Wonder Days | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 11 February 2015 | |||
Studio | Rockfield Studios (Monmouth, Wales) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 48:03 | |||
Label | earMusic | |||
Producer | Luke Morley | |||
Thunder studio album chronology | ||||
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Singles from Wonder Days | ||||
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Alternate covers | ||||
Alternative cover | ||||
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.
After breaking up for a second time in 2009,Thunder returned occasionally for a number of shows between 2011 and 2014,before recording a tenth studio album later in the year. Morley wrote all of the material for the album,with the exception of "Black Water" which was co-written by Saint Jude vocalist Lynne Jackaman. Much of the album does not feature guitarist and keyboardist Ben Matthews,who spent most of 2014 recovering from head and neck cancer.
Wonder Days debuted at number 9 on the UK Albums Chart,marking the band's first top ten album since Behind Closed Doors reached number 5 in 1995. The album also charted in Germany and Sweden for the first time in 20 years,and topped the UK Rock &Metal Albums Chart. "Wonder Days","When the Music Played" and "Resurrection Day" were released as singles,while the extended play (EP) Killer was made available as part of various album bundles.
Despite claiming on multiple occasions since returning from their 2009 breakup that they would not record a tenth studio album,Thunder announced in May 2014 that they would return to the studio to work on new material later in the year. [1] Responding to the question over the band's "change of heart" regarding the possibility of new material,the band's vocalist Danny Bowes commented that they decided to record a new album after receiving an "overwhelming response" from fans when they supported Journey and Whitesnake the previous year. [2] In the band's 2016 biography Giving the Game Away:The Thunder Story,the band's lead guitarist Luke Morley added that "We hadn't anticipated that reaction at all,so I said to Danny,"We should make a record,because we may not get this kind of opportunity again"." [3]
Recording for Wonder Days took place at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth,Wales,with Morley once again producing the album. [4] Much of the recording took place without the involvement of second guitarist and keyboardist Ben Matthews,who was diagnosed with head and neck cancer at the beginning of the year and was unable to take part in sessions and shows throughout the year. [5] Speaking about Matthews's absence,bassist Chris Childs reflected that "It was different in the studio without Ben –not just musically but also with his personality. He brings a lot to everything we do." [6] Standing in for Matthews at the group's 2014 shows was Peter Shoulder,a bandmate of Morley's in The Union. [7] By November 2014,it was announced that Matthews's treatment had worked and he was given the "all-clear". [8]
Thunder released a music video for "Wonder Days",which was filmed during the song's debut performance at Loud Park Festival in Tokyo,Japan on 19 October,as the first song from Wonder Days on 25 November 2014. [9] Days later the album was announced for release on earMusic on 16 February 2015. [4] Several editions of Wonder Days were released,including a physical deluxe edition including a bonus disc recorded live at Wacken Open Air in 2013 and a "super deluxe bundle" which also included a 7" vinyl single for the album's title track and an extended play called Killer featuring four new tracks. [10] "When the Music Played" was released on 10" vinyl as a Record Store Day exclusive single on 18 April 2015, [11] before "Resurrection Day" was released as the third and final single from the album the following day. [12]
In promotion of Wonder Days,Thunder announced their first three UK arena headline shows for March 2015,with support bands Reef and Tax the Heat. [13] Bowes explained that while the band "would have preferred to do more" shows,they did not want to "put undue pressure" on Matthews,who was still recovering from cancer at the time. [13] The band later played a number of shows in Europe between June and August,including at Download Festival and a ZZ Top support slot at Wembley Arena,toured Europe again in November,played a pair of dates in Japan at the end of the year,and returned to the UK in February 2016. [14]
Wonder Days debuted at number 9 on the UK Albums Chart,marking the first time Thunder had reached the UK top ten since 1995's Behind Closed Doors peaked at number 5. [15] It also topped the UK Rock &Metal Albums Chart, [16] and reached number 5 on the UK Physical Albums Chart, [17] number 9 on the Scottish Albums Chart, [18] number 31 on the UK Album Downloads Chart, [19] and number 40 on the UK Album Sales Chart. [20] Outside of the UK,the album also registered on album charts in Germany (at number 47), [21] Switzerland (at number 52), [22] Japan (at number 54), [23] and the Wallonia region of Belgium (at number 180). [24]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Classic Rock | [25] |
The Yorkshire Times | 4/5 [26] |
