Karma (Rick Springfield album)

Background and reception

The album followed a period of about ten years without a new album. After his last work, the 1988 LP Rock of Life, Springfield ceased with his music (releases as well as touring) in order to spend more time with his two boys and his wife. He released Karma during a popular resurgence of interest in 1980s society/culture (particularly among Generation X), which Springfield noticed. CNN reported that "There's relatively high interest in Springfield's return. Platinum Entertainment says advance orders for Karma have reached 100,000 copies." Karma was initially released Japan and then an American release took place a few months later. The two versions differ in respect to three songs.

Springfield made the first single, "It's Always Something", as a tribute to his father who died just before his release of Working Class Dog and breakout commercial success. He said that "My dad is a very strong figure in my life and certainly in death he's become even more meaningful" as well as that "there's still a lot of things going on in me that pertain to him and my relationship with him".

After the release of Karma, Springfield resumed his touring. The album hit the #189 spot on the Billboard 200, and none of its singles managed to chart.

The album represented a continuation of Springfield's same pop rock style in his 80s albums. Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote a mostly positive review for the All Music Guide, stating that "Karma is certainly the work of a more mature artist... a thinking man's AOR". A CNN reviewer commented that the album has "a vanilla mix of 80s redolent pop tunes."

American version

The final song is a hidden track.

On the Canadian version of the album, the remix of the title cut is replaced with the previously unreleased 'Hey Maria.'

All songs written by Rick Springfield except where noted.

1. His Last Words
2. It's Always Something
3. Religion of the Heart (Jeff Silverman/Rick Springfield)
4. Beautiful Prize
5. Karma
6. Shock to My System (Bob Marlette/Tim Pierce/Rick Springfield)
7. Free (Marlette/Springfield)
8. Prayer (Marlette/Pierce/Springfield)
9. White Room (Springfield/Vallance)
10. In Veronica's Head
11. Ordinary Girl
12. Act of Faith (Marlette/Pierce/Springfield)
13. Karma [Remix]