Mothers Heaven

Mothers Heaven
Studio album by Texas
Released	8 October 1991
Recorded	1990-1991
Genre	Rock
Length	47:36
Label	Mercury Vertigo (Canada)
Producer	Tim Palmer
Texas chronology
Southside (1991) Mothers Heaven (1991) Ricks Road (1993)
Singles from Mothers Heaven
"Why Believe in You" Released: 1991 "In My Heart" Released: 1991 "Alone With You" Released: 1992 "Mothers Heaven" Released: 1992

Mothers Heaven is the second album from the Scottish pop band Texas. The album was released on 8 October 1991 by Mercury Records and was the follow on to debut album, Southside (1989).^[1] The album debuted at number thirty two in the UK and spent 4 weeks on the charts.^[2]

Background information

The album saw the release of four singles, the lead single released from Mothers Heaven was entitled "Why Believe in You" which lacked on the singles charts, particularly in the United Kingdom where it only managed to chart at #66 on the UK Singles Charts. Follow on single, the alternative rock track, "In My Heart" was released later in 1991 to only manage a charting position of #74 in the United Kingdom. However, "In My Heart" became Texas's last song to date to chart in the United States after peaking at #14 on the US Billboard Hot Rock Tracks, the song also charted strongly in France where it charted at #44 on the French Singles Charts.

The release of a third single was based entirely on the success of the band in countries such as France and Spain as well with other European countries, as Texas's singles were doing particularly poorly in the United Kingdom. However, the release of a third single, "Alone With You" saw Texas return to the UK Singles Charts annual top 40, where it charted at #32 on the chart in the UK, their first top 40 entry since the release of "I Don't Want a Lover" in 1989 which debuted at #8. The single also continued the success of the band in France, charting at #24. The fourth and final single, a remix of the title track "Mothers Heaven" was released in 1992. The single failed to chart in any national singles charts.

As of June 2011, Mothers Heaven remains uncertified in the United Kingdom. However, it has been certified Gold in both France and Switzerland.

Release and reception

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[3]

Texas is a good name for this band, whose sound is open, brooding and just a bit on the twangy side; if you can imagine a sound somewhere between the dour, minimalist bluesiness of Cowboy Junkies and the yearning, gospel-tinged bombast of early U2, you'll have a good idea what to expect. Singer Sharleen Spiteri has the perfect voice for this kind of thing: it's low-ptched and dark-hued, and is shown off to best effect when she's belting out big, cathartic numbers like the title track and "Why Believe in You." Ally McErlaine is a brilliant slide guitarist who can move from grungy, greasy rock to desolate acoustic Delta blues without missing a beat. It's true that the group still needs to digest its influences a bit -- "Dream Hotel," in particular, sounds like a U2 reject—but most of the time, Texas does a good job of mapping out its own territory. And this is just their second album, remember. ~ Rick Anderson, All Music Guide^[4]

Track listing

International release

1. "Mothers Heaven"
2. "Why Believe in You"
3. "Dream Hotel"
4. "This Will All Be Mine"
5. "Beliefs"
6. "Alone with You"
7. "In My Heart"
8. "Waiting"
9. "Wrapped in Clothes of Blue"
10. "Return"
11. "Walk the Dust"

Japanese release

1. "Mothers Heaven"
2. "Why Believe in You"
3. "Dream Hotel"
4. "This Will All Be Mine"
5. "Beliefs"
6. "Alone with You"
7. "In My Heart"
8. "Waiting"
9. "Wrapped in Clothes of Blue"
10. "Return"
11. "Walk the Dust"
12. "How It Feels"
13. "In My Heart (12" Mix)"

Personal

• Recorded at: Park Lane Studios, Glasgow, Scotland.
• Ally McErlaine - guitar
• Johnny McElhone - bass
• Sharleen Spiteri - vocals, guitar
• Eddie Campbell - keyboards
• Richard Hynd - drums
• Engineer - George Shilling , Kenny MacDonald* , Simon Vinestock
• Mastered By - Bob Ludwig
• Producer - Tim Palmer
• Vocals, Guitar - Sharleen Spiteri
• Voice [Call Out Stuart Kerr Gouranga, Be Happy] - Stuart Kerr
• Written-By - McErlaine* (tracks: 11) , McElhone* , Spiteri*

Chart performance

Chart (1991)	Peak position
UK Albums Chart	32
French Albums Chart	11
Spanish Albums Chart	15
Swiss Albums Chart	35

References

1. ^ Texas Mothers Heaven CD
2. ^ Chart Stats - Texas
3. ^ Allmusic review
4. ^ http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,174115,00.html