Reviewing the album for Classic Rock magazine,Malcolm Dome awarded Wonder Days a rating of four out of five stars,describing it as "Classy,fresh and memorable". [25] Praising the "rigorous,blues-tinged melodic hard rock elements which established the band's reputation in the first place",Dome highlighted the performances of guitarist Luke Morley and vocalist Danny Bowes,and hailed the album as "a massive reminder that class is both timeless and incandescent". [25] The Yorkshire Times writer Graham Clark dubbed Wonder Days a "fine return to form",highlighting songs including "Wonder Days","When the Music Played","The Thing I Want" and "Serpentine". [26]
Chris Chantler of TeamRock selected "The Thing I Want" as one of six "tracks of the week" on 6 March 2015, [27] Classic Rock highlighted "Resurrection Day" in a similar feature later in the month, [28] and at the end of the year Wonder Days was selected by the magazine as the 11th best album of the year. [29]
All tracks are written by Luke Morley, except where noted
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Wonder Days" | 4:49 |
2. | "The Thing I Want" | 3:43 |
3. | "The Rain" | 4:45 |
4. | "Black Water" (co-written by Lynne Jackaman) | 3:41 |
5. | "The Prophet" | 4:37 |
6. | "Resurrection Day" | 4:29 |
7. | "Chasing Shadows" | 3:52 |
8. | "Broken" | 4:11 |
9. | "When the Music Played" | 6:09 |
10. | "Serpentine" | 4:20 |
11. | "I Love the Weekend" | 3:27 |
Total length: | 48:03 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
12. | "Stand Up" (live at Brooklyn Bowl) (co-written by Gary "Harry" James) | 4:08 |
Total length: | 52:11 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
12. | "Black Water" (acoustic) (co-written by Lynne Jackaman) | 3:06 |
13. | "Broken" (acoustic) | 4:09 |
Total length: | 55:18 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Dirty Love" | 8:43 |
2. | "River of Pain" | 3:50 |
3. | "Higher Ground" | 7:31 |
4. | "Low Life in High Places" | 5:45 |
5. | "Backstreet Symphony" | 5:06 |
6. | "The Devil Made Me Do It" | 5:03 |
7. | "You Can't Keep a Good Man Down" | 8:30 |
8. | "Love Walked In" | 7:35 |
9. | "I Love You More Than Rock 'n' Roll" | 5:52 |
Total length: | 57:55 |
Chart (2015) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [24] | 180 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [21] | 47 |
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [23] | 54 |
Scottish Albums (OCC) [18] | 9 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [22] | 52 |
UK Albums (OCC) [15] | 9 |
UK Album Downloads (OCC) [19] | 31 |
UK Album Sales (OCC) [20] | 40 |
UK Physical Albums (OCC) [17] | 5 |
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) [16] | 1 |
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.
Luke Morley is the guitarist, chief songwriter and producer for the hard rock band Thunder from 1989 to present. Previous to that he was a member of 1980s group, Terraplane who subsequently became Thunder.
Live is the second live album by the 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. It was released by Eagle Rock Entertainment on 16 February 1998. An accompanying video was released by Eagle Vision on 28 March 1998.
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.
Open the Window – Close the Door: Live in Japan is the fourth live album by English hard rock band Thunder. Recorded over four shows at Club Citta in Kawasaki, Japan in March 2000, during the final leg of the band's farewell tour prior to their initial breakup, it was produced by the band's two guitarists, Luke Morley and Ben Matthews. The album was released on 5 September 2000 by Victor Entertainment – the second Thunder live album exclusive to Japan.
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.
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.
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.
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.
They Think It's All Acoustic... It Is Now is the fifth 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 released on 14 May 2001 as the band's second release on Papillon Records. It was later reissued in the UK by STC Recordings on 28 September 2005.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Amorettes were a hard rock band formed in Scotland in 2009. They performed in support of Black Star Riders, Europe, W.A.S.P., Ash, The Dead Daisies, Black Stone Cherry, Gun and Thunder among others, and toured across the UK, and performed in several countries throughout Europe.
Rip It Up is the eleventh studio album by hard rock band Thunder and the follow-up to their 2015 album Wonder Days. The album was released in the UK on 10 February 2017 and entered the UK album chart at number three, giving the band their highest placing since their 1992 album Laughing on Judgement Day.
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.
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".
All You Can Eat is the thirty-second live album and eleventh video by English hard rock band Thunder. It is a three-part collection documenting a number of live performances in 2014, as well as the recording and production of the band's 2015 tenth studio album Wonder Days. The album was released on 29 January 2016 by earMusic. The video portion of the release topped the UK Music Video Chart, while the full album charted at number 101 on the Japanese Albums Chart.
Please Remain Seated is the twelfth studio album by English hard rock band Thunder. Recorded in late 2018 at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales, it was produced by the band's lead guitarist Luke Morley and released internationally by earMusic on 18 January 2019.