Wicked Game | ||||
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Compilation album by | ||||
Released | January 14, 1991 | |||
Genre | Roots rock, rockabilly | |||
Length | 45:39 | |||
Label | Reprise | |||
Producer | Erik Jacobsen | |||
Chris Isaak chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
NME | 8/10 [2] |
Wicked Game is a compilation album by American singer and songwriter Chris Isaak, released in 1991 by WEA on the Reprise Records label in the UK, Europe and Australia. The record contains 11 songs from his first three albums.
In early 1991, after the song "Wicked Game" went top 10 in the UK and top 15 in Australia, a division of Warner Music Group, WEA released the album Wicked Game. Compiled by Phil Knox-Roberts of WEA UK, it was highlights of Isaak's recording career to that point. Three of the songs were taken from his first album Silvertone (1985): "Dancin'", "Voodoo" and "Funeral in the Rain", four from his 1986 album, Chris Isaak : "Blue Hotel", "Lie to Me", "Heart Full of Soul" (a cover of The Yardbirds 1965 top 10 hit) and "You Owe Me Some Kind of Love" and four from 1989's Heart Shaped World : - "Wicked Game", "Nothing's Changed", "Blue Spanish Sky" and "Heart Shaped World". An instrumental version of the song "Wicked Game" was included as a bonus track. The album was released on CD and LP. "Blue Hotel" was re-released as a single in support of the album, reaching #17 in the UK and #23 in Australia.
Warner Music Canada eventually added Wicked Game to their regular CD catalogue after years of it being a steady import seller.
A compilation of five videos of Isaak's songs was released, including "Wicked Game" (directed by Herb Ritts), "Dancin'" (Mary Lambert), "You Owe Me Some Kind of Love" (Jean-Baptiste Mondino), "Blue Hotel" (Mark Lebon) and "Don't Make Me Dream About You" (Geoffrey Barish). "Don't Make Me Dream About You" from Heart Shaped World was not included on the Wicked Game album.
All tracks written by Chris Isaak, except where noted.
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [18] | 3× Platinum | 210,000^ |
Finland (Musiikkituottajat) [19] | Platinum | 59,682 [19] |
France (SNEP) [20] | Platinum | 300,000* |
Germany (BVMI) [21] | Gold | 250,000^ |
Netherlands (NVPI) [22] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [23] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
Sweden (GLF) [24] | Gold | 50,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [25] | Gold | 25,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [26] | 2× Platinum | 600,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Christopher Joseph Isaak is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional actor. Noted for his reverb-laden rockabilly revivalist style and wide vocal range, he is popularly known for his breakthrough hit and signature song "Wicked Game"; as well as international hits such as "Blue Hotel", "Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing", and "Somebody's Crying".
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