How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Outstanding
Value for Money
Excellent
Advantages:
For me one of the best male vocalists
Disadvantages:
None such a strong album
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
BACKGROUND ±±±±±±±±±±±±±
Whenever i mention Peter Cetera to others, it is rare for anybody to know or have heard of him. If i mention the song "Glory of Love" from the soundtrack Karate Kid 2, i do get a few more people knowing of the song itself, but not the artist. So who is Peter Cetera? Well the answer to this is two fold. You see for me, he is one of two favourite male solo vocalists. But Peter Cetera is a Polish American who first tasted amazing success as the lead singer to a popular band of the 60's, 70's and eighties. This band was called Chicago. Some of the most notable releases that Cetera sang on whilst lead singer for Chicago was "If You Leave me Now" "Hard To Say I'm Sorry" and my personal favourite by Chicago "Your The Inspiration". Peter Cetera released his first solo album in 1981 called Peter Cetera. However, in 1985 after requesting time out from to produce a second album Chicago band members flatly refused. At this point Peter quit Chicago. It was shortly after this that Peter would receive a plethora of awards for his immense success with the above mentioned "Glory of Love"
ALBUMS THAT FOLLOWED ±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±
1986, Solitude/Solitaire- Went Platinum 1988, One More Story 1992, World Falling Down
WORLD FALLING DOWN ±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±
It is not with ambiguity that i mention Peter Cetera's past repetoire of albums and success. It sets the scene for this album to show you the experience and quality of the artist. The numerous success as lead singer of Chicago, who never got the same success without him. Platinum albums, soundtracks, and duets with some of the top names in the industry such as Cher, Chaka Khan, Agnetha Faltskog and many more. This mature artist has the wealth of experience to create top quality music.
ALBUM SPECS ±±±±±±±±±±±±±
Peter Cetera- Lead Vocals, Bass Andy Hill- Guitar, Keyboards, Bass, Backing Vocals Mark Goldenberg- Guitar, Keyboards Bruce Gaitsch- Guitar Tim Pierce, Keith Airey, Michael Thompson- Guitar Chris Mostert- Saxophone Jerry Hey, Gary Grant, Bill Reichenbach Horns Robbie Buchanan, Peter Vettesse- Piano, Keyboards Jimmy Johnson, Pino Palladino- Bass John Robinson- Drums, Percussion Janey Clewer, Edie Lehmann, Bobbi Page, Bill Champlin, Tamara Champlin, Kenny Cetera, Joseph Williams- Backing Vocals
Released June 1992 (Warner Bros) Genre: Contemporary Pop/ Rock Total Running Time: 44:45
TRACK LISTING ±±±±±±±±±±±±± • Restless Heart • Even A Fool Can See • Feels Like Heaven Duet with Chaka Khan • Wild Ways • World Falling Down • Man In Me • Where There's No Tomorrow • The Last Place God Made • Dip Your Wings • Have You Ever Been In Love
THE ALBUM ±±±±±±±±±±
RESTLESS HEART> The album opens up with a nice love song, but not in the vein of typical love songs. This is a very melodic pop love song. Nice use of subtle light rock guitar and nice keyboard. In this song Cetera is trying to convey the unfairness of his lover walking away, and how he would be left lost with his restless heart. "Don't leave me here with my restless heart, the one you filled with emotion right from the start, cause the hardest part is being alone with my restless heart, ooh my restless heart. " Whilst it may be a tad upbeat for a song about a distressed man in love it works. The low key rock guitaring, lush backing vocals and sheer passion within Cetera's voice, produce a convincing desperation. A brave track that pulls it off. A very catchy chorus that is hard to resist siniging along to.
EVEN A FOOL CAN SEE> The second track of the album is Similarly pop like Restless Heart, but slightly less upbeat. It is mellow with light drumming of the cymbals, piano etc, but definitely not mellow enough to be defined a ballad. The song is about a relationship thats over, and both are in agreeance with it. There are numerous references to knowing for a long time that its dead in the water, and that its ok. "Tell anyone who misses me, hey i'm alright, even a fool can see"
FEELS LIKE HEAVEN> This song is fantastic. Firstly anybody who knows Chaka Khan, will know that this woman is a diva who can sing like an angel, my god what a pair of lungs. I was first familiar with Chaka Khan in my days as a breakdancer. One of the greatest old School hip-hop tracks by Rufus and Chaka Khan called "Aint Nobody" In this track Chaka Khan's voice compliments Peter Cetera's beautifully. This is a love song about the true wonders of love. "Everythings changed since you came my way, you put the colour in a world of grey, you make the love that carries me away" The song starts of so mellow you would be forgiven for thinking it will be a ballad. But this is to draw you in for the build up to a phenomenal crescendo. Lots of RAW passion, intense note holding. As the song builds there are some moments of incredible catchy intense saxophone, and the intensity of the singing and the pent up music exploding really grip you and you have to sing along bob your head tap your feet. "All this time iv'e been searching, until you i was lost in my dreams, and i never knew that love could feel like heaven, watching over me" My hat certainly goes off to Chaka Khan, her voice in this track is mind blowing.
