Armageddon (Prism album)

Last updated
Armageddon
Armageddon (Prism album).jpeg
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 1979
Recorded1979
Genre
Length39:29
Label Capitol
Producer Bruce Fairbairn
Prism chronology
Live Tonite (radio promo)
(1978)
Armageddon
(1979)
Young and Restless
(1980)
Singles from Armageddon
  1. "Armageddon"
    Released: 1979
  2. "Virginia"
    Released: 1979
  3. "Mirror Man"
    Released: 1980
  4. "You Walked Away Again"
    Released: 1980
  5. "Night to Remember"
    Released: 1980
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Armageddon is the third studio album by Canadian rock band Prism, released in June 1979 by Capitol Records. It achieved double platinum status in Canada (in excess of 200,000 units sold). [2]

Contents

Armageddon is notable for several reasons. Bruce Fairbairn received the Canadian music industry 1980 Juno Award for Producer of the Year for the album. Band leader and guitarist-songwriter Lindsay Mitchell received the SOCAN Song of the Year award for "Night to Remember". [3] It is the band's best selling album. Despite all the commercial success, the band's record label, GRT Records, filed for bankruptcy in the same year of the album's release. The album is also notable for the songwriting contributions by Bryan Adams.

Background

Armageddon was crucial in Prism's commercial development. The band had already released two successful albums, both reaching platinum status in Canada (100,000+ units sold). But they had yet to break into the US in a significant way and were only an opening act on the Canadian arena rock tour. Armageddon was expected to be their breakout album, elevating the band to international success and a concert headline act. The first and biggest obstacle the band faced was a lack of songwriting within the lineup. Jim Vallance, under the pseudonym "Rodney Higgs", was the original and principal songwriter for Prism. But after the first album, he withdrew from the band and only provided token contributions. The role of principal songwriter was then left to Lindsay Mitchell. Although a capable songwriter, he could not match the quantity of material written by Vallance. This in turn forced the band to go outside the lineup for new material.

Bryan Adams & Jim Vallance (Rodney Higgs)

Some of the songwriting and arranging was handled by future 1980s star Bryan Adams and his songwriting partner Jim Vallance (credited as Rodney Higgs for his sole song contribution here, but as Jim Vallance for his arranging contributions). Vallance was once a full-fledged member of the band.

GRT bankruptcy

Prism's record label, GRT Records, went into bankruptcy in 1979 and the rights to their catalog was purchased by Capitol Records. [3]

Track listing

Side A

  1. "Comin' Home" (Steven Moyer, Robert Deans) – 4:32
  2. "Jealousy" (Lindsay Mitchell, Bryan Adams) – 3:48
  3. "Virginia" (Bruce Miller) – 3:58
  4. "You Walked Away Again" (Bryan Adams) – 3:40
  5. "Take It or Leave It" (Bryan Adams, Rodney Higgs*) – 4:19

Side B

  1. "Armageddon" (Lindsay Mitchell) – 7:47
  2. "Night to Remember" (Lindsay Mitchell) – 5:51
  3. "Mirror Man" (John Hall, Lindsay Mitchell) – 5:34

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the Armageddon liner notes. [4]

Charts

Chart (1979)Peak
position
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [5] 12

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [6] 2× Platinum200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryan Adams</span> Canadian singer-songwriter and musician (born 1959)

Bryan Guy Adams is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, and photographer. He is estimated to have sold between 75 million and more than 100 million records and singles worldwide, placing him on the list of best-selling music artists. Adams was the most played artist on Canadian radio in the 2010s and has had 25 top-15 singles in Canada and a dozen or more in the US, UK, and Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prism (band)</span> Canadian rock band

Prism is a Canadian rock band formed in Vancouver in 1977. They were originally active from 1977 to 1984 and have been active again from 1987 to present. Their classic line-up consisted of lead singer Ron Tabak, guitarist Lindsay Mitchell, keyboardist John Hall, bassist Allen Harlow and drummer Rocket Norton.

