| World Falling Down | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 10, 1992 | |||
| Recorded | June 1991−March 1992 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 44:52 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros | |||
| Producer | Andy Hill, Peter Cetera, David Foster | |||
| Peter Cetera chronology | ||||
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| Review scores | |
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| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
World Falling Down is the fourth solo album for music artist Peter Cetera, released in July 1992, and his third album since leaving the group Chicago.
Released four years after his previous album, One More Story , World Falling Down was recorded sporadically over a lengthy period across nine different recording studios. [2] Cetera's marriage to second wife, Diane Nini had ended, causing the once busy songwriter to step away from the music scene. Between 1988 and 1992, his only musical activities were an appearance as a guest vocalist on Cher's 1989 single, "After All", a song on the soundtrack to the movie Chances Are , "No Explanation" for the soundtrack to the movie Pretty Woman , and a vocal contribution to David Foster's "Voices That Care" production, based on music that he and Cetera had written together years earlier. Deeply depressed, Cetera found himself using the album as an outlet to deal with his marriage ending and learning to be a single parent. Recording began in London England and occurred in short, spread out bursts as Cetera worked through the personal issues in his life. [2]
In 1992, he explained to Billboard, "This was actually the first time I could write about the other side of love. I'd try to write a happy love song and I just couldn't do it. Then I got mad and so everything was about hating the world. I finally settled on the truth." [2]
The album was predominantly produced by Andy Hill and Cetera. Two tracks were produced by veteran producer David Foster who had worked with Cetera previously on Chicago 16 and Chicago 17 during his days as bassist and vocalist for Chicago. Former Chicago alumni Bill Champlin sings background vocals on the song "Wild Ways", and singer Chaka Khan stepped in to perform a duet on the song "Feels Like Heaven" after original partner Lorrie Morgan was unable to perform the song in its intended key. [3] Unlike Cetera's previous three solo efforts, Cetera co-wrote only four songs on World Falling Down. The album also marked a brief return to bass playing as Cetera himself played the bass lines on "Dip Your Wings" and "Where There's No Tomorrow".
Released in the summer of 1992, World Falling Down was a commercial disappointment. Dance, rap and alternative rock songs had begun dominating top forty radio, resulting in a decline in pop music that had been popular only a few years earlier. Many of Cetera's contemporaries, including his former band-mates in Chicago, found their singles struggling to get airplay and generate album sales.
Warner released three singles, "Restless Heart", "Feels Like Heaven" and "Even a Fool Can See". Only "Restless Heart" made the top 40, peaking at No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100, though it topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart at No. 1 for two weeks. "Feels Like Heaven" hit No. 71 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 5 on the Billboard AC chart. The third single, "Even a Fool Can See" performed slightly better, reaching No. 68 on the Billboard Top 100 and No. 3 on the Billboard AC Chart the next summer. [4]
As with his previous solo efforts, Cetera declined to go on tour feeling that he didn't have enough solo material. [2] The singer performed live on The Tonight Show [5] and The Arsenio Hall Show to promote the album. [6] [7] In addition, Warner produced music videos for the first two singles, with Cetera's daughter Claire appearing in the music video for "Restless Heart". The final track, "Have You Ever Been In Love?" was not released as a single, but gained popularity when used by professional skaters in their routines. Cetera often closes live concerts with the popular album cut.
World Falling Down reached a peak of No. 163 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart during a brief stay. [8] Following its commercial disappointment, Cetera left Warner Brothers and signed to the independent record label, River North Records. [9] [3]
In 2010, a Heineken light beer commercial, "Lady Music", featured the album cover and the song "Restless Heart". [10] [11]
Peter Paul Cetera is a retired American musician best known for being a frontman, vocalist, and bassist for the American rock band Chicago from 1967 until his departure in 1985. His career as a recording artist encompasses 17 studio albums with Chicago and eight solo studio albums.
Chicago VII is the sixth studio album by American rock band Chicago. It was released on March 11, 1974 by Columbia Records. It is notable for being their first double album of new material since 1971's Chicago III and remains their final studio release in that format. It features session percussionist Laudir de Oliveira, who would become a full-fledged band member for the release of Chicago VIII the following year.
Chicago 17 is the fourteenth studio album by American rock band Chicago, released on May 14, 1984. It was the group's second release for Full Moon/Warner Bros. Records, their second album to be produced by David Foster and their last with founding bassist/vocalist Peter Cetera. As of 2023, it remains Chicago's best-selling album, with over 6.1 million units being sold in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan. Four singles were released from the album, all of which peaked in the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The success of the music videos for "Stay the Night", "You're the Inspiration", and "Hard Habit to Break" on MTV propelled Chicago 17 to achieve an RIAA certification of six times platinum.
