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{{Infobox Album | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
{{Infobox album
Name = Higher Power |
Type = [[Album]] |
| name = Higher Power
Artist = [[Big Audio Dynamite|Big Audio]] |
| type = [[Album]]
Cover = Higherpower.jpg |
| artist = [[Big Audio Dynamite|Big Audio]]
| cover = Higherpower.jpg
Released = [[November 8]], [[1994]] |
Recorded = |
| alt =
| released = 8 November 1994
Genre = [[Alternative music|Alternative]] |
Length = 67:03 |
| recorded =
Label = [[Columbia Records|CBS]] |
| venue =
| studio =
Producer = [[Mick Jones (The Clash)|Mick Jones]]<br/>[[Andre Shapps]] |
| genre = [[Alternative music|Alternative]]
Reviews =
| length = 67:03
*[[All Music Guide]] {{rating-5|1.5}} [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ntkvu3lhan2k link] |
| label = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZHP-r9-eqdAC&pg=PA194|title=Alternative Rock|first=Dave|last=Thompson|date=15 July 2000|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|via=Google Books}}</ref>
Last album = ''[[The Lost Treasures of Big Audio Dynamite I & II]]''<br />(1993) |
| producer = [[Mick Jones (The Clash)|Mick Jones]], André Shapps, [[Arthur Baker (musician)|Arthur Baker]]
This album = '''''Higher Power'''''<br />(1994) |
| prev_title = [[The Lost Treasure of Big Audio Dynamite I & II]]
Next album = ''[[Planet B.A.D.]]''<br />(1995) |
| prev_year = 1993
| next_title = [[F-Punk]]
| next_year = 1995
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Higher Power
| type = studio
| single1 = Looking for a Song
| single1date = 1994
}}
}}
}}
'''''Higher Power''''' is an album by [[Big Audio Dynamite]], led by former [[The Clash|Clash]] band member [[Mick Jones (The Clash)|Mick Jones]]. It was released in 1994 under the shortened name "Big Audio".
'''''Higher Power''''' is the seventh album by [[Big Audio Dynamite]] (renamed Big Audio), released in 1994.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/big-audio-dynamite-mn0000763237/biography|title=Big Audio Dynamite Biography, Songs, & Albums|website=AllMusic}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qVYAEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT1319|title=Contemporary World Musicians|first=Clifford|last=Thompson|date=7 October 2020|publisher=Routledge|via=Google Books}}</ref> First released in the US on 8 November, it was then released in the UK the following week on 14 November 1994.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=31 October 1994 |title=Upcoming Releases |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/CMJ/1994/CMJ-New-Music-Report-1994-10-31.pdf |magazine=[[CMJ|CMJ New Music Report]] |page=60 |access-date=18 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |date=12 November 1994 |title=New Albums |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-11-12.pdf |magazine=[[Music Week]] |page=22 |access-date=18 October 2022}}</ref> "Looking for a Song" was released as a single; it peaked at No. 24 on ''Billboard'''s [[Modern Rock Tracks]] chart.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7ctjc6UWCm4C&pg=PA90|title=The Rough Guide to Rock|first=Peter|last=Buckley|date=15 July 2003|publisher=Rough Guides|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_pbECYPYlZcC&pg=PA31|title=Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981-2008|first=Joel|last=Whitburn|date=15 July 2008|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|via=Google Books}}</ref> The band supported the album with a North American tour.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bream |first1=Jon |title=ROCK the HALLS |work=Star Tribune |date=30 Nov 1994 |page=1E}}</ref>

==Production==
Many of its songs are about English middle class life.<ref name=CT/> [[Mick Jones (The Clash guitarist)|Mick Jones]] was inspired by [[Bob Marley]] to include uplifting messages in ''Higher Power'''s songs.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rutkoski |first1=Rex |title=JONES MIXES HIS DYNAMITE WELL |work=USA Today |date=January 27, 1995}}</ref>

==Critical reception==
{{Album ratings
|rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
|rev1score = {{Rating|1.5|5}}<ref name="Ruhlmann">Ruhlmann, William. [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r207859|pure_url=yes}} Review: ''Higher Power'']. [[AllMusic]]. Retrieved 10 April 2010.</ref>
|rev2 = ''[[Calgary Herald]]''
|rev2score = C−<ref name="CH">{{cite news |last1=Muretich |first1=James |title=Big Audio: Higher Power |work=Calgary Herald |date=20 Nov 1994 |page=D2}}</ref>
|rev3 = ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''
|rev3score = {{rating|3|4}}<ref name="CT">{{cite news |last1=Webber |first1=Brad |title=Recordings |work=Chicago Tribune |date=24 Nov 1994 |department=Tempo |page=10}}</ref>
|rev4 = ''[[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
|rev4score = {{rating|2|5}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&pg=PA2600|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|first=Colin|last=Larkin|date=27 May 2011|publisher=Omnibus Press|via=Google Books}}</ref>
|rev5 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
|rev5score = C−<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://ew.com/article/1994/11/18/music-review-higher-power/|title=Music Review: 'Higher Power'|website=EW.com}}</ref>
|rev6 = ''[[Knoxville News Sentinel]]''
|rev6score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="KN">{{cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Chuck |title='Higher Power', Big Audio |work=Knoxville News Sentinel |date=11 Nov 1994 |department=Detours |page=3}}</ref>
}}
''[[Trouser Press]]'' wrote that "''Higher Power'' finds Jones and company operating at a decidedly lower level ... The hip dance-music sounds are there, but the tunes most certainly aren't."<ref>{{cite web |title=Big Audio Dynamite |url=https://trouserpress.com/reviews/big-audio-dynamite/ |website=Trouser Press |access-date=15 July 2022}}</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' thought that the album "continues Jones' bid for currency by experimenting with the sounds of London's dance clubs ... The result is neither good rave nor good rock."<ref name="auto"/>

