Behind Closed Doors (Thunder album)

Last updated

Behind Closed Doors
Behind Closed Doors (Thunder album).jpg
Studio album by
Thunder
Released23 January 1995 (1995-01-23)
Recorded20 May – 12 August 1994
Studio
Genre
Length57:45
Label EMI
Producer
Thunder studio album chronology
Laughing on Judgement Day
(1992)		Behind Closed Doors
(1995)		 The Thrill of It All
(1996)
Singles from Behind Closed Doors
  1. "Stand Up"
    Released: 28 December 1994 (1994-12-28)
  2. "River of Pain"
    Released: 13 February 1995 (1995-02-13)
  3. "Castles in the Sand"
    Released: 24 April 1995 (1995-04-24)

Behind Closed Doors is the third studio album by English hard rock band Thunder. Recorded between May and August 1994 at various studios, primarily Southern Tracks in Atlanta, Georgia, it was produced the band's lead guitarist Luke Morley and Mike Fraser, the latter of whom also mixed the album at the Record Plant in Los Angeles, California. The album was released on 23 January 1995 by EMI Records in Europe and Japan, and was not released in the United States.

Contents

Following the departure of the band's original bassist Mark "Snake" Luckhurst in December 1992, Behind Closed Doors is the first (and only) Thunder album to feature his replacement Mikael "Micke" Höglund, who joined in February 1993. All five band members, as well as former producer Andy Taylor, contributed to the writing of the material on the album, which also featured a wide range of additional guest musicians. Behind Closed Doors peaked at number 5 on the UK Albums Chart.

Behind Closed Doors was promoted on the Behind Closed Doors Tour beginning in April 1995, which included shows in the UK, Europe and Japan, as well as a number of festival dates. Three singles were released from the album, all of which reached the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart – "Stand Up" peaked at number 23, "River of Pain" peaked at number 31 and "Castles in the Sand" peaked at number 30. All three singles also reached the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart top five.

Recording and production

After recording some initial demos of new material in London, [1] Thunder began pre-production on their third studio album on 6 May 1994 at Stanbridge Studios in Haywards Heath, West Sussex. [2] Mike Fraser, who had previously mixed the band's debut album Backstreet Symphony in 1990, returned as the main producer for Behind Closed Doors alongside the band's lead guitarist and primary songwriter Luke Morley (Fraser also engineered and mixed the record). [3] On 23 May, the band flew out to Atlanta, Georgia to begin recording of the new album at Southern Tracks. [2] Speaking about the decision to record the album in the United States, Morley explained that it was "a last-ditch attempt to motivate Geffen", the band's American record label, who he claimed had failed to support previous release Laughing on Judgement Day . However, the band's A&R representative John Kalodner later left Geffen for Sony Music Entertainment, and the album was ultimately not released in the US. [3]

Most of the recording for Behind Closed Doors was completed at Southern Tracks in Atlanta, although additional recording continued at Rumbo Recorders in Los Angeles, California throughout June and July. [2] Bassist Mikael "Micke" Höglund, who had joined the band the previous year, recalls that "The drums and bass were supposed to be recorded at Southern Track Studios in Atlanta, but our guitar tech was a big dope smoker and completely useless. When I asked him to set up my bass to make it as easy to play as possible ... he loosened the bolts that hold the neck to the body so that the strings and the fretboard were closer together", which resulted in his instrument being out of tune for the sessions. [3] Guitarist and keyboardist Ben Matthews praised Höglund's contributions to the album, suggesting that "His love of Geezer Butler and all things Black Sabbath was reflected in his playing and his songwriting contributions to Behind Closed Doors, giving it a darker and heavier feel." [4]

Recording of Behind Closed Doors was completed with additional sessions at Jacobs Studios in Farnham, Surrey, Armoury Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, and the Record Plant in Los Angeles. [1] The album was later mixed by Fraser at the Record Plant in July 1994, and mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound in New York City, New York. [1] [2] Recording of Behind Closed Doors was completed by 12 August 1994, according to the album's liner notes. [1]

Promotion and release

"Stand Up" was released as the first single from Behind Closed Doors on 28 December 1994, accompanied by a music video filmed during a show at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in London three weeks earlier. [2] The single debuted at number 23 on the UK Singles Chart and number 2 on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart, behind Van Halen's "Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do)". [5] [6] "River of Pain" was issued as the album's second single on 13 February 1995, debuting at number 31 on the UK Singles Chart and number 5 on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart, [5] [7] and "Castles in the Sand" was released as the third and final single from the record on 24 April 1995, reaching number 30 on the UK Singles Chart and number 2 on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart. [5] [8]

