Age of Reason (album)
Encyclopedia
Age of Reason is a studio album by Australian pop singer John Farnham
. It was released in Australia on 25 July 1988 and debuted at No. 1 on the Australian Recording Industry Association
(ARIA) Albums Chart
in August and remained on top for eight weeks. It was the follow-up to his previous No. 1 album, Whispering Jack
, and was the highest selling album in Australia in 1988. As of 1997, it was 8x platinum
indicating sales of over 0.56 million units. It is also critically considered one of Farnham's best albums, with "Age of Reason" and "Beyond the Call" being about the urgency for the world to wake up and solve its problems.
The first two singles from the album were "Age Of Reason", which peaked at No. 1, and "Two Strong Hearts", at No. 6. Two further singles were released, "Beyond the Call," which reached the top 50, and "We're No Angels," which did not.
released Whispering Jack
in October 1986, it became the highest-selling album by an Australian act in Australia and peaked at number one on the Australian Kent Music Report
Album Charts for a, then record, total of 25 weeks. Ahead of his follow-up album, in July 1988, he released the title single, "Age of Reason", which peaked at No. 1 on the ARIA Singles Chart
, It was written by Johanna Pigott
and Dragon
members Todd Hunter
and his brother Marc Hunter
. The album, Age of Reason, which was produced by Ross Fraser, debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart in August and stayed on top for eight weeks. It was the highest selling album in Australia from 1988, and, as of 1997, it was 8× platinum
indicating sales of over 0.56 million units. Renewed interest in Whispering Jack returned it to the Top Ten in August, nearly two years after its initial release. As of December 2008, "Age of Reason" remains Farnham's last No. 1 Australian single. Other charting singles from this album were, "Two Strong Hearts" which peaked at No. 6 and "Beyond the Call", while a fourth single, ""We're No Angels" did not reach the top 50. Age of Reason had international success peaking at No. 4 in Sweden, and No. 9 in Norway.
At the 1988
ARIA Awards, Farnham won 'Best Male Artist', 'Best Adult Contemporary Album' for "Touch of Paradise", and the 'Outstanding Achievement Award'. In March 1989, Farnham was in Moscow, USSR to promote Greenpeace
album Rainbow Warriors, as part of an international ensemble including David Byrne
(Talking Heads
), Peter Gabriel
, Chrissie Hynde
(The Pretenders
), Annie Lennox
(Eurythmics
) and The Edge
(U2). Farnham found time to record "Communication", a duet with Dannielle Gaha
, as part of the National Drug Offensive's anti-drug campaign. The song peaked at No. 13 in August 1989.
The CD version of Age of Reason has two bonus tracks including Farnham's covers of AC/DC
's "It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock 'N' Roll)" and Cold Chisel
's "When the War Is Over".
The lead single off the album, "Age of Reason", was used in a promo for Australia's Channel Seven News
in 2000.
Bonus tracks on the CD version:
John Farnham
John Peter Farnham, AO, formerly billed as Johnny Farnham , is an English-born Australian pop singer. He was a teen pop idol from 1964 to 1979, and has since forged a career as an adult contemporary singer. His career has mostly been as a solo artist although he briefly replaced Glenn Shorrock as...
. It was released in Australia on 25 July 1988 and debuted at No. 1 on the Australian Recording Industry Association
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
(ARIA) Albums Chart
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
in August and remained on top for eight weeks. It was the follow-up to his previous No. 1 album, Whispering Jack
Whispering Jack
Whispering Jack is the twelfth studio album by Australian adult contemporary pop singer John Farnham. It was produced by Ross Fraser, and released on 20 October 1986, which peaked at #1 on the Australian Kent Music Report Album Charts...
, and was the highest selling album in Australia in 1988. As of 1997, it was 8x platinum
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
indicating sales of over 0.56 million units. It is also critically considered one of Farnham's best albums, with "Age of Reason" and "Beyond the Call" being about the urgency for the world to wake up and solve its problems.
The first two singles from the album were "Age Of Reason", which peaked at No. 1, and "Two Strong Hearts", at No. 6. Two further singles were released, "Beyond the Call," which reached the top 50, and "We're No Angels," which did not.