The ''[[Knoxville News Sentinel]]'' called it "an alternative album at the core that absorbs a fun array of funk, pop and hip-hop influences for a distinctive and accessible blend."<ref name=KN/> The ''[[Calgary Herald]]'' determined that "it just bops along with riffs that are pleasant enough but lack any edge, any passion."<ref name=CH/>


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
{{tracklist
# "Got to Wake Up" <small>- 4:51 (Mick Jones)<small/>
| headline = Side one
# "Harrow Road" <small>- 5:26 (Fisher/Hare/Jones/Stonadge)<small/>
| title1 = Got to Wake Up
# "Looking for a Song" <small>- 3:47 (Jones/Portaluri/Sion/Zefret)<small/>
| writer1 = Jones
# "Some People" <small>- 4:55 (Hawkins/Jones)<small/>
| length1 = 4:51
# "Slender Loris" <small>- 6:10 (Mick Jones)<small/>

# "Modern Stoneage Blues" <small>- 3:45 (Jones/Stonadge)<small/>
| title2 = Harrow Road
# "Melancholy Maybe" <small>- 5:43 (Jones/Stonadge)<small/>
| writer2 = Graham Fisher, Kenneth Hare, Jones, Stonadge
# "Over the Rise" <small>- 4:57 (Mick Jones)<small/>
| length2 = 5:26
# "Why Is It?" <small>- 5:00 (Jones/Stonadge)<small/>

# "Moon" <small>- 6:27 (Mick Jones)<small/>
| title3 = Looking for a Song
# "Lucan" <small>- 5:49 (Hawkins/Jones/Stonadge)<small/>
| writer3 = Jones, Sergio Portaluri, David Sion, Fulvio Zefret
# "Light Up My Life" <small>- 4:35 (Mick Jones)<small/>
| length3 = 3:47
# "Hope" <small>- 5:38 (Jones/Stonadge)<small/>
}}

{{tracklist
| headline = Side two
| title4 = Some People
| writer4 = Hawkins, Jones
| length4 = 4:55

| title5 = Slender Loris
| writer5 = Jones
| length5 = 6:10

| title6 = Modern Stoneage Blues
| writer6 = Jones, Stonadge
| length6 = 3:45
}}

{{tracklist
| headline = Side three
| title7 = Melancholy Maybe
| writer7 = Jones, Stonadge
| length7 = 5:43

| title8 = Over the Rise
| writer8 = Jones
| length8 = 4:57

| title9 = Why Is It?
| writer9 = Jones, Stonadge
| length9 = 5:00

| title10 = Moon
| writer10 = Jones
| length10 = 6:27
}}

{{tracklist
| headline = Side four
| title11 = Lucan
| writer11 = Hawkins, Jones, Stonadge
| length11 = 5:49

| title12 = Light Up My Life
| writer12 = Jones
| length12 = 4:35

| title13 = Hope
| writer13 = Jones, Stonadge
| length13 = 5:38
}}


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
===Big Audio===
* [[Mick Jones (The Clash)|Mick Jones]] - guitar, vocals, producer
* [[Mick Jones (The Clash)|Mick Jones]] - guitar, vocals, producer
* [[Nick Hawkins (musician)|Nick Hawkins]] - vocals, guitar, engineer
* [[Nick Hawkins (musician)|Nick Hawkins]] - vocals, guitar, engineer
* [[Andre Shapps]] - keyboards, producer, engineer
* André Shapps - keyboards, producer, engineer
* [[Gary Stonadge]] - bass, vocals
* [[Gary Stonadge]] - bass, vocals
* [[Chris Kavanagh]] - drums, vocals
* [[Chris Kavanagh (musician)|Chris Kavanagh]] - drums, vocals
* [[Mickey Custance]] - DJ, vocals
* Mickey Custance - DJ, vocals
===Additional credits===
* [[Ranking Roger]] - vocals
* [[Ranking Roger]] - vocals
* [[Aki Omari]] - vocals
* Aki Omori, Loro Lucan - backing vocals on "Some People"
* [[Heathcote Williams]] - biographical editor
* [[Heathcote Williams]] - biographical editor
* [[John R.T. Davies]] - editing
* [[John R.T. Davies]] - editing
Line 47: Line 130:
* [[Würzel]] - photography
* [[Würzel]] - photography