WILD WAYS> Musically more rock than pop for this track. But do not confuse this for bands for it still has elements of pop. So it is with little or no surprise that this song is more approriate to the rock genre. It is earthy and life affirming. The song tackles issues of relationship stagnation, and the lull that many relationships get into of complacency and the spark is seldom maintained. I envisage by the words used a couple that got together in their late teens and are now long time married in their forties and going through routine. It is a reminder as he reminisces and asks "what ever happened to our wild ways, the hungry beat of our younger days, we swore we would never let them get away, but so long to our wild ways" You really feel the passion and surmise that at one time it must have been a very intensely exciting relationship, and you find yourself hoping that he gets through to his partner.
WORLD FALLING DOWN> Album title song, as well as a pop song bordering on rock. Good use of guitars and drums. A song about life after a broken ralationship. It is a man who is unconvincingly trying to carry on with his life after losing his love. The verses are all about trying to rise each time he falls, digging deep and moving on, but the chorus shows things in the true light, "Then i find that when you lose that magic, suddenly your world comes falling down, all around you and though it seems so tragic, even when theres no one else around, you hear the sound of a world thats falling down"
MAN IN ME> This is a very mature song, and one that i can personally relate to. It is a bout a man who has lost his way, he tries to be what every one else expects of him and he stupidly complies. He wants to be the real passionate man inside the one that can be something so much more. "Theres a man in me that i wanna save, revive his dignity, and free from his cage, and release the man in me. Who cries for the day, he will be let out and show us the way, i believe theres a man in me" It is a strong song that is very much about life issues. The song appropriately starts with tribal style drumming that continues thorugh the duration of the song. The is some nice trumpet and saxophone pieces, and the music is symbolic of freeing the man like freeing the couped up tiger.
WHERE THERES NO TOMORROW> Fantastic song about summertime holiday romance. I think it is fair to assume that the majority of the population have had some sort of gratifying liason whilst on holiday, but for most it is just something for the duration, until the holiday ends and normality resumes. However this really catchy pop track is a man meeting his big time love. "Yes i said it all inside of a letter, that i put in your hand as walked in the sand. I don't wanna go where theres no tomorrow, you go your way, i go mine each one missing what we left behind. I don't wanna go where theres no tomorrow. help me try to make a dream come true, cause i don't wanna leave if i can't be with you." This song is very melodic and likeable with a real sing a long factor.
THE LAST PLACE GOD MADE> A beautiful mature ballad with beautiful lyrics. Tohse genuinely in love will appreciate this, those sceptics will possibly want to vomit, yet you can still appreciate the song for what it is. A very softly sung track that really conveys a deep love for another, and if spite of many albums that promote violence etc this is a refreshing change. As a man i enjoy graphic movies etc but i still have a respect and admiration for a song of this calibre. "If this is the last place god made and yours is the last face i see, Just feeling close to you, thats good eonugh for me, and if this is the last place god made, you know its the only place i want to be, just feeling close to you, thats good enough for me, its good enough" Cetera's voice and sincerity is beautiful, as is the sentiment within the song.
DIP YOUR WINGS> Another song about the greatness of love. However this is a tad more upbeat than The Last Place God Made. Another extremely mature written song with great depth and interesting lyrics to convey what the relationship means. " Send me no more angels on a restless wind, all i ever wanted was the simple things, and if a love like ours means anything show me a sign honey and dip your wings" It is a song about a man and his realisation of his feelings for his beutiful angelic woman, and now its make me no more promises or false hopes show me you want the same, give me a sign. I particualry like the line "When our bodies touched on that burning beach, i could have swore that heaven was within our reach"
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE> Album finishes with a beautiful ballad sung to piano. A song about love and the individuality, for what love means to him on a personal love and asks the question have you ever experienced, felt, done these things, have you ever been in love. It also comes across as a unique way of telling a woman you love her by saying i experience this i do this and its because i am in love with you. A fantastic way to complete tihs awesome album.
CONCLUSION ±±±±±±±±±±±±
It is fair to say that this is not for everybody, i feel younger folk that cannot relate to the subject of love, or lifes issues may not enjoy the lyrics but may enjoy the melodies of some of the songs. Peter Cetera has made lots of albums since World Falling Down and in all his albums he never seems to have lost his formula in his songs of having that distinct eighties feel. He is still going strong and shows popularity by even doing duets sometime back with AZ YET the boy band who did a cover of one of Cetera's songs. There is truthfully not one bad song on the entire album and it is clear to see that a lot of work was put into producing the album. Strongly recommend.