Chicago 18 is the fifteenth studio album by the American rock band Chicago, released on September 29, 1986. This album is the first without original vocalist Peter Cetera, and the first to feature Jason Scheff on bass guitar and vocals.
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Simple Things is the fifteenth studio album by CCM singer-songwriter Amy Grant, released in 2003.
Peter Cetera, released in September 1981, is the self-titled first solo release by American musician Peter Cetera, released while he was the bassist and lead vocalist of the band Chicago.
Solitude/Solitaire is the second solo album by former Chicago bassist and vocalist Peter Cetera, and his first album after leaving the band in 1985. It was released in June 1986. The album includes the hits "Glory of Love" and "The Next Time I Fall" ; both reached the No. 1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Solitude/Solitaire was produced by Michael Omartian, who later co-produced Cetera's 2001 album, Another Perfect World.
One More Story (1988) is the third solo album for music artist Peter Cetera and his second album after leaving the group Chicago. The album was co-produced by Patrick Leonard and Peter Cetera, and contains an appearance by Leonard's most famous artist at the time, Madonna. It also features Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour on "Body Language" and "You Never Listen to Me", as well as Oak Ridge Boys bass vocalist Richard Sterban and guitarist/vocalist Bonnie Raitt on "Save Me."
One Clear Voice is the fifth solo album for music artist Peter Cetera and his fourth album since leaving the group Chicago. The album was recorded and released in 1995 by River North Records.
Another Perfect World is the seventh and final solo album by music artist Peter Cetera released in 2001. It was his sixth album overall since leaving the group Chicago. The track, "Perfect World" peaked at number 21 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Perhaps one of the most notable songs on the album is Cetera's remake of the Lennon-McCartney penned "It's Only Love."
I Feel for You is the fifth solo studio album by American R&B/funk singer Chaka Khan, released on the Warner Bros. Records label in 1984.
Do It for Love is the sixteenth studio album by pop music duo Hall & Oates. The album was released on February 11, 2003, by U-Watch Records and Sanctuary Records. The title track peaked at No. 1 on Adult Contemporary charts making it the 8th No. 1 hit of their career, and "Forever For You", "Man on a Mission", and "Getaway Car" all charted as well. It was their first album of all-new material in six years.
Go West Young Man is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Michael W. Smith, released on October 1, 1990, through Reunion. This record was his first attempt at mainstream success. It was successful, as it scored a Billboard Hot 100 top ten hit with "Place in This World", which peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1991.
"Hard Habit to Break" is a song written by Steve Kipner and John Lewis Parker, produced and arranged by David Foster and recorded by the group Chicago for their 1984 album Chicago 17, with Bill Champlin and Peter Cetera sharing lead vocals. Released as the second single from the album, it reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was prevented from charting higher by "Caribbean Queen" by Billy Ocean and "I Just Called to Say I Love You" by Stevie Wonder. "Hard Habit to Break" also peaked at No. 3 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The lyrics of the song appear to describe a man having a hard time getting over a significant other getting away after he took her for granted and she left him for someone else. Overseas it peaked at No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart.
"You're the Inspiration" is a song written by Peter Cetera and David Foster for the group Chicago and recorded for their fourteenth studio album Chicago 17 (1984), with Cetera singing lead vocals. The third single released from that album, it reached No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 1985 and also climbed to the top position on the Adult Contemporary chart at the same time. The song won honors for Cetera from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), in 1986 in the most-performed songs category.
"Along Comes a Woman" is a song written by Peter Cetera and Mark Goldenberg for the group Chicago and recorded for their album Chicago 17 (1984), with Cetera singing lead vocals. The fourth single released from that album, it is the last Chicago single released with original singer/bassist Cetera, who left the band in the summer of 1985.
They Don't Make Them Like They Used To is the nineteenth studio album by American country music artist Kenny Rogers, released in 1986 through RCA Records. The album hit the top 20 on the country charts with the single "Twenty Years Ago" peaked at number two.
The Crossing is the fifth studio album by English singer Paul Young. Released in 1993, the album peaked at No. 27 on the UK Albums Chart.
Heart's Horizon is a studio album by American singer and musician Al Jarreau. It was released in 1988 through Reprise Records. It reached No. 75 on the Billboard 200.