Background
John FarnhamJohn Farnham
John Peter Farnham, AO, formerly billed as Johnny Farnham , is an English-born Australian pop singer. He was a teen pop idol from 1964 to 1979, and has since forged a career as an adult contemporary singer. His career has mostly been as a solo artist although he briefly replaced Glenn Shorrock as...
released Whispering Jack
Whispering Jack
Whispering Jack is the twelfth studio album by Australian adult contemporary pop singer John Farnham. It was produced by Ross Fraser, and released on 20 October 1986, which peaked at #1 on the Australian Kent Music Report Album Charts...
in October 1986, it became the highest-selling album by an Australian act in Australia and peaked at number one on the Australian Kent Music Report
Kent Music Report
The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...
Album Charts for a, then record, total of 25 weeks. Ahead of his follow-up album, in July 1988, he released the title single, "Age of Reason", which peaked at No. 1 on the ARIA Singles Chart
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
, It was written by Johanna Pigott
Johanna Pigott
Johanna Paton Pigott is an Australian musician, singer/songwriter and screenwriter. Her best known hit songs are Dragon's "Rain" which peaked at #2 on the Australia singles charts in 1983 and John Farnham's "Age of Reason". "Rain" was co-written with partner Dragon's Todd Hunter and his brother...
and Dragon
Dragon (band)
Dragon is a popular New Zealand rock band, they were formed in Auckland, New Zealand in January 1972 and relocated to Sydney, Australia in May 1975. They were previously led by singer Marc Hunter and are currently led by his brother bass player Todd Hunter...
members Todd Hunter
Todd Hunter
Todd Stuart Hunter is a New Zealand musician and composer known for his involvement in the band Dragon. Their best known songs are "April Sun in Cuba", "Are You Old Enough?", "Still in Love With You", and "Rain"...
and his brother Marc Hunter
Marc Hunter
Marc Alexander Hunter was a New Zealand rock and pop singer best known as the lead vocalist with Dragon, a band formed by his older brother Todd in Auckland in 1973....
. The album, Age of Reason, which was produced by Ross Fraser, debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart in August and stayed on top for eight weeks. It was the highest selling album in Australia from 1988, and, as of 1997, it was 8× platinum
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
indicating sales of over 0.56 million units. Renewed interest in Whispering Jack returned it to the Top Ten in August, nearly two years after its initial release. As of December 2008, "Age of Reason" remains Farnham's last No. 1 Australian single. Other charting singles from this album were, "Two Strong Hearts" which peaked at No. 6 and "Beyond the Call", while a fourth single, ""We're No Angels" did not reach the top 50. Age of Reason had international success peaking at No. 4 in Sweden, and No. 9 in Norway.
At the 1988
ARIA Music Awards of 1988
The Second Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards was held on 29 March 1988 at the Sheraton Wentworth Hotel in Sydney. Cliff Richard was the host, with Bryan Ferry, Feargal Sharkey and Ian "Molly" Meldrum included as presenters of the 21 awards...
ARIA Awards, Farnham won 'Best Male Artist', 'Best Adult Contemporary Album' for "Touch of Paradise", and the 'Outstanding Achievement Award'. In March 1989, Farnham was in Moscow, USSR to promote Greenpeace
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, The Netherlands...
album Rainbow Warriors, as part of an international ensemble including David Byrne
David Byrne
David Byrne may refer to:*David Byrne , musician and former Talking Heads frontman**David Byrne , his eponymous album*David Byrne , Irish footballer*David Byrne , English footballer...
(Talking Heads
Talking Heads
Talking Heads were an American New Wave and avant-garde band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison...
), Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
, Chrissie Hynde
Chrissie Hynde
Christine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde is an US musician best known as the leader of the rock/new wave band the Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history.-Early life and career:Hynde is the daughter of a part-time...
(The Pretenders
The Pretenders
The Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
), Annie Lennox
Annie Lennox
Annie Lennox, OBE , born Ann Lennox, is a Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist and philanthropist. After achieving minor success in the late 1970s with The Tourists, with fellow musician David A...
(Eurythmics
Eurythmics
Eurythmics were a British pop rock duo, formed in 1980, currently disbanded, but known to reunite from time to time. Consisting of members Annie Lennox and David A...
) and The Edge
The Edge
David Howell Evans , more widely known by his stage name The Edge , is a musician best known as the guitarist, backing vocalist, and keyboardist of the Irish rock band U2. A member of the group since its inception, he has recorded 12 studio albums with the band and has released one solo record...
(U2). Farnham found time to record "Communication", a duet with Dannielle Gaha
Dannielle Gaha
Dannielle Gaha DeAndrea, sometimes styled as Danni'elle, is an Australian singer-songwriter. She has toured and recorded with fellow Australian John Farnham, their 1989 duet, "Communication", peaked at number 13 on the Australian Recording Industry Association Singles Chart...
