Karma (Rick Springfield album)

Last updated

Karma
Rick Springfield - Karma.jpg
Studio album by
Released13 April 1999
Genre Pop rock
Length49:37
Label Platinum Recordings
Producer
Rick Springfield chronology
Rock of Life
(1988)
Karma
(1999)
Shock/Denial/
Anger/Acceptance

(2004)
Singles from Karma
  1. "It's Always Something"
    Released: 1999
  2. "Karma"
    Released: 1999
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Karma is the twelfth studio album by Australian singer-songwriter Rick Springfield. Following about a decade without a new album from Springfield, its 1999 release took place amid a resumption of touring as well. [2] [3]

Contents

The album peaked at No. 189 spot on the Billboard 200. "It's Always Something" peaked at No. 34 on Canada's RPM Adult Contemporary chart. [1]

Background and reception

The album followed a period of about ten years without a new album. After his last work, the 1988 LP Rock of Life , Springfield ceased with his music (releases as well as touring) to spend more time with his two boys and his wife. He released Karma during a popular resurgence of interest in 1980s society/culture (particularly among Generation X), which Springfield noticed. CNN reported that "There's relatively high interest in Springfield's return. Platinum Entertainment says advance orders for Karma have reached 100,000 copies." [2] Karma was initially released Japan and then an American release took place a few months later. The two versions differ in respect to three songs. [1]

Springfield made the first single, "It's Always Something", as a tribute to his father who died just before his release of Working Class Dog and breakout commercial success. He said that "My dad is a very strong figure in my life and certainly in death he's become even more meaningful" as well as that "there's still a lot of things going on in me that pertain to him and my relationship with him". [2]

After the release of Karma, Springfield resumed his touring. [2] The album hit the No. 189 spot on the Billboard 200, and none of its singles managed to chart. [1]

The album represented a continuation of Springfield's same pop rock style in his 80s albums. Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote a mostly positive review for the All Music Guide, stating that "Karma is certainly the work of a more mature artist... a thinking man's AOR". [1] A CNN reviewer commented that the album has "a vanilla mix of 80s redolent pop tunes." [2]

Track listing

All songs written by Rick Springfield except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."His Last Words" 1:32
2."It's Always Something" 3:33
3."Religion of the Heart"Silverman, Springfield3:34
4."Beautiful Prize" 3:56
5."Karma" 4:20
6."Shock to My System"Marlette, Pierce, Springfield4:43
7."Free"Marlette, Springfield4:33
8."Prayer"Marlette, Pierce, Springfield4:01
9."White Room"Springfield, Vallance 3:22
10."In Veronica's Head" 3:52
11."Ordinary Girl" 3:47
12."Act of Faith"Marlette, Pierce, Springfield5:27
13."Hey Maria" 3:13

Charts

Chart (1999)Peak
position
Billboard 200 [4] 189

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Karma – Rick Springfield". All Music Guide . Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Jamie Allen (29 April 1999). "Rick Springfield has new Karma". Archived from the original on 9 August 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  3. "Rick Springfield – Karma (1999)". Melodic Rock. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  4. "Karma". Billboard . Retrieved 17 March 2021.