Tao (album)

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."

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Cash Box described the lead single "Celebrate Youth" as a "slamming rocker" and an "impassioned anthem."^[3]

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

• Rick Springfield - vocals, guitar, Emulator II, DMX programs, bass, DX7, percussion, JX-3P, backing vocals
• Mitchell Froom - Emulator II, Optigan, DX7, Jupiter 8, Memorymoog, Expander (Oberheim Xpander)
• 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