, as part of the National Drug Offensive's anti-drug campaign. The song peaked at No. 13 in August 1989.
The CD version of Age of Reason has two bonus tracks including Farnham's covers of AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
's "It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock 'N' Roll)" and Cold Chisel
Cold Chisel
Cold Chisel is a rock band that originated in Adelaide, Australia. It is one of the most acclaimed Australian rock bands of all time, with a string of hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s and huge sales that continue to this day, although its success and acclaim was almost completely restricted to...
's "When the War Is Over".
The lead single off the album, "Age of Reason", was used in a promo for Australia's Channel Seven News
Seven News
Seven News is the television news service of the Seven Network in Australia.National bulletins are presented from Seven's high-definition studios in Martin Place, Sydney, while flagship 6pm bulletins are produced in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. The network also produces Seven...
in 2000.
Track listing
- "Age of Reason" (T. Hunter, J. Pigott) – 5:08
- "Blow by Blow" (D. Stewart, O. Ormo, B. Harrison) – 4:37
- "Listen to the Wind" (B. Thomas, J. Stevens) – 4:26
- "Two Strong Hearts" (B. Woolley, A. Hill) – 3:35
- "Burn Down the Night" (B. LaBounty) – 3:32
- "Beyond the Call" (D. Batteau, D. Brown, K. Dukes) – 4:43
- "We're No Angels" (R. Wilson) – 4:52
- "Don't Tell Me It Can't Be Done" (C. Thompson, A. Qunta) – 3:35
- "The Fire" (C. Thompson, K. Reid, Leiber) – 4:26
- "Some Do, Some Don't" (S. Hague, M. Mueller) – 4:19
Bonus tracks on the CD version:
- "When the War Is OverWhen the War Is Over"When the War Is Over" is a power ballad originally performed by Australian band Cold Chisel on their 1982 album Circus Animals. The song was written by drummer Steve Prestwich and issued as the third single from the album, peaking at #25 on the national singles chart.-Cold Chisel version:Like many...
" (S.Prestwich) – 4:50 - "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'N' Roll)" (A. Young, M. Young, B. Scott) – 4:11
Personnel
- John FarnhamJohn FarnhamJohn Peter Farnham, AO, formerly billed as Johnny Farnham , is an English-born Australian pop singer. He was a teen pop idol from 1964 to 1979, and has since forged a career as an adult contemporary singer. His career has mostly been as a solo artist although he briefly replaced Glenn Shorrock as...
– vocals - David HirschfelderDavid HirschfelderDavid Hirschfelder is an Australian film score composer and performer.Hirschfelder was born and raised in Ballarat, Victoria....
– keyboards - Brett GarsedBrett GarsedBrett Garsed is an Australian guitar player. He plays with, among others, John Farnham and T. J. Helmerich and is a former member of the band Nelson...
– guitars - Angus Burchall – drums & percussion
- Wayne NelsonWayne NelsonWayne Nelson is an American musician best known for being a member of the famed Australian rock band, Little River Band....
– bass - Venetta FieldsVenetta FieldsVenetta Fields is an American singer best known as session musician for leading rock and pop acts of the 1970s including Pink Floyd, Barbra Streisand, Steely Dan and the Rolling Stones...
– vocals - Lindsay Field – vocals
- Jon StevensJon StevensJon Stevens is a New Zealand-born singer of Maori descent, now an Australian citizen. Stevens is the brother of New Zealand Idol judge Frankie Stevens....
– guitar on "Listen To The Wind" - James MorrisonJames Morrison (musician)James Morrison AM is an Australian jazz musician who plays numerous instruments, but is best known for his trumpet playing...
– trumpet on "Some Do, Some Don't" - Bill Harrower – sax on "Blow By Blow"
- Thomas Metropouli – mandolin & piano accordion
- Lisa EdwardsLisa EdwardsLisa Edwards is an Australian singer and musician, who had an Australian Top 5 hit with the Godley and Creme song Cry.Born in Adelaide, she is the daughter of a Jazz pianist and a stage performer. She made her stage debut aged seven with her father, who would then regularly take the young girl on...
– additional vocals - Ross HannafordRoss HannafordRoss Andrew Hannaford is an Australian musician. He is often referred to by his nickname "Hanna". Widely regarded as one of the country's finest rock guitarists, he is best known for his long collaboration with singer-songwriter Ross Wilson, which began as teenagers, and with whom he formed the...
– additional vocals - Joe Creighton – additional vocals
Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Australian Recording Industry Association Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... Albums Chart |
1 |