Behind Closed Doors was released on 23 January 1995 in Europe by EMI Records, [2] and two days later in Japan by Toshiba EMI. [9] Prior to the album's release, Thunder completed the short Stand Up and Be Counted Tour, which visited a number of UK cities in December 1994. [10] The opening European leg of the Behind Closed Doors Tour began on 5 April 1995 in Hamburg, Germany and wrapped up on 12 May at London's Hammersmith Apollo. [10] The band supported Bon Jovi alongside acts including Van Halen and Slash's Snakepit in June and July, and later toured Japan in late-August. [10]

Commercial reception

Upon its release, Behind Closed Doors debuted at number 5 on the UK Albums Chart, its peak position, [5] and topped the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart. [11] It remained in the UK top 40 for three weeks and the top 100 for a total of six weeks, and later returned to the chart for two weeks in May. [5] The album also reached the top 20 of the Scottish Albums Chart, peaking at number 18. [12] Outside of the UK, Behind Closed Doors reached number 56 on the German Albums Chart, [13] number 22 on the Swedish Albums Chart, [14] and number 44 on the Swiss Albums Chart. [15]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [16]
Record Collector Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [17]

Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Eduardo Rivadavia praised Behind Closed Doors for featuring "accessible, yet commendably earthy melodic rock nuggets", as well as crediting the band for experimenting with different styles by noting that "Thunder also embraced slightly darker vibes with memorable results ... got the funk out successfully ... and noticeably toned down over all pomp rock thresholds". [16] Rivadavia also credited the band for "sticking to their guns" despite hard rock and heavy metal music becoming markedly less successful with the continued increase in popularity of genres such as grunge and alternative rock. [16] In a review of the remastered edition of the album for Record Collector , William Pinfold also noted that Behind Closed Doors was released in "an awkward time for the band and traditional hard rock in general", but nonetheless praised the record as "an impressively confident and mature recording". [17] Pinfold suggested that Behind Closed Doors is "a touch less essential" than Thunder's first two albums, but also highlighted the bonus disc for making the album "an essential purchase for many fans". [17]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Moth to the Flame"
5:27
2."Fly on the Wall"Morley4:21
3."I'll Be Waiting"Morley4:24
4."River of Pain"Morley3:40
5."Future Train"
5:26
6."'Til the River Runs Dry"
  • Morley
  • James
4:20
7."Stand Up"
  • Morley
  • James
4:00
8."Preaching from a Chair"Morley6:17
9."Castles in the Sand"Morley4:43
10."Too Scared to Live"Morley4:25
11."Ball and Chain"
4:48
12."It Happened in This Town"
  • Morley
  • James
5:54
Total length:57:45
2010 remastered edition bonus disc
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Low Life in High Places" (live at Hammersmith)Morley5:09
2."Move On"Morley4:01
3."Everybody Wants Her" (live)
  • Morley
  • James
  • Bowes
  • Matthews
4:52
4."Does It Feel Like Love" (live)Morley5:09
5."You Don't Know What Love Is" (demo)Morley5:19
6."River of Pain" (live acoustic)Morley3:31
7."Stand Up" (live acoustic)
  • Morley
  • James
3:23
8."Castles in the Sand" (live acoustic)Morley4:08
9."Move Over" (live Janis Joplin cover)Janis Joplin4:46
10."One Pretty Woman"
  • Morley
  • James
  • Matthews
3:32
11."The Fire Is Gone"Morley4:32
12."Life in a Day"Morley3:33
13."In a Broken Dream" (Python Lee Jackson cover) David Bentley 4:05
14."Love Walked In" (live)Morley7:30
15."Dirty Love" (demo)Morley5:11
16."Stay with Me" (Faces cover)
5:26
Total length:74:07

Personnel

Thunder

Additional musicians

Production personnel

Artwork personnel

Chart positions

Chart (1995)Peak
position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [13] 56
Scottish Albums (OCC) [12] 18
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [14] 22
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [15] 44
UK Albums (OCC) [5] 5
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) [11] 1

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saxon (band)</span> British heavy metal band

Saxon are an English heavy metal band formed in 1977 in Barnsley. As leaders of the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM), they had eight UK Top 40 albums in the 1980s including four UK Top 10 albums and two Top 5 albums. They had numerous singles in the UK Singles Chart and chart success all over Europe and Japan, as well as success in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet Child o' Mine</span> 1988 single by Guns N Roses

"Sweet Child o' Mine" is a song by American rock band Guns N' Roses. It appears on their debut album, Appetite for Destruction. In the United States, the song was released in June 1988 as the album's third single, topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart and becoming the band's only US number-one single. In the United Kingdom, the song was released in August 1988, reaching number 24 on the UK Singles Chart the same month. Re-released there in May 1989, it peaked at number six.

