Reckless (Bryan Adams album)

Reckless is the fourth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams. Released on 5 November 1984 by A&M Records, the album was co-produced by Adams and Bob Clearmountain, and it was arguably Adams' most successful solo album. The album has reached 12 million album sales worldwide.[2] It was the first Canadian album to sell more than a million copies within Canada.[3] The album reached number 1 on the Billboard 200 and reached high positions on album charts worldwide.[4]

Reckless
Studio album by
Bryan Adams
Released5 November 1984 (1984-11-05)
RecordedJune 1983, March–August 1984
Studio
GenreRock, pop rock[1]
Length37:58
LabelA&M
Producer
Bryan Adams chronology
Cuts Like a Knife
(1983)		 Reckless
(1984)		 Into the Fire
(1987)
Singles from Reckless
  1. "Run to You"
    Released: 18 October 1984
  2. "Somebody"
    Released: 1985
  3. "Heaven"
    Released: 9 April 1985
  4. "Summer of '69"
    Released: 17 June 1985
  5. "One Night Love Affair"
    Released: 1985
  6. "It's Only Love"
    Released: 1985

Six singles were released from the album: "Run to You", "Somebody", "Heaven", "Summer of '69", "One Night Love Affair", and "It's Only Love". All six singles made the top 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100, which until that time had been accomplished previously only by Michael Jackson's Thriller and Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA. The album was ranked No. 49 on Kerrang!s "100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time" in 1989,[5] and 99th Greatest Rock Album of All Time by Classic Rock and was also named the number 12 Greatest Canadian Album of All Time by Bob Mersereau in his book The Top 100 Canadian Albums.[6] The album was recorded at Little Mountain Sound Studios, Vancouver, Canada. On 12 December 2009 the syndicated radio program In the Studio celebrated the 25th anniversary of the album.

A 30th Anniversary edition of the album, featuring previously unreleased material and a brand new 5.1 surround mix, was released on 10 November 2014 in both four and two-disc editions. The Reckless 30th Anniversary Tour also took place in November 2014, consisting of eleven exclusive arena shows in the UK.

Music

Recording and production

The first song recorded was "Heaven", which had been co-written by Adams and Jim Vallance for the film A Night in Heaven.[7] The song was recorded at the Power Station in New York on 6–7 June 1983 and was mixed on 16 June 1983, with Bob Clearmountain co-producing and engineering.[8][7] Despite having been released on the film's soundtrack album, the song was initially not considered suitable for Reckless, only being included at the last minute.[7]

In March 1984, recording for Reckless began after extensive touring for the support of Cuts Like a Knife. However, unhappy with the recording process, Adams decided to take a month off.[9] In August, Adams headed back to the studio with Tina Turner for the track "It's Only Love"; he also returned with more new songs and started re-recording songs which would lead to the development of such tracks as "Run to You", "Summer of '69", and "Heaven".[9]

"Run to You" was recorded after a tour in Asia.[8] The recording for "Run to You" started on 27 March 1984 and went through the summer at Little Mountain Sound Studios, Vancouver. It was mixed in New York by Bob Clearmountain, with mixing of the song completed on 21 September.[8] "Summer of '69" was written on 25 January 1984 with Jim Vallance. The recording took place at Little Mountain Sound Studios where the song was recorded three times over the winter. It was mixed in New York by Bob Clearmountain on 22 November 1984.[8]

Songs

"Run to You" was released as the debut single from Reckless on 18 October 1984 in Canada and the U.S. and became one of the most successful songs from the album on the American pop and rock charts; it would become arguably one of Adams' most recognizable and popular songs.[8] The song was Adams' first number one hit on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart, a position it held for four weeks, and reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100.[4] It reached the top 20 on the Canadian singles chart and remained in the top 20 for seven weeks, peaking at number 4. With "Run to You", Adams reached the highest Canadian chart position in his career to that time; it was his third top 20 hit single in Canada.[10] "Run to You" was released in November 1984 in Europe where it peaked at the top ten in Ireland at number 8 and reached number 11 on the UK Singles Chart; it was his second single to chart in Europe.[11][12]

"Somebody" was released as a single in January 1985 and became one of the most successful songs from Reckless on the American rock charts.[8] The song was Adams' second number one hit on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart. It reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100[4] and was in the top 20 on the Canadian singles chart for six weeks. "Somebody" was Adams' fourth top 20 hit on the Canadian chart.[4] "Somebody" was released the following month in Europe and peaked at the top 20 in Ireland at number 20 and reached the top 40 on the UK Singles Chart at 35; it was his third single to chart in Europe.[11][12]

"Heaven" was the third single from Reckless. The single topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks in June 1985. The song previously peaked at number nine on the Billboard Top Tracks chart from the A Night in Heaven soundtrack album in February 1984.[4] The song has appeared on all of Adams' compilation albums with the exception of The Best of Me. The single was certified Gold in Canada in 1985.[13]

Adams playing "Summer of '69" live in Dublin, Ireland.

