Turn Back the Clock (album)

1988 studio album by Johnny Hates Jazz From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Turn Back the Clock is the debut studio album by English band Johnny Hates Jazz, released by Virgin Records on 11 January 1988 in United Kingdom and on 29 March 1988 in the United States. The album, whose most famous single was "Shattered Dreams", peaked at number one on the UK Albums Chart and at number 56 on the US Billboard 200. Kim Wilde sings backing vocals on the title track, which reached number 12 on the UK Singles Chart and number 10 in New Zealand. The track "Foolish Heart" was originally released as a single in 1986 as "Me and My Foolish Heart".

Released11 January 1988 (1988-01-11)
Recorded1986–1987
StudioRAK Studios (London, UK)
GenreSophisti-pop,[1] synth-pop[2]
Quick facts Studio album by Johnny Hates Jazz, Released ...
Turn Back the Clock
Studio album by
Johnny Hates Jazz
Released11 January 1988 (1988-01-11)
Recorded1986–1987
StudioRAK Studios (London, UK)
GenreSophisti-pop,[1] synth-pop[2]
Length36:24
LabelVirgin
Producer
Johnny Hates Jazz chronology
Turn Back the Clock
(1988)		 Tall Stories
(1991)
Singles from Turn Back the Clock
  1. "Me and My Foolish Heart"
    Released: 1986
  2. "Shattered Dreams"
    Released: March 1987
  3. "I Don't Want to Be a Hero"
    Released: August 1987
  4. "Turn Back the Clock"
    Released: 1987
  5. "Heart of Gold"
    Released: 15 February 1988
  6. "Don't Say It's Love"
    Released: 27 June 1988
Close
More information Review scores, Source ...
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStar[3]
Record MirrorStarStarStarHalf star[4]
New Musical Express8/10[5]
Smash Hits5/10[6]
Close

The song "Listen", written and co-produced by Phil Thornalley, was later re-recorded for his solo album Swamp, also released in 1988.[7]

Reception

Michael Sutton of AllMusic wrote, "The music on Turn Back the Clock is generally upbeat synth pop, but the words are often sad. Although Johnny Hates Jazz offer no profound revelations about failed relationships or lost love, there is genuine emotion beneath the studio luster of "What Other Reason," "Different Seasons," "Don't Let It End This Way," and "Foolish Heart."". The viewer described the album as "a true guilty pleasure" with "no artistic risks yet it's too hummable to ignore."

Spin wrote, "They commit many cardinal musical sins, like being satisfied to have reached page three of their MIDI handbook, and figuring they now know everything there is to know about their new synths. This is evident from the first note. So everything has a basic beat and it’s all in synch, and so what?"[8]

Track listing

All songs written by Clark Datchler, except where noted.

Standard version

1988 original vinyl album and US CD release

  1. "Shattered Dreams" – 3:26
  2. "Heart of Gold" – 3:20
  3. "Turn Back the Clock" – 4:30
  4. "Don't Say It's Love" – 3:43
  5. "What Other Reason" – 3:20
  6. "I Don't Want to Be a Hero" – 3:37
  7. "Listen" – 3:44 (Phil Thornalley)
  8. "Different Seasons" – 3:31 (Clark Datchler, Calvin Hayes)
  9. "Don't Let It End This Way" – 3:40
  10. "Foolish Heart" – 3:33 (Iain Macdonald, C. Hayes, M. Nocito, P. Thornalley)

Bonus tracks

1988 CD release

  2. "Heart of Gold" (J. Mendelsohn Mix) – 6:41
  3. "Turn Back the Clock" (J. Mendelsohn Mix) – 7:03
  4. "I Don't Want to Be a Hero" (Extended Mix) – 6:36

2008 UK remastered edition

  2. "Shattered Dreams" (12" Extended Mix) – 5:11
  3. "Heart of Gold" (Extended Mix) – 6:42
  4. "Turn Back the Clock" (12" Extended Mix) – 7:03
  5. "Don't Say It's Love" (Extended Mix) – 6:36
  6. "Foolish Heart" (12" Mix) – 5:50
  7. "Turn Back the Clock" (Unreleased Version) – 4:35

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Turn Back the Clock.[9]

Johnny Hates Jazz

  • Clark Datchler – lead vocals and backing vocals, synth basslines[10]
  • Calvin Hayes – keyboards[11]
  • Mike Nocito – synthesizers and drum machine

Additional musicians

Production

  • Calvin Hayes – producer
  • Mike Nocito – producer, engineer
  • Phil Thornalley – co-producer on "Listen", mixing
  • Greg Jackman – mixing
  • Bob Kraushaar – mixing
  • Julian Mendelsohn – mixing
  • Matt Barry – assistant engineer
  • Richard Edwards – assistant engineer
  • Terry Irwin – assistant engineer
  • Roy Spong – assistant engineer
  • Tim Weidner – assistant engineer
  • Kevin Metcalfe – mastering
  • Sarm West Studios (London, UK) – mixing location
  • The Townhouse (London, UK) – mastering location

Artwork

Charts

More information Chart (1988), Peak position ...
Close

Certifications

More information Region, Certification ...
Certifications for Turn Back the Clock
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[30] Gold 50,000^
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[31] Gold 10,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[32] 2× Platinum 600,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Close

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI