The Hunger (Michael Bolton album)

Last updated
The Hunger
Michael-bolton-album-cover-the-humger.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 22, 1987
RecordedAugust–December 1986
Studio
Various
Genre Pop rock
Length37:21
Label Columbia
40473
Producer Jonathan Cain, Keith Diamond, Susan Hamilton
Michael Bolton chronology
Everybody's Crazy
(1985)
The Hunger
(1987)
Soul Provider
(1989)

The Hunger is the fifth studio album by American recording artist Michael Bolton. It was released in 1987 by Columbia Records, his third for the label. It became Bolton's breakthrough album, producing his first two Top 40 hits in the United States, the ballad "That's What Love Is All About" and the Otis Redding cover "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay".

Contents

Zelma Redding, the widow of Otis Redding, said Bolton's performance of "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" moved her so much "that it brought tears to my eyes. It reminded me so much of my husband that I know if he heard it, he would feel the same." [1] In a framed letter that hangs on the wall of Bolton's office, she called the record "my all-time favorite version of my husband's classic." [2]

The album marks a transition from the hard rock and arena rock stylings of his previous work into a softer more pop oriented direction, a transition which would be continued and furthered on his subsequent studio albums.

Several songs from this album feature Journey members Jonathan Cain on keyboards, Neal Schon on guitar, and previous member from their Raised on Radio 1986-87 tour Randy Jackson (of American Idol fame) on bass, with Cain also producing several tracks. During this time, there were rumors that Bolton might have been in the running as Journey's new lead singer after Steve Perry's initial departure from the band in early 1987. Also featured on certain tracks is Bolton's former band-mate and then-current Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick.

Despite only reaching No. 46 on the US Billboard 200, the album achieved stability in the charts. After two years, it was certified Gold in the US (Bolton's first certification of his career), and would subsequently be certified Double Platinum there. In 1990, three years after its initial release, the album entered the UK Albums Chart for the first time and reached its peak of No. 44, following the success of the album Soul Provider . [3]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg link
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Hot Love" Michael Bolton, Martin Briley Keith Diamond 3:47
2."Wait on Love"Bolton, Jonathan Cain Jonathan Cain4:27
3."(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" (Otis Redding cover) Otis Redding, Steve Cropper Cain3:51
4."Gina"Bolton, Bob Halligan Jr., Keith DiamondDiamond4:07
5."That's What Love Is All About"Bolton, Eric Kaz Diamond3:58
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."The Hunger"Bolton, CainCain4:18
2."You're All That I Need"Bolton, Cain, Neal Schon Cain4:18
3."Take a Look at My Face"Bolton, BrileyDiamond4:00
4."Walk Away"Bolton, Diane Warren Susan Hamilton4:12

Personnel

Production

Chart positions

YearChartPeak
position
1987 Australian Albums Chart [5] 34
1987 New Zealand Albums Chart 42
1987 Norway Albums Chart 10
1990 [6] UK Albums Chart 44
1987US Billboard 200 46

Singles

YearTitle U.S. Hot 100 U.S. AC
1987"That's What Love Is All About"193
1987"(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay"1119
1988"Wait On Love"79-
1988"Walk Away"-14

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [7] Platinum100,000^
United States (RIAA) [8] 2× Platinum2,000,000^
Summaries
Norway & Sweden100,000 [9]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

Related Research Articles

<i>Soul Provider</i> 1989 studio album by Michael Bolton

Soul Provider is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Michael Bolton. The album was released on June 26, 1989, by Columbia Records/CBS. The album has sold 12.5 million copies worldwide.

<i>Timeless: The Classics</i> 1992 studio album by Michael Bolton

Timeless: The Classics is a 1992 album of cover versions by Michael Bolton. It was #1 on the Billboard charts when it was released. After a rather long chart run, the album has been certified 4× Platinum in the US and has sold over 7 million copies worldwide.

<i>The One Thing</i> (album) 1993 studio album by Michael Bolton

The One Thing is the ninth album by Michael Bolton, released on November 16, 1993. Although it produced the hit single "Said I Loved You...But I Lied", which reached number 6 in the US, it did not match the sales of his previous three albums. Nevertheless, the album was still a respectable hit on its own, reaching number 3 on the Billboard 200 and being certified triple platinum in the US. It was also certified Platinum in the United Kingdom.

<i>All That Matters</i> (Michael Bolton album) 1997 studio album by Michael Bolton

All That Matters is an album by Michael Bolton, released in 1997, and was his first studio album since 1993's The One Thing. Bolton was aided in production by Babyface and Tony Rich, and among the songwriters are Bolton, Diane Warren, Babyface, Lamont Dozier, Gary Burr, and Tony Rich. Bolton’s U.S. fans were puzzled by the album’s title, "All That Matters", until the phrase was found on the bonus track, "When There Are No Words", on the UK version of the album. The two singles from the album, "The Best of Love", and "Safe Place from the Storm" were disappointing in sales and radio play, and fans were disappointed that the songs were performed only a handful of times during Bolton’s 1998 tour in support of the album.

<i>Timeless: The Classics Vol. 2</i> 1999 studio album by Michael Bolton

Timeless: The Classics Vol. 2 is an album of covers by Michael Bolton, released in 1999.

<i>Silhouette</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Kenny G

Silhouette is the fifth studio album by American saxophonist Kenny G. It was released by Arista Records in 1988, and reached number 1 on the Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, number 8 on the Billboard 200, and number 10 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

<i>Vox Humana</i> (Kenny Loggins album) 1985 studio album by Kenny Loggins

Vox Humana is the fifth studio album released by American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins. Released in 1985, it was Loggins' first album released after his appearance upon the soundtrack to the motion picture Footloose during the year prior.

<i>Cocker</i> (album) 1986 studio album by Joe Cocker

Cocker is the tenth studio album by Joe Cocker, released in April 1986, his second on Capitol label. It features hit singles "You Can Leave Your Hat On" and "Don't You Love Me Anymore", the first made popular after its use in the famous striptease scene in the film 9½ Weeks. Released as a single, Cocker's version of the song peaked at No. 35 on Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks. The album also features rendition of Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues", a Motown legend's classic lament to urban decay.

<i>No Sound But a Heart</i> 1987 studio album by Sheena Easton

No Sound But a Heart is the eighth studio album by Scottish singer Sheena Easton, released in 1987 on the EMI America label. The album was issued in the Canadian, Mexican and Asian markets. The album consists of midtempo and ballad songs, including the single and video, "Eternity", written by Prince. The disc features Steve Perry from Journey on backing vocals on "Still in Love" and a duet with Eugene Wilde on "What If We Fall in Love".

<i>My Cherie</i> 1995 studio album by Sheena Easton

My Cherie is the 12th album by Scottish singer Sheena Easton, released in 1995 on MCA Records. The album consists of adult pop songs. The title track was issued as a single but failed to chart. Other tracks include "You've Learned to Live Without Me" by Diane Warren, "Please Don't Be Scared", and "Crazy Love".

<i>Heaven and Earth</i> (Al Jarreau album) 1992 studio album by Al Jarreau

Heaven and Earth is a studio album by Al Jarreau. It was produced by Narada Michael Walden and Louis Biancaniello. The album won Jarreau the Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male, in 1993. Essentially a collection of R&B songs produced with the artist's jazz and pop sensibilities in mind, Heaven and Earth contains a two-part cover of the Miles Davis tune "Blue in Green", from Davis's Kind of Blue, that demonstrates Jarreau's considerable prowess as a vocal interpreter and scat singer.

<i>Wont Be Blue Anymore</i> 1985 studio album by Dan Seals

Won't Be Blue Anymore is the fifth studio album by American country music artist Dan Seals. It was his most successful studio album; the only one to reach No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart. The album featured some of Seals most popular songs, including "Bop" and "Meet Me in Montana", a duet with Marie Osmond. These and the third single, "Everything That Glitters ", all reached No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart. "Bop" was a major crossover hit, peaking at No. 10 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. The compact disc format of this album was released on the album's initial release. It has been out-of-print for more than 20 years and is highly collectible.

<i>Be Yourself</i> (Patti LaBelle album) 1989 studio album by Patti LaBelle

Be Yourself is the ninth solo album by American singer-songwriter Patti LaBelle. It was released by MCA Records on June 26, 1989 in the United States. Her second album with the company following her 1986 platinum album Winner in You, it features the single, "If You Asked Me To" which was also featured on the soundtrack to the James Bond movie, Licence to Kill (1989), and the R&B top ten Prince-written hit "Yo Mister." The album marked LaBelle's foray into new jack swing music with the tracks "I Got It Like That", produced by Full Force, and "Love 89", another Prince contribution.

<i>Good to Be Back</i> 1989 studio album by Natalie Cole

Good to Be Back is the twelfth studio album by American singer Natalie Cole. Released in May 1989 by EMI USA, it contains the hit singles "Miss You Like Crazy" and "I Do".

<i>Never Felt So Good</i> 1986 studio album by James Ingram

Never Felt So Good is the second full-length album by R&B singer-songwriter James Ingram, released in 1986. It reached number 123 on the US charts, and peaked at number 37 on the R&B charts. It reached number 72 in Britain.

<i>Stephanie Mills</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Stephanie Mills

Stephanie Mills is the tenth studio album by the American R&B singer Stephanie Mills, released in 1985 on MCA Records. Following her last release I've Got the Cure on Casablanca Records, Mills self-titled new album was the first release upon signing a new recording contract with MCA Records.

<i>Looking at You</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Chaz Jankel

Looking at You is the fourth solo studio album by the English singer and multi-instrumentalist Chaz Jankel. It was originally released in 1985, on the label A&M. It was his last solo album until 2001's Out of the Blue, as well as his last to be released on A&M, after Jerry Moss, the recording executive of A&M, rejected the release of his fifth album and terminated his recording career with the label in the same year.

<i>Songs of Cinema</i> 2017 studio album by Michael Bolton

Songs of Cinema is the 23rd studio album by American singer Michael Bolton. The album was released on February 10, 2017 by Frontiers Records. The album contains a ballad version of Bolton's song with The Lonely Island, "Jack Sparrow". Bolton promoted the album in a guest appearance on Screen Junkies' series Honest Trailers, in a trailer for the film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

<i>Divine Emotion</i> 1988 studio album by Narada Michael Walden

Divine Emotion is the ninth studio album by American singer, songwriter, musician and record producer Narada Michael Walden. It was released in 1988. The album includes the single "Divine Emotions", which reached number one on the US Dance Club Songs chart, number 21 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number eight in the UK Singles Chart. Two other singles were released from the album: "Can't Get You Outta My Head" and "Wild Thing".

<i>Love Is You to Me</i> 1989 studio album by Kim Boyce

Love Is You to Me is the third studio album by American Christian singer and songwriter Kim Boyce, released in 1989 on Myrrh Records. Highlights include a duet with the Imperials on the title song, which Boyce co-wrote with member Jimmie Lee Sloas and a cover of Keith Green's "O Lord You're Beautiful". Brian Tankersley, who produced Boyce's first two albums, produced six songs, Rhett Lawrence produced three songs and Christian singer-songwriter Tim Miner produced and co-wrote the track "Tender Heart". The album debuted and peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Top Inspirational Albums chart.

References

  1. "People Are Talking About . . ". Jet. January 18, 1988. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  2. "Michael Bolton: 'How Black Music Changed My Life'". Ebony. December 1995. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  3. "MICHAEL BOLTON | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". OfficialCharts.com .
  4. Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide . New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p.  90. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8. rolling stone michael bolton album guide.
  5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 41. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  6. "MICHAEL BOLTON | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". OfficialCharts.com .
  7. "Canadian album certifications – Michael Bolton – The hunger". Music Canada . Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  8. "American album certifications – Michael Bolton – The hunger". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  9. "Hungry For Success" (PDF). Music & Media . 24 March 1990. p. 17. Retrieved 10 January 2024.