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Natural Force

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Allmusic[1]

Natural Force is the second studio album by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler, released in May 1978 by RCA Records. In the United States, the album was titled It's a Heartache. As with her debut, Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe wrote most of the tracks on the album. David Mackay returned again to produce, with Scott and Wolfe. Other songs include covers of American artists Stevie Wonder and Carole King.

Five singles were released from Natural Force. The second single, "It's a Heartache", is among the best-selling singles of all time, with sales of over 6 million copies. It became Tyler's first charting single in the United States, where it was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Many other singles from Natural Force also fared well in Europe.

The album was a huge commercial success for Tyler. In the United States, it reached number 2 on the Top Country Albums chart, and number 16 on the Billboard 200. The album was also a success in Europe, but like its predecessor, it failed to chart in the United Kingdom.

Background

Tyler began recording songs for Natural Force in 1977, which resulted in the release of "Heaven" five following her debut album The World Starts Tonight in February of the same year. Natural Force sustained the style of its predecessor, with pop rock songs composed by Tyler's producers and managers, Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe, and the addition of a small number of covers. Natural Force became the best-selling of her four albums with RCA Records, with over 500,000 copies sold in the United States.

Singles

"Heaven" was released as the album's lead single in July 1977. The song was criticised for having "less impact" than her previous singles.[2] It was only a hit in Germany, where it reached number 24.[3] Phil Hendricks of Cherry Red Records suggested that the death of Elvis Presley on 16 August 1977 may have been a contributing factor to the song's lack of success, due to the diversion of RCA's promotional capabilities.[2]

"It's a Heartache" became the second single from Natural Force in November 1977. Tyler's raspy vocal quality had her compared to Rod Stewart,[4] with critics viewing the song as superior to "Lost in France".[5] "It's a Heartache" was a commercial success, selling over 6 million copies worldwide, establishing itself among of the best-selling singles of all time.[6] The song became Tyler's first hit in the United States, reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached number four in the United Kingdom,[7] and number one hit in countries such as Canada,[8] France[9] and Norway.[10]

"Here Am I" was released as the third single from Natural Force on 7 April 1978. The song was not as commercially successful as "It's a Heartache", only charting in Germany and Norway. Record Mirror stated that the song lacked the "irresistible hook of "It's a Heartache"."[2]

"Hey Love (It's a Feelin')" was released as the fourth single in June 1978, and failed to chart worldwide.

"If I Sing You a Love Song" was released as the fifth and final single from Natural Force in August 1978, and only reached number 103 on the Billboard Hot 100. And also become most probably most popular chart in the Philippines.

Track listing

Natural Force — Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."It's a Heartache"
3:28
2."Blame Me"
  • Scott
  • Wolfe
4:02
3."Living for the City"Stevie Wonder4:45
4."If I Sing You a Love Song"
  • Scott
  • Wolfe
4:45
5."Heaven"
  • Scott
  • Wolfe
3:04
6."Yesterday Dreams"Brian Cadd4:08
7."Hey Love (It's A Feelin')"
  • Scott
  • Wolfe
3:55
8."(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"
3:02
9."Here Am I"
  • Scott
  • Wolfe
3:47
10."Baby Goodnight"Mike Heron4:15
Total length:38:18
Natural Force — 2009 re-release (bonus tracks)[11]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Don't Stop the Music"
  • Scott
  • Wolfe
3:51
12."It's About Time"
  • Scott
  • Wolfe
3:30

Production credits

  • Roger Bara — keyboards
  • Kevin Dunn — bass
  • Mike Gibbins — drums, percussion
  • Peter King — background vocals
  • David MacKay — engineer
  • Bonnie Tyler – vocals
  • Ray Taff Williams — guitar, background vocals
  • Taff Williams — acoustic guitar, electric guitar, background vocals
  • Steve Wolfe — acoustic guitar, electric guitar, background vocals

Charts

Chart (1978) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[12] 60
French Albums (SNEP)[13] 23
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[14] 3
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[15] 2
US Billboard 200[16] 16
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[17] 2

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[18] Gold 25,000[18]
United States (RIAA)[19] Gold 500,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Allmusic review
  2. ^ a b c Hendriks, Phil (2009). "Natural Force". In ''Natural Force'' (pp. 3–9) [CD booklet]. London: Cherry Red Records.
  3. ^ "Officialcharts.de – Bonnie Tyler – Heaven". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  4. ^ van Matre, Lynn (29 July 1978). "Bonnie Tyler's Career Took Years to Build". Evening Independent. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  5. ^ Wetzel, Carol (1 June 1978). "DISCritique". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Cowles Publishing Company. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  6. ^ "Bonnie Tyler". People. 45 (24). 17 June 1996. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  7. ^ "It's a Heartache – Bonnie Tyler". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  8. ^ "Volume 29, No. 15, 8 July 1978". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  9. ^ "Lescharts.com – Bonnie Tyler – It's a Heartache". Les classement single (in French). Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  10. ^ "It's a Heartache – Bonnie Tyler". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  11. ^ "Natural Force by Bonnie Tyler". iTunes Store. Apple. Retrieved 3 April 2015. {{cite web}}: templatestyles stripmarker in |work= at position 1 (help)
  12. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 316. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  13. ^ "Lescharts.com – Bonnie Tyler – Natural Force". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  14. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Bonnie Tyler – Natural Force". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  15. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Bonnie Tyler – Natural Force". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  16. ^ "Bonnie Tyler Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  17. ^ "Bonnie Tyler Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  18. ^ a b "Bonnie Tyler" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  19. ^ "American album certifications – Bonnie Tyler – It's a Heartache". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
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