Upon the release of the album in November 1984, "Summer of '69" received some airplay on album-oriented rock radio stations but was mostly overshadowed by the tracks "Run to You" and "It's Only Love", only managing to reach number 40 on Billboard's Top Rock Tracks chart. After it was released as a single in June 1985, "Summer of '69" reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song was released in Australia, Europe and New Zealand in 1985. "Heaven" reached the UK top 40, while "Summer of '69" peaked at the top 40.[11] "Summer of '69" continued the trend of higher-charting singles when it debuted and peaked at top 20 in most of the European countries it charted. Adams' previous singles had charted much weaker in Europe and "Summer of '69" would be Adams' second single to chart in mainland Europe.

Although "Summer of '69" reached the top ten in Norway and then the top 20 in the Austria, Ireland and Sweden, it was a moderate top 100 success in Germany, where it peaked at 62.[12][14][15][16][17]

Co-writer Jim Vallance has always gone for the more conventional interpretation of the title being a reference to a year. He notes Jackson Browne's "Running on Empty", which contains references to 1965 and 1969, as his own influence, and recalls that Adams cited the film Summer of '42 as his.[18]

Released as the fifth single from the album in September 1985, "One Night Love Affair" peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 13 and at number 7 on the Top Rock Tracks chart.[4] In Canada, "One Night Love Affair" was officially released to radio in February 1985.[8] The song reached the top 20 on the Canadian Singles Chart and remained in the top twenty for another month. "One Night Love Affair" was the lowest charting single from Reckless.[4]

While never released as a single, "Kids Wanna Rock" received airplay on album-oriented rock stations in Canada and the United States enabling it to chart on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart, where it peaked at number 42. Due to its popularity in concert, it was included on the greatest hits collection "So Far So Good".

Release and critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[19]
The Great Rock Discography7/10[20]
Rolling Stone[21]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[22]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[23]
The Village VoiceC-[24]

Soon after its release, Reckless peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 in January 1985 before dropping out of the top ten. The success of the singles "Heaven" and "Summer of '69" renewed interest in the album and it began climbing back up the chart, eventually reaching number one in August 1985. "Reckless" also reached number one in Canada and New Zealand, number two in Norway and Australia while reaching the top ten in the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Sweden. In Canada, Reckless's chart pattern was somewhat similar to its pattern in the US - it entered the top ten shortly after its release peaking at number one in February the dropping out of the top ten for three months between May and July 1985. It re-entered the top ten in August 1985 staying there until February 1986 with the peak of its second top ten run being at number four; it dropped out of the top ten in its 67th week on the Canadian chart|[10]

Reckless included the hit singles "Run to You", "Somebody", "Heaven", "Summer of '69", "One Night Love Affair", and "It's Only Love". All the singles had accompanying music videos, and each one charted on the Billboard Hot 100, with "Run to You", "Summer of '69", and "Heaven" peaking in the top 10. "Heaven" would become the most successful single from Reckless in the United States at the time of its release, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and number 27 on the album rock chart, although "Run to You" was a larger hit at album-oriented rock radio peaking at number 1 on the Top Rock Tracks chart for four weeks, and spending an additional five weeks at number 2, while reaching number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The single "It's Only Love" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group. In 1986, the song won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Stage Performance.

In June 2008, the original master tape for Reckless was destroyed in a backlot fire at Universal Studios. In 2014, Adams planned on remastering the album for a box set. He contacted Universal Music Group, only to find that Universal had lost all the artwork and master tapes. Adams managed to find a backup copy of Reckless at his home, which he used for the remaster.[25] Many point to Adams' search for answers to being the first step in uncovering the scope of the loss of Universal Music's catalog due to the fire.