<i>A-Sides</i> 1997 greatest hits album by Soundgarden

A-Sides is a compilation album by the American rock band Soundgarden with songs spanning the band's thirteen-year career. It was released on November 4, 1997, through A&M Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thunder (band)</span> English hard rock band

Thunder are an English hard rock band from London. Formed in 1989, the group was founded by former Terraplane members Danny Bowes, Luke Morley and Gary "Harry" James (drums), along with second guitarist and keyboardist Ben Matthews and bassist Mark "Snake" Luckhurst. Originally signed to EMI Records in the UK, the band released their debut album Backstreet Symphony in 1990, which reached number 21 on the UK Albums Chart and number 114 on the US Billboard 200. The 1992 follow-up Laughing on Judgement Day reached number 2, while both albums were certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). All nine singles released from the two albums reached the UK Singles Chart top 40.

Mikael Höglund is a Swedish bass player, previously of the bands Tryckvåg, Great King Rat and Thunder, appearing on the 1995 album Behind Closed Doors, Live Circuit and Their Finest Hour...and a bit, Live at the BBC (1990-1995). He also appeared several times with Swedish cover band Pumpbolaget.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slipknot discography</span>

The American nu metal band Slipknot has released seven studio albums, two live albums, one compilation album, one demo album, twenty-seven singles, five video albums and twenty-seven music videos. Formed in Des Moines, Iowa in 1995, Slipknot originally featured vocalist and percussionist Anders Colsefni, guitarists Donnie Steele and Josh "Gnar" Brainard, bassist Paul Gray, drummer Joey Jordison, and percussionist and backing vocalist Shawn "Clown" Crahan. The original lineup released its first demo Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat. in 1996, before undergoing a number of lineup changes over the next few years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lithium (Evanescence song)</span> 2006 single by Evanescence

"Lithium" is a song by American rock band Evanescence, recorded for their second studio album, The Open Door. It was released in December 2006 as the album's second single through the band's record label Wind-up Records. An alternative version appears on the band's fourth studio album, Synthesis (2017). "Lithium" was written by the band's lead singer Amy Lee and produced by music producer Dave Fortman. Initially written by Lee on the guitar when she was 16 years old, she later rearranged the song on piano and completed it with the band's performance. The song is a midtempo power ballad which lyrically discusses the uncertainty in choosing between feelings of sorrow and happiness; Lee was inspired by the drug lithium salts and the feeling of numbness that induces.

<i>Live</i> (Thunder album) 1998 live album by Thunder

Live is the second live album by English hard rock band Thunder, and the first released outside of Japan. Recorded over four shows in November 1997 at Wulfrun Hall in Wolverhampton and Shepherd's Bush Empire in London, it was produced by the band's lead guitarist Luke Morley and engineered and mixed by Mike Fraser. The album was released by Eagle Rock Entertainment on 16 February 1998. An accompanying video was released by Eagle Vision on 28 March 1998.

<i>Backstreet Symphony</i> 1990 studio album by Thunder

Backstreet Symphony is the debut studio album by English hard rock band Thunder. Recorded in 1989 at Great Linford Manor Studios in Milton Keynes, it was produced by former Duran Duran and The Power Station guitarist Andy Taylor, then mixed by Mike Fraser at AIR Studios in London. The album was initially released on 5 March 1990 by EMI Records in the UK and Capitol Records in the US, and was later re-released the following year in the US by Geffen Records.

Free were an English rock band formed in London in 1968, by vocalist Paul Rodgers, guitarist Paul Kossoff, bassist Andy Fraser and drummer Simon Kirke, the group signed with Island Records.

<i>Bang!</i> (Thunder album) 2008 studio album by Thunder

Bang! is the ninth studio album by English hard rock band Thunder. Recorded at Walton Castle in Clevedon, North Somerset, it was produced by the band's lead guitarist Luke Morley. The album was released in the UK by STC Recordings on 3 November 2008, and later in Europe by Frontiers Records and in Japan by Victor Entertainment. The album was released alongside the extended play The Joy of Six, containing six previously unreleased tracks.

<i>Laughing on Judgement Day</i> 1992 studio album by Thunder

Laughing on Judgement Day is the second studio album by English hard rock band Thunder. Recorded between February and June 1992 at Outside Studios in Checkendon, it was produced the band's lead guitarist Luke Morley and Andy Taylor, then mixed by David Bascombe at AIR Studios in London. The album was released on 24 August 1992 by EMI Records in Europe and Japan, and by Geffen Records in the United States.

<i>Robert Johnsons Tombstone</i> 2006 studio album by Thunder

Robert Johnson's Tombstone is the eighth studio album by English hard rock band Thunder. Recorded at Chapel Studios in South Thoresby, Chez Bez and Tackle Out Studios in London, and the El Relaxo villa in Mijas, Spain, it was produced by the band's lead guitarist Luke Morley. The album was released in the UK by STC Recordings on 30 October 2006, in Europe by Frontiers Records on 10 November, and in Japan by Victor Entertainment on 26 February 2007.