<i>Prism</i> (Prism album) 1977 studio album by Prism

Prism is the debut album by Canadian rock band Prism, released in May 1977 on the Canadian record label GRT. It was produced primarily by Bruce Fairbairn, and the majority of songs were written by Jim Vallance. It achieved platinum status in Canada. Prism peaked at #137 on the Billboard 200 in November 1977.

Bruce Earl Fairbairn was a Canadian record producer. He was active as a producer from 1976 to 1999, and is considered one of the best of his era. His most successful productions are Slippery When Wet and New Jersey by Bon Jovi, Permanent Vacation, Pump, and Get a Grip by Aerosmith, The Razors Edge by AC/DC, and Balance by Van Halen, each of which sold at least three million copies. He was originally a trumpet player, then started a career as a record producer for Canadian rock band Prism. Fairbairn won the Canadian music industry Producer of the Year Juno Award three times. He produced albums for many well-known international artists such as Loverboy, Blue Öyster Cult, Bon Jovi, Poison, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Scorpions, Van Halen, Chicago, The Cranberries, INXS, Kiss and Yes. His style was notable for introducing dynamic horn arrangements into rock music productions. Fairbairn died suddenly on May 17, 1999, due to unknown causes.

<i>Bryan Adams</i> (album) 1980 studio album by Bryan Adams

Bryan Adams is the debut solo studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams, after previously being the lead vocalist of Canadian hard rock band Sweeney Todd. The album was released on 12 February 1980 by A&M Records. "Hidin' from Love" reached number 64 and "Give Me Your Love" reached number 91 on Canada's RPM 100 Singles chart.

James Douglas Vallance is a Canadian songwriter, arranger and producer. He is best known as the songwriting partner of Canadian musician Bryan Adams. Vallance began his professional career as the original drummer and main songwriter for Canadian rock band Prism under the pseudonym "Rodney Higgs." In addition to Adams, Vallance has written songs for many famous international artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Aerosmith, Carly Simon, Rod Stewart, Roger Daltrey, Tina Turner, Alice Cooper, Ozzy Osbourne, Europe, Kiss, Scorpions, Anne Murray, and Joe Cocker. His most recognizable songs are "What About Love" (Heart), "Spaceship Superstar" (Prism), "Run to You", "Cuts Like a Knife", "Heaven", "Summer of '69", "Now and Forever ", and "Edge of a Dream". He also co-wrote "Tears Are Not Enough" for Northern Lights for Africa, an ensemble of Canadian recording artists in support of the 1985 African famine relief. He has won the Canadian music industry Juno award for Composer of the Year four times. Vallance is a Member of the Order of Canada.

The Juno Awards of 1980, representing Canadian music industry achievements of the previous year, were awarded on 2 April 1980 in Toronto at a ceremony hosted by Burton Cummings at the Harbour Castle Hilton.

Canadian singer Bryan Adams has released 18 studio releases, six compilation albums, two soundtrack albums, seven live albums, and 77 singles. After the success of his debut single, "Let Me Take You Dancing" (1979), Adams signed a recording contract with A&M Records. Bryan Adams (1980), his debut album, peaked at number 69 on the Canadian RPM Albums Chart. Adams followed this with You Want It You Got It (1981), which peaked at number 118 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold in Canada. Cuts Like a Knife, his third release, became his first successful work outside Canada. The album charted within the top 10 in Canada and the United States and was certified three-times platinum by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) and platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Reckless (1984), his fourth studio album, selling over 12 million copies worldwide and featured the hit singles "Run to You", "Heaven" and "Summer of '69". In 1987, he released Into the Fire, which reached platinum status in the United States and triple-platinum in Canada.

Lindsay Christopher Mitchell is an English-born Canadian musician and songwriter who achieved success as the guitarist and founder of the Canadian rock band Prism.

<i>See Forever Eyes</i> 1978 studio album by Prism

See Forever Eyes is the second studio album by the Canadian rock band Prism. It was originally released in 1978 by GRT. The album was recorded over a period of five months in 1978, at Mushroom Studios, Vancouver, at Little Mountain Sound Studios, Vancouver, and at Pinewood Studios. It was produced by the future multi-award-winning producer Bruce Fairbairn.

