''Rover's Return'' is the fourth studio album from English musician John Waite, which was released by EMI in 1987.

Background

''Rover's Return'' reached No. 77 on the US '' Billboard 200'' and remained in the charts for twelve weeks. Two singles were released from the album, "

These Times Are Hard for Lovers "These Times Are Hard for Lovers" is a song by English musician John Waite, which was released in 1987 as the lead single from his fourth studio album '' Rover's Return''. The song was written by Desmond Child and Waite, and produced by Child, Fran ...

", co-written with

Desmond Child John Charles Barrett (born October 28, 1953), known professionally as Desmond Child, is an American songwriter and producer. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2008. His hits as a songwriter include Kiss's "I Was Made for Lovi ...

, and "

Don't Lose Any Sleep "Don't Lose Any Sleep" is a song by English musician John Waite, which was released in 1987 as the second and final single from his fourth studio album '' Rover's Return''. The song was written by Diane Warren, and produced by Frank Filipetti, Ric ...

", written by

Diane Warren Diane Eve Warren (born September 7, 1956) is an American songwriter. She has received several awards including a Grammy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, three ''Billboard'' Music Awards and an Honorary Academy Award. Wa ...

. "These Times Are Hard for Lovers" peaked at No. 53 on the ''Billboard''

Hot 100 The ''Billboard'' Hot 100 is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for songs, published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine. Chart rankings are based on sales (physical and digital), radio play, and online streaming ...

and "Don't Lose Any Sleep" reached No. 81.

Recording

The album was largely recorded and mixed at Right Track Studios in New York City, with additional recording at The Hit Factory, The Power Station and Carriage House Studios. During the sessions for ''Rover's Return'', Waite recorded a version of the

Billy Steinberg William Endfield Steinberg (born February 26, 1950) is an American songwriter. He achieved his greatest success in the 1980s with songwriting partner Tom Kelly; together they wrote or co-wrote the No. 1 hits " Like a Virgin" by Madonna (1984), ...

and Tom Kelly song "

I Drove All Night "I Drove All Night" is a song written and composed by American songwriters Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly and originally intended for Roy Orbison. Orbison recorded the song in 1987, the year before his death, but his version was not released until ...

". but decided not to release it. The song was also recorded by

Roy Orbison Roy Kelton Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician known for his impassioned singing style, complex song structures, and dark, emotional ballads. His music was described by critics as ...

in 1987 but his was not released until 1992, by which time Cyndi Lauper had her hit version in 1989. In 2001, Waite's recording was released on the One Way Records release ''Live & Rare Tracks''.

Release

''Rover's Return'' was released via EMI America on vinyl, cassette and CD. It was released in the US, Canada, UK, and Europe. On 25 June 2012, the British label BGO Records digitally remastered the album and re-issued it in the UK.

Critical reception

In a retrospective review,

Stephen Thomas Erlewine Stephen Thomas Erlewine (; born June 18, 1973) is an American music critic and senior editor for the online music database AllMusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for AllMusic, as well as a freelance writer, occ ...

of AllMusic wrote, "''Rover's Return'' is an attempt to bring Waite back to the top of the charts that just doesn't work. That's not to say that the record is a complete failure, because there are portions that work quite well - the surging opener "These Times Are Hard for Lovers" is good radio rock, and Waite's voice always sounds good in this polished setting. Still, it's a little stiff and predictable, never quite reaching a level that's interesting, either as a period artifact or a piece of professional craft."

Track listing

Personnel

* John Waite – lead vocals * Chuck Kentis – keyboards, synthesizers * Gregg Mangiafico – keyboards, synthesizers * Tommy Mandel – keyboards, synthesizers * Arthur Stead – keyboards, synthesizers * John McCurry – electric guitars, acoustic guitar * Gary Myrick – guitars (9) * John K (John James Kumnick) – bass * John Regan – bass * Mike Braun – drums *

Anton Fig Anton Fig (born 8 August 1952 in Cape Town, South Africa), known as "The Thunder from Down Under", is a South African session drummer, perhaps best known as the drummer and second-in-command for Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Ba ...

– drums *

Thommy Price Thommy Price (born December 9, 1956) is an American musician. He has played drums in a number of bands, including Scandal, Billy Idol, Blue Öyster Cult, and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and is an in-demand session drummer. History Price was a ...

– drums * Jimmy Bralower – drum programming * Elaine Caswell – backing vocals *

– backing vocals * Diana Grasselli – backing vocals * Patty Forbes – backing vocals * Louie Marlino – backing vocals * Ellen Shipley – backing vocals * Joe Lynn Turner – backing vocals * Myriam Valle – backing vocals * Maria Vidal – backing vocals *

– backing vocals

Production

* John Waite – producer * Frank Filipetti – producer, recording, mixing * Desmond Child – producer (1) * Rick Nowels – producer (6, 7) * Dave Dale – additional engineer * Michael Frondelli – additional engineer * Bradshaw Leigh – additional engineer * Tom Lord-Alge – additional engineer * Phil Magnotti – additional engineer * Billy Miranda – additional engineer, assistant engineer * Arthur Payson – additional engineer * Debi Cornish – assistant engineer * Mark Cobrin – assistant engineer * Jay Healy – assistant engineer * Peter Hefter – assistant engineer * Tim Kramer – assistant engineer * Tim Leitner – assistant engineer * Scott Mabuchi – assistant engineer * Dan Mormando – assistant engineer * Don Rodenbach – assistant engineer * Craig Vogel – assistant engineer * Paul D. Spriggs – production coordinator *

Trevor Key Trevor ( Trefor in the Welsh language) is a common given name or surname of Welsh origin. It is an habitational name, deriving from the Welsh ''tre(f)'', meaning "homestead", or "settlement" and ''fawr'', meaning "large, big". The Cornish lan ...

– photography * Henry Marquez – art direction * Norman Moore – art direction * Richard Duardo – artwork (silkscreen print)

Charts

References

{{Authority control 1987 albums EMI America Records albums John Waite albums Albums produced by Rick Nowels