<i>Shooting at the Sun</i> 2003 studio album by Thunder

Shooting at the Sun is the sixth studio album by English hard rock band Thunder. Recorded from October to December 2002 at Jacobs Studios in Farnham, it was produced the band's lead guitarist Luke Morley and engineered and mixed by Rupert Coulson. The album was initially released online by the band's own label STC Recordings on 3 March 2003, followed by a physical release in Japan by Victor Entertainment on 5 March and in Europe by Frontiers Records on 7 April.

<i>The Thrill of It All</i> (Thunder album) 1996 studio album by Thunder

The Thrill of It All is the fourth studio album by English hard rock band Thunder. Recorded between April and May 1996 at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales, it was produced the band's lead guitarist Luke Morley and mixed by Rupert Coulson at London's Trident 2. The album was initially released in Japan by Victor Entertainment on 1 September 1996, with the European release by Castle Communications following on 2 February 1997.

<i>The Magnificent Seventh!</i> 2005 studio album by Thunder

The Magnificent Seventh! is the seventh studio album by English hard rock band Thunder. Recorded from June to August 2004, it was produced the band's lead guitarist Luke Morley and engineered and mixed by Rupert Coulson. The album was released in the UK by the band's own label STC Recordings on 21 February 2005, in Europe by Frontiers Records the following day, in Japan by Victor Entertainment on 28 March and worldwide on iTunes on 13 April.

<i>Giving the Game Away</i> 1999 studio album by Thunder

Giving the Game Away is the fifth studio album by English hard rock band Thunder. Recorded in April 1998, it was produced the band's lead guitarist Luke Morley. The album was initially released in Japan by Victor Entertainment on 24 February 1999, with the European release by Eagle Records following on 15 March 1999. Giving the Game Away was the last studio album Thunder released before breaking up for the first time the following year.

<i>Wonder Days</i> 2015 studio album by Thunder

Wonder Days is the tenth studio album by English hard rock band Thunder. Recorded in late 2014 at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales, it was produced by the band's lead guitarist Luke Morley and released internationally by earMusic in February 2015. Wonder Days was the first Thunder studio album to be released since Bang! in 2008, as well as the band's first release on earMusic with whom they signed after returning from their second breakup in 2014.

<i>They Think Its All Over... It Is Now</i> 2000 live album by Thunder

They Think It's All Over... It Is Now is the third live album by English hard rock band Thunder. Recorded on 4 May 2000 at Dingwalls in London, the last date of the band's UK Farewell Tour, it was produced by the band's guitarists Luke Morley and Ben Matthews, both of whom also mixed it. The album was initially released on 10 July 2000 as the band's first release on Papillon Records. It was later issued in Europe by Repertoire Records on 27 November 2000.

<i>The Best of Thunder: Their Finest Hour (And a Bit)</i> 1995 compilation album by Thunder

The Best of Thunder: Their Finest Hour is the first compilation album by English hard rock band Thunder. Released on 25 September 1995 by EMI Records, it features songs from the band's first three studio albums – Backstreet Symphony, Laughing on Judgement Day and Behind Closed Doors – as well as a re-recorded version of "Higher Ground", 1994 single "Gimme Shelter" and new tracks "In a Broken Dream" and "Once in a Lifetime".

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Behind Closed Doors (Media notes). Thunder. EMI Records. 1995.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "History". Thunder. Archived from the original on 20 May 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 McIver 2016 , p. 202
  4. ↑ McIver 2016 , p. 198
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Thunder Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  6. ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40: 23 October 1994 - 21 January 1995". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  7. ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40: 22 January 1995 - 11 March 1995". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  8. ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40: 30 April 1995 - 06 May 1995". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  9. ↑ "3rd Album (Behind Closed Doors)" (in Japanese). Ikuko "Ken-san" Yamamoto. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  10. 1 2 3 "Behind Closed Doors Tour". Thunder . Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  11. 1 2 "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40: 29 January 1995 - 04 February 1995". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  12. 1 2 "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100: 29 January 1995 - 04 February 1995". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  13. 1 2 "Thunder Longplay-Chartverfolgung". musicline.de (in German). Phononet. Retrieved 31 May 2017.[ permanent dead link ]
  14. 1 2 "Discography Thunder". swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  15. 1 2 "Discographie Thunder". hitparade.ch (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  16. 1 2 3 Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Behind Closed Doors - Thunder: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . All Media Network . Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  17. 1 2 3 Pinfold, William (March 2010). "Thunder - Behind Closed Doors". Record Collector . Diamond Publishing . Retrieved 31 May 2017.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.