Rocktrospectiva: The Multi-Platinum Smash "Reckless" Turns 40

 

 

Released on 5 November 1984, "Reckless" was the fourth studio album by Canadian artist Bryan Adams, released on that date to coincide with Adams 25th., birthday, under Bob Clearmountain production, the album was a massive success, selling over 12 million copies worldwide, making it Adams' second highest-selling studio album to date – behind his 1991 album "Waking up the Neighbours". The album peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 gaining positive reviews from critics, the album spawned six singles "Run To You", "Somebody", "Heaven", "Summer of '69", "One Night Love Affair", and "It's Only Love"; all six singles charted within the top-twenty on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Bryan Adams already had three albums under his belt and delivered what was about to become his career-defining fourth, Reckless. an album with a huge sound destined for stadiums. At the time, he was living in the space between success and fame, Adams returned to his hometown of Vancouver, Canada, and entered Little Mountain Sound Studios with longtime producer and collaborator Bob Clearmountain. After laying down nine tracks, it was clear the studio wasn’t equipped to handle the bigger sound Adams and Clearmountain were chasing, so the sessions then relocated to New York City’s famed Hell’s Kitchen studio, Power Station.

The songs they’d captured included the ballad "Heaven," recorded in 1983 as the theme to the movie A Night In Heaven, other tracks such as "One Night Love Affair" and "Run To You," a track that had been originally been rejected Blue Öyster Cult and which would become one of the singer biggest hits, but the artist wasn't happy enough so he called Bruce Allen, who simply asked: "Where’s the rock?". So the next day, Adams flew back to Vancouver. He called Jim Vallance, his co-songwriter, to add some heat to "One Night Love Affair" and "Summer Of ’69" A new song also emerged: "Kids Wanna Rock".

The timeless summer anthem "Summer Of '69", was the song exploded in the USA, raising Adams’ profile status, also wanting to create a record imbued with the energy of a live performance, Adams re-recorded those three songs using Pat Steward, a drummer in a ska band called Rubber Biscuit, whom Adams had discovered by chance playing in a club one night.

The album was radio solid gold, spawning a string hit singles singles starting with "Run To You" peaked at 6, "Somebody" peaked at No. 11, "Heaven" peaked at No. 1, "Summer Of "69" peaked at No. 5, "One Night Love Affair" peaked at No. 13 and a duet with Tina Turner, "It's Only Love" peaked at No. 15 earning Adams a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance By A Duo Or Group.

Reckless was also a big hit on the MTV were got huge airplay with the videos for "One Night Love Affair," and the rocker "Somebody." the hit single "Run To you", and of course the magnificent "Summer Of '69", so it was a time ruled by synth-pop but "Reckless managed someway to put the guitar-based rock and roll sound back to the charts, not only in the United States but oversees after join Tina Turner on a European leg of her tour in 1985. 

The reviews were positive, describing the album a stadium-sized classic, a masterful piece of pop/rock radio-friendly vibe in the 1980s., praising the sonic quality sound of the album, in order to perfected the arena rock sound. 

 

Reckless Track List:  

1. One Night Love Affair

2. She's Only Happy When She's Dancin'

3. Run To You

4. Heaven

5. Somebody

6. Summer Of '69

7. Kids Wanna Rock

8. It's Only Love

9. Long Gone

10. Ain't Gonna Cry