Fast Forward was a Canadian band formed in 1984 in Vancouver. Featuring Ian Lloyd, former lead singer of Stories and a solo artist, the band released one album, Living in Fiction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Let Him Know</span> 1981 single by Prism

"Don't Let Him Know" is a song by Canadian rock band Prism, written by Jim Vallance and Bryan Adams. It was the first single from the band's fifth studio album, Small Change (1981). "Don't Let Him Know" was Prism's biggest US hit, peaking at No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock chart and No. 39 on the Billboard Hot 100. As a single it reached No. 49 on the Canadian Singles chart.

<i>Small Change</i> (Prism album) 1981 studio album by Prism

Small Change is the fifth studio album by Canadian rock band Prism, released in December 1981 by Capitol Records. It was the first of two Prism studio albums with lead vocalist Henry Small, who had replaced Ron Tabak after his forced departure and the last studio album to feature guitarist and founding member Lindsay Mitchell. The album is generally regarded as the genesis of the smoother, more adult-oriented sound of the band's later work. The album peaked at No. 53 on the Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Small (singer)</span> American singer-songwriter

Henry Cave Small is an American-Canadian singer, songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist and radio personality. In a career spanning more than 50 years, Small has been a member of four rock bands: Prism, Scrubbaloe Caine, Small Wonder, the Gainsborough Gallery, and the Group.

<i>Young and Restless</i> (Prism album) 1980 studio album by Prism

Young and Restless is the fourth studio album by Canadian rock band Prism, released in May 1980 by Capitol Records. The album is notably the band's last studio album to feature lead vocalist Ron Tabak, and it is also the last album to feature their long-time producer, Bruce Fairbairn.

<i>All the Best from Prism</i> 1980 compilation album by Prism

All the Best from Prism is the first compilation album by Canadian rock band Prism, released in December 1980. The album features the band's greatest hits as well as a new song, "Cover Girl", which failed to chart in both Canada and the U.S. In 1981, All the Best from Prism was certified platinum in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spaceship Superstar</span> 1977 single by Prism

"Spaceship Superstar" is the first official single by the Canadian rock band Prism. The song was written by Jim Vallance. It was also the first single from the band's self-titled debut album. "Spaceship Superstar" reached No. 63 on the Canadian Singles Chart and No. 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the United States.

<i>Jericho</i> (Prism album) 1993 studio album by Prism

Jericho is the seventh studio album by Canadian rock band Prism. It was originally released in 1993. Most of the tracks were recorded in 1993, however the songs "Good to Be Back" and "Way of the World" were recorded and released as a single in 1988 after the group reformed. The album was recorded and mixed at "Mushroom Studios" in Vancouver, except for tracks #2 and #3 which were recorded by Jim Vallance at "Distorto Studios" in Vancouver.

<i>Live Tonite</i> 1978 live album by Prism

Live Tonite is a live album recorded by Canadian rock band Prism in 1978 at Detroit's Royal Oak Music Theater. The album features songs from Prism's first two studio albums "Prism" and "See Forever Eyes". The album was originally released on a special blue vinyl LP as well as black vinyl LP.

<i>Over 60 Minutes with... Prism</i> 1988 compilation album by Prism

Over 60 Minutes with... Prism is the second compilation album by Canadian rock band Prism, released in 1988. Prism reformed in 1987 with original guitarist Lindsay Mitchell, drummer Rocket Norton, guitarist Al Harlow, and two brand new members, Darcy Deutsch on vocals and Andy Lorimer on keyboards; both formerly of Simon Kaos. Over 60 Minutes with... Prism achieved gold record status in Canada.

References

  1. "Armageddon - Prism | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic .
  2. "Prism - Armageddon". Jimvallance.com. Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2012-01-09.
  3. 1 2 "Prism". Prism.ca. Archived from the original on 2012-03-13. Retrieved 2012-01-09.
  4. Armageddon (CD booklet). Prism. Capitol Records. 1979.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4499a". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  6. "Canadian album certifications – Prism – See Forever Eyes". Music Canada.