Accolades
Issuer Accolade Year Rank
Kerrang! "Album of the Year"[26] 1985 1
Kerrang! "The Best AOR Albums Of All Time"[27] 1988 16
Kerrang! "100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums Of All Time"[28] 1989 49
Classic Rock "Greatest Rock Album of All Time" 2001 99
The Top 100 Canadian Albums "The Top 100 Canadian Albums (1957-2007)"[6] 2007 12

Reckless tour

In December 1984, Adams and his touring band which consists of Keith Scott, Dave Taylor, Pat Steward and Johnny Blitz played concerts in Chicago, Detroit, New York City and Philadelphia.[9] In early 1985, Adams' started a tour throughout the United States with opening act and Canadian musician Kim Mitchell and later in Japan, Australia, Europe and finally Canada after winning four Juno Awards.[9] Later he headed south towards the American West Coast, culminating with two dates at the Paladium in Los Angeles.[9]

After the tour in the United States Adams traveled to Ethiopia to aid famine relief efforts there.[9] Adams later went to Europe for a fifty-city concert tour with Tina Turner, culminating in April with his return to London to headline three sold-out shows at the Hammersmith Odeon.[9] Adams began the first leg of his tour entitled "World Wide in 85" which started in Oklahoma.[9] The tour ended in October.[9] Adams would later visit Vancouver, and afterwards he returned to the American East Coast to play two sold-out concerts in New York.[9]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."One Night Love Affair"4:32
2."She's Only Happy When She's Dancin'"3:14
3."Run to You"3:54
4."Heaven"4:03
5."Somebody"4:44
Side two
No.TitleLength
6."Summer of '69"3:35
7."Kids Wanna Rock"2:36
8."It's Only Love" (w/ Tina Turner)3:15
9."Long Gone"3:57
10."Ain't Gonna Cry"4:06
Total length:37:56
Japan 2012 SHM-CD Bonus Tracks
No.TitleLength
11."Diana" (B-Side from "Heaven" UK Single.)3:55
12."Christmas Time"4:10
13."Reggae Christmas" (featuring Pee Wee Herman)2:52
Total length:48:53

30th Anniversary Edition
Disc One
  1. "Let Me Down Easy" - 03:40
  2. "Teacher, Teacher" - 03:48
  3. "The Boys Night Out" - 03:53
  4. "Draw The Line" - 03:26
  5. "Play To Win" - 03:28
  6. "Too Hot To Handle" - 04:02
  7. "Reckless" - 04:01
Disc Two - Live in Hammersmith Odeon 1985
  1. "Remember" - 04:32
  2. "The Only One" - 04:39
  3. "It's Only Love" - 03:50
  4. "Kids Wanna Rock" - 03:16
  5. "Long Gone" - 06:21
  6. "Cuts Like A Knife" - 05:40
  7. "Lonely Nights" - 03:55
  8. "Tonight" - 06:13
  9. "This Time" - 03:37
  10. "The Best Was Yet To Come" - 02:43
  11. "Heaven" - 04:04
  12. "Run To You" - 04:30
  13. "Somebody" - 04:20
  14. "Straight From The Heart" - 03:17
  15. "Summer Of '69" - 04:40

Super Deluxe Edition Box-set
DVD - Reckless - The Movie
  1. "Run To You" (Intro)
  2. "This Time" - 3:17
  3. "Summer Of ’69" - 3:42
  4. "Somebody" - 4:45
  5. "Kids Wanna Rock" - 2:47
  6. "Heaven" - 4:11
  7. "Run To You" - 3:49
  8. "One Night Love Affair" - 4:35
  9. "It’s Only Love" - 6:55
Blu-ray
  • The original album in Blu-ray edition

Personnel
  • Bryan Adams – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1, 2, 3, 5-10), backing vocals (2, 5, 10), handclaps (2), lead guitar (5, 9), percussion (4), piano (4), harmony vocals (6), gang vocals (7), harmonica (9), producer
  • Keith Scott – lead guitar (1, 2, 3, 5-10), rhythm guitar (1, 2, 3), backing vocals (2, 5, 10), handclaps (2), guitar (4), gang vocals (7)
  • Tommy Mandel – keyboards (1, 2, 3, 5, 7-10)
  • Rob Sabino – keyboards (4)
  • Dave Taylor – bass guitar (1-10)
  • Pat Steward – drums (1, 6, 7), gang vocals (7)
  • Mickey Curry – drums (2, 3, 5, 8-10)
  • Steve Smith – drums (4)
  • Jim Vallance – percussion (1, 2, 3, 5, 6), associate producer
  • Jody Perpick – handclaps (2), gang vocals (7)
  • Lou Gramm – backing vocals (2)
  • Gerry Berg – gang vocals (7)
  • John Eddie – backing vocals (5)
  • Bob Clearmountain – gang vocals (7), producer
  • Tina Turner – lead vocals (8)
Engineering
  • Bob Clearmountain – engineer, mixing
  • Mike Fraser – assistant engineer
  • Michael Sauvage – assistant engineer
  • Bruce Lampcov – assistant engineer
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering at Masterdisk (New York, NY).
Additional credits
  • Chuck Beeson – art direction, design
  • Richard Frankel – art direction
  • Hiro (51) – front cover photo
  • James O’Mara – inner sleeve photo
  • Bruce Allen – management

