.  The lone exception would be the syrupy ballad Heaven.  Look, it's not the worst song in the world, but I could go 20 years without hearing it and be totally at peace with that.  Run To You is my favorite Bryan Adams song, but I also like It's Only Love, a really cool duet with Tina Turner.  Both did a fantastic job on the song and it was nominated for a Grammy Award.  I also really love the instant transition from Kids Wanna Rock to It's Only Love. 

 

It's readily available from Amazon for about 7 bucks new or 3 bucks used.  The album cover stinks. 

 

Did You Know: At the time, the six Top 15 singles were a feat that had only been accomplished by Michael Jackson (Thriller).  Also, the album was co-written by Adams and Jim Vallance, who also co-wrote 2 songs with Gene Simmons (Rock And Roll Hell & War Machine) for Kiss' Creatures Of The Night album.

 

Next Week: Another classic rock band makes a Billboard splash.

 

 

 

1. One Night Love Affair 9/10

2. She's Only Happy When She's Dancin' 7/10

3. Run To You 10/10

4. Heaven 6/10

5. Somebody 8/10

6. Summer Of '69 10/10

7. Kids Wanna Rock 8/10

8. It's Only Love (w/Tina Turner) 10/10

9. Long Gone 5/10

10. Ain't Gonna Cry 6/10

 

 

[Niels (Mod)]

Nice work, RJhog. I don't have to listen to this album right now, because I've heard it so many times before.

I don't think, it's his best album. That's "Cuts Like A Knife", but there's some pretty good tracks on this album, especially "Run To You", "One Night Love Affair" and of course the over-played ""Summer Of '69". But I've always hated "It's Only Love". Come to think of it, "Heaven" and Somebody" are pretty good too. Maybe it IS his best album???? I've seen Bryan Adams live 3 times, in '85 (on "this" tour), '87 and '90 (where he supported ZZ Top, they blew him offstage, by the way!!!) Not because I was a fan, but a few of my friends were, and I was always ready for a concert. (that's why, I've also seen Eurythmics, Tina Turner and Whitney f...... Houston!!!) The next album he made "Into The Fire", was rather good too, but since "Walking Up The Neighbours", NO one can get me to a Bryan Adams-concert again!!! I hate that album and pretty much everything he have done since. A duet with Sporty Spice!!!   

[Jon]

I shall listen to this, haven't heard it since the 80's when i had it on vinyl.

[Scott]

Agreed that Cuts like a knife is better, but this is classic.  I love everything except the Tina Turner duet.  Pull that off and replace it with anything and its on par with Cuts Like A Knife - IMO

 

And while I agree his 90's output was not good, his release titled Room Service is a nice return to what he does best, and that write great pop-rock tunes.  You shoudl check it out.

 

But for me Heaven has sentimental value in big way, so no more talking bad about it!

 

All thats left is a nice remastering/deluxe packaging job and I'm repurchasing this the day it comes out!

[RJhog (Admin)]

I predict...next week's AOTW will be loved by many.

[TageRyche]

Run To You and Summer of '69 were huge staples of my listening time growing up when this album was out. The latter song still gets played a lot on the AC station we sometimes have on at work.