Out of This World (album)

Infobox Album | Name = Out of This World
Type = studio
Artist = Europe


Released = 9 August, 1988
Recorded = Olympic Studios, Townhouse Studios, Swanyard, London, England March-June 1988
Genre = Hard rock, Glam metal, Heavy metal
Length = 47:50
Label = Epic Records
Producer = Ron Nevison
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:7q7tk6dx9kra link]
Last album = "The Final Countdown"
(1986)
This album = "Out of This World"
(1988)
Next album = "Prisoners in Paradise"
(1991)
Misc = Singles
Name = Out of This World
Type = Studio
single 1 = Superstitious
single 1 date = July 1988
single 2 = Open Your Heart
single 2 date = October 1988
single 3 = Let the Good Times Rock
single 3 date = March 1989
single 4 = Sign of the Times
single 4 date = 1989
single 5 = More Than Meets the Eye
single 5 date = 1989
single 6 = Tomorrow
single 6 date = 1989

"Out of This World" is the fourth studio album by the Swedish rock band Europe. Released on 9 August, 1988 through Epic Records, the album was a huge commercial success selling over 1 million units in the United States, peaking at number 19 on the US "Billboard" 200 chart and reaching high positions in charts worldwide. It was recorded at Olympic Studios, London, England.

Six singles were released from the album: "Superstitious", "Open Your Heart", "Let the Good Times Rock", "Sign of the Times", "More Than Meets the Eye" and "Tomorrow". "Tomorrow" was only released in Brazil.

Music

Recording and production

ongs

"Superstitious is a rock song written by Joey Tempest for Europe's fourth studio album. It was the first single released from the album and its arguably one of Europe's most recognizable and popular songs. The song peaked at number 9 on the "Billboard" Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and peaked at number 31 on the "Billboard" Hot 100. The song reached number 35 on the Canadian Singles Chart. The song was released in Australia, Europe and New Zealand in July 1988. "Superstitious" reached the UK top forty at 34. "Supertitious" continued the trend of lower-charting singles when it charted. "Supertitious" reached number one in Norway and their homeland Sweden.

"Open Your Heart" and "Let the Good Times Rock" would become minor hits in the UK with "Open Your Heart" charting at 86 and "Let the Good Times Rock" peaking at 85. Three more singles would be released while none of them charted and "Tomorrow" was only released in Brazil.

Release and Reception

"Out of This World" was the band's follow up album to the succsessful album "The Final Countdown". Upon its release in August 1988, "Out of This World" peaked at #19 on the "Billboard" 200 album chart.cite web
url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Albums&model.vnuArtistId=4566&model.vnuAlbumId=803208
title=American Album Chart
publisher=Billboard.com
accessdate=2008-06-24] The album didn't match it's predecessor. The album is Europes best-selling album in Switzerland. "Out of This World" achieved Platinum status in the United States, gold platinum status in Canada, and Switzerland.cite web
url=http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Europe&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2008&sort=Artist&perPage=25
title=RIAA - Gold & Platinum
publisher=RIAA| accessdate=2008-06-24 ] cite web
url=http://hitparade.ch/search_certifications.asp?search=Europe
title=Swiss certification
publisher=Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade
accessdate=2008-06-24 ] cite web
url=http://www.cria.ca/cert_db_search.php
title=CRIA Certifications
publisher=CRIA
accessdate=2008-06-24 ]

"Allmusic" gave "Out of This World" three out of five stars. Reviewer Andy Hinds said, "Europe produces made-to-order lite metal with admirable craftsmanship and occasionally memorable hooks. "Superstitious" even has a disarming gospel quality. This is hard rock with all the edges sanded off. Capable lead singer Joey Tempest carries the tunes with nonthreatening panache, while Kee Marcello (who proved his virtuosity on Europe's previous by performing "Flight of the Bumblebee") provides plenty of nice guitar solos."cite web
url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:7q7tk6dx9kra
title=Allmusic
publisher=Allmusic
accessdate=2008-06-24 ]

"Out of This World" included the hit singles "Superstitious", "Open Your Heart", "Sign of the Times", "Let the Good Times Rock", "More Than Meets the Eye" and "Tomorrow", all of which had accompanying music videos. Only "Superstitious" charted in America. "Open Your Heart" and "Let the Good Times Rock" charted in the UK, the other singels didn't chart. The sixth single, "Tomorrow", was released in Brazil only. "Superstitious" was the most successful song from "Out of This World" on the rock charts, reaching number thirty one on the Billboard Hot 100 and number nine on the Mainstream Rock Tracks.cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.vnuArtistId=4566&model.vnuAlbumId=803208 |title=US Album Chart |publisher=Billboard 200 |accessdate=2008-06-24 ] "Superstitious" was released in the fall of 1988 and became arguably the band's most recognizable song from the album. Its music video received heavy airplay on music television.

Out of This World Tour

Track listing

tracklist
writing_credits = yes

title1 = Superstitious
writer1 = Tempest
length1 = 4:35

title2 = Let the Good Times Rock
writer2 = Tempest
length2 = 4:04

title3 = Open Your Heart
writer3 = Tempest
length3 = 4:04

title4 = More Than Meets the Eye
writer4 = Tempest, Marcello, Michaeli
length4 = 3:20

title5 = Coast to Coast
writer5 = Tempest, Marcello, Michaeli
length5 = 4:00

title6 = Ready or Not
writer6 = Tempest
length6 = 4:05

title7 = Sign of the Times
writer7 = Tempest
length7 = 4:15

title8 = Just the Beginning
writer8 = Tempest, Marcello
length8 = 4:32

title9 = Never Say Die
writer9 = Tempest
length9 = 4:00

title10 = Lights and Shadows
writer10 = Tempest
length10 = 4:04

title11 = Tower's Callin'
writer11 = Tempest
length11 = 3:48

title12 = Tomorrow
writer12 = Tempest
length12 = 3:04

Personnel

*Joey Tempest – vocals, piano on "Tomorrow"
*Kee Marcello – guitars, background vocals
*John Levén – bass
*Mic Michaeli – keyboards, background vocals
*Ian Haugland – drums, background vocals
*Keith Morell – background vocals on "Coast to Coast" and "Just the Beginning"
*Ron Nevison – Producer, Engineer, Mixing
*Rob Bozas – Assistant Engineer
*Andy Bradfield – Assistant Engineer
*Heidi Cannavo – Assistant Engineer
*Paul Hume – Engineer, String Engineer
*Mike Moran – Conductor, String Arrangements
*Mats Grahn – Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Multitechnician
*Paul Jamieson – Drum Technician
*Bernard Maisner – Hand Lettering
*Lynn Goldsmith – Photography
*Joel Zimmerman – Art Direction

References