Turn Back the Clock (album)

Turn Back the Clock
Studio album by
Johnny Hates Jazz
Released11 January 1988 (1988-01-11)
Recorded1986–1987
StudioRAK Studios (London, UK)
GenreSophisti-pop,[1] synth-pop[2]
Length36:24
LabelVirgin
Producer
Johnny Hates Jazz chronology
Turn Back the Clock
(1988) 		Tall Stories
(1991)
Singles from Turn Back the Clock
  1. "Me and My Foolish Heart"
    Released: 1986
  2. "Shattered Dreams"
    Released: March 1987
  3. "I Don't Want to Be a Hero"
    Released: August 1987
  4. "Turn Back the Clock"
    Released: 1987
  5. "Heart of Gold"
    Released: 15 February 1988
  6. "Don't Say It's Love"
    Released: 27 June 1988
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Record Mirror[4]
New Musical Express8/10[5]
Smash Hits5/10[6]

Turn Back the Clock is the debut studio album by English band Johnny Hates Jazz, released by Virgin Records on 11 January 1988 in United Kingdom and on 29 March 1988 in the United States. The album, whose most famous single was "Shattered Dreams", peaked at number one on the UK Albums Chart and at number 56 on the US Billboard 200. Kim Wilde sings backing vocals on the title track, which reached number 12 on the UK Singles Chart and number 10 in New Zealand. The track "Foolish Heart" was originally released as a single in 1986 as "Me and My Foolish Heart".

The song "Listen", written and co-produced by Phil Thornalley, was later re-recorded for his solo album Swamp, also released in 1988.[7]

Reception

Michael Sutton of AllMusic wrote, "The music on Turn Back the Clock is generally upbeat synth pop, but the words are often sad. Although Johnny Hates Jazz offer no profound revelations about failed relationships or lost love, there is genuine emotion beneath the studio luster of "What Other Reason," "Different Seasons," "Don't Let It End This Way," and "Foolish Heart."". The viewer described the album as "a true guilty pleasure" with "no artistic risks yet it's too hummable to ignore."

Spin wrote, "They commit many cardinal musical sins, like being satisfied to have reached page three of their MIDI handbook, and figuring they now know everything there is to know about their new synths. This is evident from the first note. So everything has a basic beat and it’s all in synch, and so what?"[8]

Track listing

All songs written by Clark Datchler, except where noted.

Standard version

1988 original vinyl album and US CD release

  1. "Shattered Dreams" – 3:26
  2. "Heart of Gold" – 3:20
  3. "Turn Back the Clock" – 4:30
  4. "Don't Say It's Love" – 3:43
  5. "What Other Reason" – 3:20
  6. "I Don't Want to Be a Hero" – 3:37
  7. "Listen" – 3:44 (Phil Thornalley)
  8. "Different Seasons" – 3:31 (Clark Datchler, Calvin Hayes)
  9. "Don't Let It End This Way" – 3:40
  10. "Foolish Heart" – 3:33 (Iain Macdonald, C. Hayes, M. Nocito, P. Thornalley)

Bonus tracks

1988 CD release

  2. "Heart of Gold" (J. Mendelsohn Mix) – 6:41
  3. "Turn Back the Clock" (J. Mendelsohn Mix) – 7:03
  4. "I Don't Want to Be a Hero" (Extended Mix) – 6:36

2008 UK remastered edition

  2. "Shattered Dreams" (12" Extended Mix) – 5:11
  3. "Heart of Gold" (Extended Mix) – 6:42
  4. "Turn Back the Clock" (12" Extended Mix) – 7:03
  5. "Don't Say It's Love" (Extended Mix) – 6:36
  6. "Foolish Heart" (12" Mix) – 5:50
  7. "Turn Back the Clock" (Unreleased Version) – 4:35

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Turn Back the Clock.[9]

Johnny Hates Jazz

  • Clark Datchler – lead vocals and backing vocals
  • Calvin Hayes – bass
  • Mike Nocito – synthesizers and drum machine

Additional musicians

Production

  • Calvin Hayes – producer
  • Mike Nocito – producer, engineer
  • Phil Thornalley – co-producer on "Listen", mixing
  • Greg Jackman – mixing
  • Bob Kraushaar – mixing
  • Julian Mendelsohn – mixing
  • Matt Barry – assistant engineer
  • Richard Edwards – assistant engineer
  • Terry Irwin – assistant engineer
  • Roy Spong – assistant engineer
  • Tim Weidner – assistant engineer
  • Kevin Metcalfe – mastering
  • Sarm West Studios (London, UK) – mixing location
  • The Townhouse (London, UK) – mastering location

Artwork

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Turn Back the Clock
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[28] Gold 50,000^
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[29] Gold 10,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[30] 2× Platinum 600,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Inskeep, Thomas; Soto, Alfred (22 February 2007). "The Bluffer's Guide – Sophisti-Pop". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  2. ^ Sutton, Michael. "Turn Back the Clock Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  3. ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r73744
  4. ^ Dickson, Ian (16 January 1988). "Albums". Record Mirror. p. 14. ISSN 0144-5804.
  5. ^ Giles, David (23 January 1988). "Johnny Hates Jazz: Turn Back The Clock". New Musical Express. p. 27.
  6. ^ Dando, Sue (13–26 January 1988). "Albums" (PDF). Smash Hits. Vol. 10, no. 1. p. 42. ISSN 0260-3004. Retrieved 14 November 2023 – via World Radio History.
  7. ^ "Phil Thornalley – Swamp". Discogs. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  8. ^ Hank Bardowitz (June 1988). "Spins". Spin. No. 36. p. 74.
  9. ^ Turn Back the Clock (liner notes). Johnny Hates Jazz. Virgin Records. 1988. CDV 2475.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 159. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  11. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Johnny Hates Jazz – Turn Back the Clock" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  12. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 8699". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  13. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Johnny Hates Jazz – Turn Back the Clock" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  14. ^ "European Hot 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 7. 13 February 1988. p. 20. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  15. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  16. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Johnny Hates Jazz – Turn Back the Clock" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  17. ^ "Charts.nz – Johnny Hates Jazz – Turn Back the Clock". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  18. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Johnny Hates Jazz – Turn Back the Clock". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  19. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Johnny Hates Jazz – Turn Back the Clock". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  20. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Johnny Hates Jazz – Turn Back the Clock". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  21. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  22. ^ "Johnny Hates Jazz Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  23. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – CD 1988" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  24. ^ "1988 Year End Eurocharts – Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 52/1. 1 January 1989. p. 31. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  25. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 1988" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  26. ^ "Topp 40 Album Vinter 1988" (in Norwegian). VG-lista. Archived from the original on 16 October 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  27. ^ Scaping, Peter, ed. (1991). "Top 100 Albums: 1988". BPI YearBook 1989/90. London: British Phonographic Industry. pp. 66–67. ISBN 978-0-9061-5410-6.
  28. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Johnny Hates Jazz – Turn Back the Clock". Music Canada. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  29. ^ "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1988". IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  30. ^ "British album certifications – Johnny Hates Jazz – Turn Back the Clock". British Phonographic Industry. 13 July 1989. Retrieved 7 January 2022.