Hard to Hold
| Hard to Hold | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | July 23, 1984 | |||
| Genre | Rock, power pop[1] | |||
| Length | 35:29 | |||
| Label | RCA | |||
| Producer | Rick Springfield, Bill Drescher, Graham Parker, Harvey Goldberg, Tom Scott, Peter Gabriel, Peter Walsh | |||
| Rick Springfield chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Hard to Hold | ||||
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Hard to Hold is the eighth studio album by Rick Springfield released on July 23, 1984, by RCA Records as the soundtrack to the film of the same name. The album includes the U.S. Top 5 hit "Love Somebody", Top 40 hits "Don't Walk Away" and "Bop 'Til You Drop", plus minor hit "Taxi Dancing" (a duet with Randy Crawford). In addition to Springfield appearing on the soundtrack, there are three tracks from other artists; "When The Lights Go Down" by Graham Parker, "Heart Of A Woman" by Nona Hendryx, and a live version of "I Go Swimming" by Peter Gabriel. The album was later remastered by Steve Hoffman for the Razor and Tie reissue label.
Reception
From contemporary reviews, Ken Tucker of The Philadelphia Inquirer gave the album three out of five star rating, noting that "Love Somebody" was Springfrield's "best pop-rocker since "Jessie's Girl" and the filler songs on the album include good songs by Graham Parker and Peter Gabriel.[2] Tucker concluded that the album was "one of the few soundtrack albums that doesn't cheat its listeners."[2]
Cash Box said that the second single "Don't Walk Away" has "a more heavy metal tinge...than on 'Love Somebody' and Springfield’s hard rock sensibilities come into full flower with a high-energy sound that gives this tune a forceful momentum."[3]
Cash Box called the third single "Bob 'Til You Drop" "an urban mover for the ’80s."[4]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Love Somebody" | Rick Springfield | Rick Springfield | 3:30 |
| 2. | "Don't Walk Away" | Rick Springfield | Rick Springfield | 4:00 |
| 3. | "Bop 'Til You Drop" | Rick Springfield | Rick Springfield | 4:16 |
| 4. | "Taxi Dancing" (duet with Randy Crawford) | Rick Springfield | Rick Springfield | 3:30 |
| 5. | "S.F.O." (Instrumental) | Rick Springfield, Tim Pierce | Rick Springfield | 2:21 |
| 6. | "Stand Up" | Rick Springfield | Rick Springfield | 3:06 |
| 7. | "When the Lights Go Down" | Graham Parker | Graham Parker | 3:21 |
| 8. | "Great Lost Art of Conversation" | Rick Springfield | Rick Springfield | 3:07 |
| 9. | "Heart of a Woman" | Tom Scott, Candy Parton | Nona Hendryx | 3:42 |
| 10. | "I Go Swimming" (Live) | Peter Gabriel | Peter Gabriel | 4:36 |
| Total length: | 35:29 | |||
Personnel
- Producers: Rick Springfield & Bill Drescher
- Engineer: Bill Drescher
- Second Engineers: Eddie Delena, Rick Polakow
- Executive Producer: D. Constantine Conte
- Mastered by Greg Fulginiti at Artisan Sound Recorders, Hollywood
- CD Mastered by Steve Hoffman
- Recorded by [Pre-production Assistance]: Jeff Silverman
- Brett Tuggle, Richard Page, Rick Springfield, Tom Kelly - backing vocals
- Mike Seifrit, Reggie McBride - bass
- Mike Baird - drums
- Jeff Silverman, Rick Springfield, Tim Pierce - guitar
- Alan Pasqua, John Philip Shenale, Mitchell Froom, Rick Springfield - keyboards
- Michael Fisher - acoustic percussion
- Reek Havoc, Rick Springfield - electronic percussion
- Joel Peskin - saxophone, electric woodwind
Charts
| Chart (1984) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] | 87 |
| Canada (Canadian Albums Chart) | 29 |
| United States (Billboard 200) | 16 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[6] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[7] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Hard to Hold - AllMusic review". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
- ^ a b Tucker, Ken (30 March 1984). "Albums". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 26. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ "Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 19 May 1984. p. 12. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
- ^ "Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 25 August 1984. p. 8. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 283. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Rick Springfield – Hard to Hold". Music Canada. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
- ^ "American album certifications – Rick Springfield – Hard to Hold". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
