Released March 1985 Length 37:12 Artist Michael Bolton Label Rock Candy | Recorded 1984-85 Everybody's Crazy
(1985) The Hunger
(1987) Release date March 1985 | |
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Producers Neil Kernon, Randy Goodrum Genres Rock music, Album-oriented rock, Pop rock, Hard rock, Heavy metal, Glam metal Similar Michael Bolton albums, Rock music albums | ||
Everybody's Crazy is the fourth studio album by American recording artist Michael Bolton. The melodic hard rock album was released in 1985 by Columbia Records.
Contents
The lead guitarist on the album is Bruce Kulick, later of KISS fame. The title track was a minor hit on hard rock radio stations, and was also featured in the 1986 movie Back to School. It was reissued overseas in the mid-1990s with a then-current photo on the cover. The album was reissued on February 25, 2008 by Rock Candy Records, UK on CD with a 12-page full colour booklet with original and new artwork.
Given the contrast in musical style between this album and the majority of Bolton's later (and more successful) musical output, songs from the album rarely appear on Bolton compilations. Interestingly, however, the title track was included on Bolton's entry in the Playlist series of Greatest Hits compilations.
Background
Producer Neil Kernon described how he became involved with the album: "Well, I got a call from Michael's manager asking me if I'd be interested. I'd heard "Fools Game" [from his previous album, Michael Bolton] and liked that, so we met and hit it off straight away. Michael was one of the funniest people I've ever met." Kernon also said that later on, Bolton didn't want to re-release Everybody's Crazy or his self titled 1983 album on CD for fear of confusing and alienating fans of his later adult contemporary music.
Reception
Reactions to this album have been extremely mixed.
In their retrospective review, AllMusic criticized Everybody's Crazy for muting Bolton's distinctive vocals, remarking that "much of the time he seemed to be fighting to be heard, and when he was, all he had was a mouthful of cliches to offer."
However, many other sources have hailed the album as one of the finest AOR-based/melodic hard rock releases from the 1980s. The album has an average rating of 88/100 on the hard rock/AOR database Heavy Harmonies.
Track listing
Note that "Desperate Heart" is NOT the same song as the one recorded by the band Rainbow, which included drummer Chuck Burgi.
Personnel
Credits per.
Cover versions
Songs
1Save Our Love4:05
2Everybody's Crazy4:42
3Can't Turn It Off4:00