Certifications

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Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[29] Platinum 70,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[30] Gold 25,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[31] Diamond 1,000,000^
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[32] Gold 10,000
Germany (BVMI)[33] Gold 250,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[34] Platinum 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[35] Platinum 15,000^
Poland (ZPAV)[36] Platinum 60,000*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[37] Platinum 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[38] 3× Platinum 900,000^
United States (RIAA)[39] 5× Platinum 5,000,000^
Summaries
Worldwide — 12,000,000[2]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

See also

References
  1. Rosen, Jody (25 June 2019). "Here Are Hundreds More Artists Whose Tapes Were Destroyed in the UMG Fire (Published 2019)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  2. "Bryan Adams tickets: how to get them". The Telegraph. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  3. Barclay, Michael; Jack, Ian A.D.; Schneider, Jason (2011). Have Not Been the Same The Canrock Renaissance 1985-1995 (10th Anniversary ed.). ECW Press. p. 18. ISBN 9781550229929.
  4. "Billboard 200". Billboard.com. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  5. Henderson, Paul (21 January 1989). "Bryan Adams 'Reckless'". Kerrang!. 222. London, UK: Spotlight Publications Ltd.
  6. Mersereau, Bob (2007). The Top 100 Canadian Albums. Goose Lane Editions. p. 55. ISBN 9780864925008. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  7. "Heaven". JimVallance.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2004. Retrieved 7 May 2004.
  8. "Album notes for Anthology by Dave Marsh (CD booklet). A&M Records (A&M 5613)". 18 October 2005.
  9. "The Life Of Bryan" (in Danish). -skolarbete.nu. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  10. "Canadian Chart". RPM. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  11. "British Album Chart". Chart Stats. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  12. "Irish Album Chart". irish-charts.com. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  13. "CRIA Certifications". Canadian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  14. "Norwegian Chart". norwegiancharts.com. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  15. "Swedish Chart". swedishcharts.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  16. "German Chart". Charts-Surfer. Archived from the original on 8 January 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  17. "Austrian Chart". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  18. ""Summer of '69". JimVallance.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2010. Retrieved 18 September 2008.
  19. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Reckless, Bryan Adams". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Also published in Bogdanov, Vladimir; Woodstra, Chris; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas, eds. (2002). All Music Guide to Rock: The Definitive Guide to Rock, Pop, and Soul. San Francisco: Backbeat Books. p. 7. ISBN 087930653X.
  20. The Great Rock Discography, 7th Edition.
  21. Connelly, Christopher (17 January 1985). "Bryan Adams: Reckless". Rolling Stone. New York (439). Archived from the original on 29 October 2007. Retrieved 9 August 2013.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  22. Marsh, Dave; et al. (2004). Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 6. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  23. http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/Current/A3012.htm Archived 27 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine Acclaimed Music - Reckless
  24. Christgau, Robert (27 August 1985). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  25. Lifton, Dave (25 June 2019). "How Bryan Adams Learned His 'Reckless' Masters Were Destroyed". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  26. "Kerrang! End Of Year Lists". rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  27. "The Best AOR Albums Of All Time". rocklistmusic.co.uk. 29 October 1988. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  28. "Kerrang! 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums Of All Time". rocklistmusic.co.uk. January 1989. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  29. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2004 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  30. "Austrian album certifications – Bryan Adams – Reckless" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  31. "Canadian album certifications – Bryan Adams – Reckless". Music Canada. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  32. "Danish album certifications – Bryan Adams – Reckless". IFPI Denmark. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  33. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Bryan Adams; 'Reckless')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  34. "Dutch album certifications – Bryan Adams – Reckless" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 14 September 2019. Enter Reckless in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  35. "New Zealand album certifications – Bryan Adams – Reckless". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  36. "Gold & Platinum Awards 1986" (PDF). Music and Media. 27 December 1986. p. 34. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  37. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Bryan Adams; 'Reckless')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  38. "British album certifications – Bryan Adams – Reckless". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 14 September 2019. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Reckless in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  39. "American album certifications – Bryan Adams – Reckless". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 14 September 2019. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
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