Higher Power | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 8 November 1994 | |||
Genre | Alternative | |||
Length | 67:03 | |||
Label | Columbia[1] | |||
Producer | Mick Jones, André Shapps, Arthur Baker | |||
Big Audio chronology | ||||
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Singles from Higher Power | ||||
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Higher Power is the seventh album by Big Audio Dynamite (renamed Big Audio), released in 1994.[2][3] First released in the US on 8 November, it was then released in the UK the following week on 14 November 1994.[4][5] "Looking for a Song" was released as a single; it peaked at No. 24 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart.[6][7] The band supported the album with a North American tour.[8]
Production
Many of its songs are about English middle class life.[9] Mick Jones was inspired by Bob Marley to include uplifting messages in Higher Power's songs.[10]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [11] |
Calgary Herald | C−[12] |
Chicago Tribune | [9] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [13] |
Entertainment Weekly | C−[14] |
Knoxville News Sentinel | [15] |
Trouser Press wrote that "Higher Power finds Jones and company operating at a decidedly lower level ... The hip dance-music sounds are there, but the tunes most certainly aren't."[16] Entertainment Weekly thought that the album "continues Jones' bid for currency by experimenting with the sounds of London's dance clubs ... The result is neither good rave nor good rock."[14]
The Knoxville News Sentinel called it "an alternative album at the core that absorbs a fun array of funk, pop and hip-hop influences for a distinctive and accessible blend."[15] The Calgary Herald determined that "it just bops along with riffs that are pleasant enough but lack any edge, any passion."[12]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Got to Wake Up" | Jones | 4:51 |
2. | "Harrow Road" | Graham Fisher, Kenneth Hare, Jones, Stonadge | 5:26 |
3. | "Looking for a Song" | Jones, Sergio Portaluri, David Sion, Fulvio Zefret | 3:47 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
4. | "Some People" | Hawkins, Jones | 4:55 |
5. | "Slender Loris" | Jones | 6:10 |
6. | "Modern Stoneage Blues" | Jones, Stonadge | 3:45 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
7. | "Melancholy Maybe" | Jones, Stonadge | 5:43 |
8. | "Over the Rise" | Jones | 4:57 |
9. | "Why Is It?" | Jones, Stonadge | 5:00 |
10. | "Moon" | Jones | 6:27 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
11. | "Lucan" | Hawkins, Jones, Stonadge | 5:49 |
12. | "Light Up My Life" | Jones | 4:35 |
13. | "Hope" | Jones, Stonadge | 5:38 |
Personnel
Big Audio
- Mick Jones - guitar, vocals, producer
- Nick Hawkins - vocals, guitar, engineer
- André Shapps - keyboards, producer, engineer
- Gary Stonadge - bass, vocals
- Chris Kavanagh - drums, vocals
- Mickey Custance - DJ, vocals
Additional credits
- Ranking Roger - vocals
- Aki Omori, Loro Lucan - backing vocals on "Some People"
- Heathcote Williams - biographical editor
- John R.T. Davies - editing
- Arthur Baker - co-producer of track 6
- Würzel - photography
References
- ↑ Thompson, Dave (15 July 2000). "Alternative Rock". Hal Leonard Corporation – via Google Books.
- ↑ "Big Audio Dynamite Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ↑ Thompson, Clifford (7 October 2020). "Contemporary World Musicians". Routledge – via Google Books.
- ↑ "Upcoming Releases" (PDF). CMJ New Music Report. 31 October 1994. p. 60. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
- ↑ "New Albums" (PDF). Music Week. 12 November 1994. p. 22. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
- ↑ Buckley, Peter (15 July 2003). "The Rough Guide to Rock". Rough Guides – via Google Books.
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (15 July 2008). "Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981-2008". Hal Leonard Corporation – via Google Books.
- ↑ Bream, Jon (30 November 1994). "ROCK the HALLS". Star Tribune. p. 1E.
- 1 2 Webber, Brad (24 November 1994). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 10.
- ↑ Rutkoski, Rex (27 January 1995). "JONES MIXES HIS DYNAMITE WELL". USA Today.
- ↑ Ruhlmann, William. Review: Higher Power. AllMusic. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
- 1 2 Muretich, James (20 November 1994). "Big Audio: Higher Power". Calgary Herald. p. D2.
- ↑ Larkin, Colin (27 May 2011). "The Encyclopedia of Popular Music". Omnibus Press – via Google Books.
- 1 2 "Music Review: 'Higher Power'". EW.com.
- 1 2 Campbell, Chuck (11 November 1994). "'Higher Power', Big Audio". Detours. Knoxville News Sentinel. p. 3.
- ↑ "Big Audio Dynamite". Trouser Press. Retrieved 15 July 2022.