==References==
[[Category:1994 albums]]
{{reflist}}

{{Big Audio Dynamite}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Big Audio Dynamite albums]]
[[Category:Big Audio Dynamite albums]]
[[Category:1994 albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Arthur Baker (musician)]]
[[Category:Columbia Records albums]]
[[Category:Columbia Records albums]]

Latest revision as of 19:56, 9 January 2024

Higher Power
Studio album by
Released8 November 1994
GenreAlternative
Length67:03
LabelColumbia[1]
ProducerMick Jones, André Shapps, Arthur Baker
Big Audio chronology
The Lost Treasure of Big Audio Dynamite I & II
(1993)
Higher Power
(1994)
F-Punk
(1995)
Singles from Higher Power
  1. "Looking for a Song"
    Released: 1994

Higher Power is the seventh album by Big Audio Dynamite (renamed Big Audio), released in 1994.[2][3] First released in the US on 8 November, it was then released in the UK the following week on 14 November 1994.[4][5] "Looking for a Song" was released as a single; it peaked at No. 24 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart.[6][7] The band supported the album with a North American tour.[8]

Production

[edit]

Many of its songs are about English middle class life.[9] Mick Jones was inspired by Bob Marley to include uplifting messages in Higher Power's songs.[10]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
Calgary HeraldC−[12]
Chicago Tribune[9]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[13]
Entertainment WeeklyC−[14]
Knoxville News Sentinel[15]

Trouser Press wrote that "Higher Power finds Jones and company operating at a decidedly lower level ... The hip dance-music sounds are there, but the tunes most certainly aren't."[16] Entertainment Weekly thought that the album "continues Jones' bid for currency by experimenting with the sounds of London's dance clubs ... The result is neither good rave nor good rock."[14]

The Knoxville News Sentinel called it "an alternative album at the core that absorbs a fun array of funk, pop and hip-hop influences for a distinctive and accessible blend."[15] The Calgary Herald determined that "it just bops along with riffs that are pleasant enough but lack any edge, any passion."[12]

Track listing

[edit]
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Got to Wake Up"Jones4:51
2."Harrow Road"Graham Fisher, Kenneth Hare, Jones, Stonadge5:26
3."Looking for a Song"Jones, Sergio Portaluri, David Sion, Fulvio Zefret3:47
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
4."Some People"Hawkins, Jones4:55
5."Slender Loris"Jones6:10
6."Modern Stoneage Blues"Jones, Stonadge3:45
Side three
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
7."Melancholy Maybe"Jones, Stonadge5:43
8."Over the Rise"Jones4:57
9."Why Is It?"Jones, Stonadge5:00
10."Moon"Jones6:27
Side four
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Lucan"Hawkins, Jones, Stonadge5:49
12."Light Up My Life"Jones4:35
13."Hope"Jones, Stonadge5:38

Personnel

[edit]

Big Audio

[edit]

Additional credits

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Thompson, Dave (15 July 2000). "Alternative Rock". Hal Leonard Corporation – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "Big Audio Dynamite Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  3. ^ Thompson, Clifford (7 October 2020). "Contemporary World Musicians". Routledge – via Google Books.
  4. ^ "Upcoming Releases" (PDF). CMJ New Music Report. 31 October 1994. p. 60. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  5. ^ "New Albums" (PDF). Music Week. 12 November 1994. p. 22. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  6. ^ Buckley, Peter (15 July 2003). "The Rough Guide to Rock". Rough Guides – via Google Books.
  7. ^ Whitburn, Joel (15 July 2008). "Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981-2008". Hal Leonard Corporation – via Google Books.
  8. ^ Bream, Jon (30 November 1994). "ROCK the HALLS". Star Tribune. p. 1E.
  9. ^ a b Webber, Brad (24 November 1994). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 10.
  10. ^ Rutkoski, Rex (27 January 1995). "JONES MIXES HIS DYNAMITE WELL". USA Today.
  11. ^ Ruhlmann, William. Review: Higher Power. AllMusic. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
  12. ^ a b Muretich, James (20 November 1994). "Big Audio: Higher Power". Calgary Herald. p. D2.
  13. ^ Larkin, Colin (27 May 2011). "The Encyclopedia of Popular Music". Omnibus Press – via Google Books.
  14. ^ a b "Music Review: 'Higher Power'". EW.com.
  15. ^ a b Campbell, Chuck (11 November 1994). "'Higher Power', Big Audio". Detours. Knoxville News Sentinel. p. 3.
  16. ^ "Big Audio Dynamite". Trouser Press. Retrieved 15 July 2022.