Love | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 9 November 1987[1] | |||
Recorded | April–August 1987 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 38:37 | |||
Label | WEA, Sire | |||
Producer | ||||
Aztec Camera chronology | ||||
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Singles from Love | ||||
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Love is the third studio album by Scottish pop group Aztec Camera, released in November 1987 on Sire.[8] While it was released under the Aztec Camera name, Roddy Frame was the only remaining permanent member of the group and he recorded the album alongside a group of session musicians.[9] Departing from the indie and folk-rock approach of earlier records, Love incorporated R&B influences, seemingly to break the American market. It failed to do so but did achieve commercial success in the UK, reaching No. 10 on the albums chart, following the success of its third single "Somewhere in My Heart", which reached No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart. As a result, it became the band's most commercially successful album.[10]
Background
[edit]The Backwards and Forwards (1985) live EP was released, reaching number 181 on the Billboard 200 in the United States. After this, the band went through a line-up shift, retaining frontman Roddy Frame and drummer David Ruffy, and adding guitarist Steve Jordan, bassist Marcus Miller and keyboardist David Frank of the System.[11]
Reception
[edit]Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Alternative Rock | 5/10[11] |
Christgau's Record Guide | A−[12] |
New Musical Express | 9/10[13] |
Record Mirror | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Author Dave Thompson wrote in his book Alternative Rock (2000) that the album was a "backward step into pop cliché, an attempt to make a record which would work on American radio."[11]
Upon release, the initially peaked at number 49 on the UK Albums Chart. After the success of its singles, it rose to number 10.[11]
Track listing
[edit]All songs written by Roddy Frame.[15]
No. | Title | Producer | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Deep & Wide & Tall" | Russ Titelman | 4:02 |
2. | "How Men Are" | 3:38 | |
3. | "Everybody Is a Number One" | Titelman | 3:25 |
4. | "More Than a Law" | Frame | 4:39 |
5. | "Somewhere in My Heart" | Michael Jonzun | 4:00 |
No. | Title | Producer | Length |
---|---|---|---|
6. | "Working in a Goldmine" |
| 5:36 |
7. | "One and One" |
| 4:10 |
8. | "Paradise" |
| 4:29 |
9. | "Killermont Street" |
| 3:16 |
Personnel
[edit]Personnel per booklet.[15]
Musicians
|
Production and artwork
|
Singles
[edit]- "How Men Are" (UK No. 25)
- "Somewhere in My Heart" (UK No. 3)
- "Working in a Goldmine" (UK No. 31)
- "Deep & Wide & Tall" (UK No. 55)
References
[edit]Citations
- ^ Dalton ed. 1987, p. 42
- ^ Hurley, Oliver (25 August 2021). "Top 15 Sophisti-Pop Albums". Classic Pop. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- ^ Mason, Stewart. "Stray - Aztec Camera". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Love - Aztec Camera". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- ^ Arcand, Rob (3 September 2021). "Aztec Camera: Backwards and Forwards (The WEA Recordings 1984-1995) Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
- ^ Robbins, Ira; Schoemer, Karen; Young, Jon. "Aztec Camera". Trouser Press. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- ^ Scapelliti, Christopher (1998). "Aztec Camera". In Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds.). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. pp. 55–56.
- ^ "Love - Aztec Camera | Releases". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- ^ "Aztec Camera | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- ^ a b Ruhlmann, William. "Love - Aztec Camera | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- ^ a b c d Thompson 2000, p. 165
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1990). "A". Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s. Pantheon Books. ISBN 0-679-73015-X. Retrieved 16 August 2020 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Taylor 1987, p. 33
- ^ Dickson 1987, p. 14
- ^ a b Love (booklet). WEA. 1987. 242202-2.
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Sources
- Dalton, David, ed. (7 November 1987). "New Albums" (PDF). Music Week. ISSN 0265-1548.
- Dickson, Ian (21 November 1987). "Albums". Record Mirror. ISSN 0144-5804.
- Taylor, Neil (14 November 1987). "33". New Musical Express. ISSN 0028-6362.
- Thompson, Dave (2000). Alternative Rock. Third Ear: The Essential Listening Companion. San Francisco, California: Miller Freeman Books. ISBN 0-87930-607-6.