World Falling Down

The making of World Falling Down

Released four years after his previous album, One More Story, World Falling Down was recorded sporadically over a lengthy period across nine different recording studios. Cetera's marriage to second wife, Diane Nini had ended, causing the once busy songwriter to step away from the music scene. Between 1988 and 1992, his only musical activities were an appearance as a guest vocalist on Cher's 1989 single, "After All", a song on the soundtrack to the movie Chances Are, "No Explaination" for the soundtrack to the movie Pretty Woman, and a vocal contribution to David Foster's "Voices That Care" production, based on music that he and Cetera had written together years earlier. Deeply depressed, Cetera found himself using the album as an outlet to deal with his marriage ending and learning to be a single parent. Recording began in London England and occurred in short, spread out bursts as Cetera worked through the personal issues in his life.

In 1992, he explained to Billboard Magazine, "This was actually the first time I could write about the other side of love. I'd try to write a happy love song and I just couldn't do it. Then I got mad and so everything was about hating the world. I finally settled on the truth."

The album was predominantly produced by Andy Hill and Cetera. Two tracks were produced by veteran producer David Foster who had worked with Cetera previously on Chicago 16 and Chicago 17 during his days as bassist and vocalist for Chicago. Former Chicago alumni Bill Champlin sings background vocals on the song "Wild Ways" and singer Chaka Khan stepped into perform a duet on the song "Feels Like Heaven" after Laurie Morgan was unable to perform the song in its intended key. Unlike Cetera's previous three solo efforts, Cetera co-wrote only four songs on World Falling Down. The album also marked a brief return to bass playing as Cetera himself played the bass lines on "Dip Your Wings" and "Where There's No Tomorrow".

Commercial Reception

Released in the summer of 1992, World Falling Down was a commercial disappointment. Dance, rap and alternative songs had begun dominating top forty radio, resulting in a decline in pop music that had been popular only a few years earlier. Many of Cetera's contemporaries, including his former band-mates in Chicago, found their singles struggling to get airplay and generate album sales.

Warner released three singles, "Restless Heart", "Feels Like Heaven" and "Even a Fool Can See". Only "Restless Heart" made the top 40, peaking at #35 on the Billboard Hot 100, though it topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart at #1 for two weeks. "Feels Like Heaven" hit #71 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 on the Billboard AC chart. The third single, "Even a Fool Can See" performed slightly better, reaching #68 on the Billboard Top 100 and #3 on the Billboard AC Chart the next summer.

As with his previous solo efforts, Cetera declined to go on tour feeling that he didn't have enough solo material. The singer performed live on The Tonight Show and The Arsenio Hall Show to promote the album. In addition, Warner produced music videos for the first two singles, with Cetera's daughter Claire appearing in the music video for "Restless Heart". The final track, "Have You Ever Been In Love?" was not released as a single, but gained popularity when used by professional skaters in their routines. Cetera often closes live concerts with the popular album cut.

World Falling Down reached a peak of #163 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart during a brief stay. Following its commercial disappointment, Cetera left Warner Brothers and signed to the independent record label, River North Records.

In 2010, a Heineken light beer commercial, "Lady Music", featured the album cover and the song "Restless Heart".

Track listing

1. "Restless Heart" (Peter Cetera, Andy Hill) – 4:09
2. "Even a Fool Can See" (Cetera, Mark Goldenberg) – 4:31
3. "Feels Like Heaven" (Mark Goldenberg, Kit Hain) – 4:48
4. performed by Peter Cetera & Chaka Khan
5. "Wild Ways" (David Tyson, Christopher Ward) – 4:00
6. "World Falling Down" (Cetera, Hill) – 5:00
7. "Man in Me" (Joseph Williams, Paul Gordon) – 5:41
8. "Where There's No Tomorrow" (Cetera, Hill, Jimmy Cregan) – 4:43
9. "The Last Place God Made" (Richard Kerr, Gary Osborne) – 4:14
10. "Dip Your Wings" (Bernie Taupin, Paul Fox, Franne Golde) – 3:33
11. "Have You Ever Been in Love" (Hill, Peter Sinfield, John Danter) – 4:06

Production

Personnel