Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

Turn Back the Clock

 
Album Review: Turn Back the Clock

  • Artist: Johnny Hates Jazz
  • Rating: StarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: 1987
  • Total Time: 36:20
  • Type: Lyrics are included with the album
  • Genre: Rock

Review

With their dapper attire, clean-cut image, and glossy production, Johnny Hates Jazz were too slick to receive any respect. Consequently, the group's debut album Turn Back the Clock was unjustly thrashed in the press. Best known for its bittersweet hit single "Shattered Dreams," Turn Back the Clock is actually a well-crafted LP. On "Shattered Dreams," vocalist Clark Datchler sings of a breakup over a finger-snapping, synthesized groove. The success of the song is no mystery; it is unbelievably catchy. However, there are actually better ones on the album. The sentimental lyrics and shimmering keyboards of the title track express heartfelt feelings of nostalgia. 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." On "Heart of Gold," Datchler illustrates the plight of a prostitute without sounding preachy, and the funky "I Don't Want to Be a Hero" is a surprisingly effective anti-war song. Turn Back the Clock is a true guilty pleasure; an LP that takes absolutely no artistic risks yet it's too hummable to ignore. ~ Michael Sutton, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Shattered Dreams (Lyrics) Clark Datchler Johnny Hates Jazz (3:26)
Heart of Gold Clark Datchler Johnny Hates Jazz (3:20)
Turn Back the Clock (Lyrics) Clark Datchler Johnny Hates Jazz (4:30)
Don't Say It's Love Clark Datchler Johnny Hates Jazz (3:43)
What Other Reason (Lyrics) Clark Datchler Johnny Hates Jazz (3:20)
I Don't Want to Be a Hero Clark Datchler Johnny Hates Jazz (3:37)
Listen (Lyrics) Phil Thornalley Johnny Hates Jazz (3:40)
Different Seasons (Lyrics) Clark Datchler, Calvin Hayes Johnny Hates Jazz (3:31)
Don't Let It End This Way Clark Datchler Johnny Hates Jazz (3:40)
Foolish Heart (Lyrics) Johnny Hates Jazz (3:32)

Credits

Mike Nocito (Producer), Simon Fowler (Photography), Neil Hubbard (Guitar), Mike Nocito (Bass), Terry Irwin (Assistant Engineer), Phil Thornalley (Engineer), Mike Nocito (Engineer), Richard Edwards (Assistant Engineer), Neil Sidewell (Horn), Tim Weider (Assistant Engineer), Martin Drover (Horn), Peter Vitessi (Keyboards), Anne Dudley (Arranger), Bob Kraushaar (Engineer), Miriam Stockley (Vocals (Background)), Calvin Hayes (Producer), Roy Spong (Assistant Engineer), Calvin Hayes (Producer), Chris Newman (Fairlight), Kevin Metcalfe (Mastering), Malcolm Duncan (Horn), J.J. Belle (Guitar), Clark Datchler (Vocals), Calvin Hayes (Keyboards), Greg Jackman (Engineer), Matt Barry (Assistant Engineer), Kim Wilde (Vocals (Background)), Julian Mendelsohn (Engineer), Chris Newman (Keyboards), Stevie Lange (Vocals (Background)), Frank Ricotti (Percussion), Molly Duncan (Horn), Chris Newman (Synthesizer), Phil Thornalley (Producer)
Search unanswered questions...
Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics
Wikipedia: Turn Back the Clock (album)
Top
Turn Back the Clock
Studio album by Johnny Hates Jazz
Released 1988
Recorded 19861987
Genre Pop
Length 36:24 (original), 56:44 (reissue)
Label Virgin Records
Producer Calvin Hayes, Mike Nocito, Phil Thornalley
Professional reviews
Johnny Hates Jazz chronology
Turn Back the Clock
1988
Tall Stories
1991

Turn Back the Clock is the debut album by Johnny Hates Jazz released in 1988. The album peaked at #1 on the UK charts, and #56 on the Billboard 200. Kim Wilde, Calvin Hayes' then-girlfriend, helped out on backing vocals.

Contents

Track listing

Track list (original album)
  • All songs written by Clark Datchler except denoted
  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 (I.Macdonald / C.Hayes / M.Nocito / P.Thornalley)
Track list (reissue)
  • All songs written by Clark Datchler except denoted
  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 (I.Macdonald / C. Hayes / M. Nocito / P.Thornalley)
  11. "Heart of Gold (J. Mendelsohn Mix)" – 6:41
  12. "Turn Back the Clock (J. Mendelsohn Mix)" – 7:03
  13. "I Don't Want to be a Hero (Extended Mix)" – 6:36

Production

  • Produced By Calvin Hayes, Phil Thornalley & Mike Nocito
  • Engineers: Mike Nocito, Greg Jackman, Bob Kraushaar, Julian Mendelsohn, Phil Thornalley
  • Assistant Engineers: Matt Berry, Richard Edwards, Terry Irwin, Roy Spong, Tim Weider
  • Mastering: Kevin Metcalfe

Personnel

Johnny Hates Jazz

  • Clark Datchler: Vocals, Piano
  • Calvin Hayes: Keyboards
  • Mike Nocito: Bass

Additional Musicians

  • J.J. Belle, Neil Hubbard: Guitars
  • Chris Newman: Synthesizers, Keyboards, Fairlight CMI
  • Peter-John Vitesse: Keyboards
  • Frank Ricotti: Percussion
  • Martin Drover, Malcolm Duncan, Molly Duncan, Neil Sidewell: Horns
  • Stevie Lange, Miriam Stockley, Kim Wilde: Additional Vocals
  • Anne Dudley: Arrangements


Preceded by
Popped in Souled Out by Wet Wet Wet
UK number one album
January 23, 1988 – January 29, 1988
Succeeded by
Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby by Terence Trent D'Arby

 
 
Learn More
Prudden, Bonnie (Quotes By)
Deep (1995 Album by 6 String B-Boyz)
Best of Johnny Hates Jazz (1993 Album by Johnny Hates Jazz)

Why do you turn your clock back? Read answer...
When do you turn the clock back in 2009? Read answer...
What countries turn back their clocks? Read answer...

Help us answer these
Why do you turn your clocks back in the fall?
Why do you turn your clocks back at 2 am?
What countries turn clock back?

Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:

 

Copyrights:

Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Turn Back the Clock (album)" Read more

 

Mentioned in