Different Light
Encyclopedia
Different Light is an album by The Bangles
released in January 1986. It is their best known album, with a Top 5 hit single and a No. 1 hit. The album's Top 40 sound was a departure from their earlier 60s-style sound. This was the first album in which bassist Michael Steele sings lead vocals on some tracks.
Three of five singles were written by someone other than The Bangles: "Manic Monday
" (written by Prince
under the pseudonym Christopher), "If She Knew What She Wants
" and "Walk Like an Egyptian
". The other two singles were "Following
" and "Walking Down Your Street
".
The 2008 reissue CD on the Wounded Bird Records
label (WOU 4039) adds a bonus track: "Walk Like An Egyptian" (Extended Dance Mix).
songbook only show 12 (out of 16) of the "different" snapshots, eliminating the third column to best fit the rectanglular layout of cassette cases and book.
The back cover of European-made CDs replicates the back cover of the vinyl LP edition, with all 16 snapshots and the track index at the top. The back cover of the U.S. version, however, only shows the first column of 4 snapshots, with the track index list occupying the rest of the space - a rare deviation for Columbia's CD issues during the 1980s.
The Bangles
The Bangles are an American all-female band that originated in the early 1980s, scoring several hit singles during the decade.-Formation and early years :...
released in January 1986. It is their best known album, with a Top 5 hit single and a No. 1 hit. The album's Top 40 sound was a departure from their earlier 60s-style sound. This was the first album in which bassist Michael Steele sings lead vocals on some tracks.
Three of five singles were written by someone other than The Bangles: "Manic Monday
Manic Monday
"Manic Monday" is a song by the American pop rock band The Bangles, and the first single released from their second studio album Different Light . It was written by Prince, using the pseudonym "Christopher". Originally intended for the group Apollonia 6 in 1984, he offered the song to The Bangles...
" (written by Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
under the pseudonym Christopher), "If She Knew What She Wants
If She Knew What She Wants
"If She Knew What She Wants" is a song by Jules Shear released on his 1985 album The Eternal Return. The song was later and famously covered by The Bangles on their 1986 album Different Light.-Variations:...
" and "Walk Like an Egyptian
Walk Like an Egyptian
"Walk Like an Egyptian" is a number-one hit from the album Different Light by The Bangles in 1986.-Origin:Liam Sternberg wrote the song after seeing people on a ferry walking awkwardly to keep their balance, which reminded him of figures in Ancient Egyptian reliefs. The opening lyrics state, "All...
". The other two singles were "Following
Following (The Bangles song)
"Following" is a song by female band The Bangles. It was the fifth and last single released off their album Different Light.-Background:...
" and "Walking Down Your Street
Walking Down Your Street
"Walking Down Your Street" is the name of a song by The Bangles. It is the fourth and final single from their album Different Light. It was released as a single in 1987 and charted at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #16 on the UK Singles Chart, top 40 hits in both charts...
".
The 2008 reissue CD on the Wounded Bird Records
Wounded Bird Records
Wounded Bird Records is a CD only, re-issue record label, that was founded in 1998 in Guilderland, New York. They re-release lesser known albums from both popular and lesser known artists, including Deborah Harry, Chic, David Blue, Marilyn Martin, Gordon Haskell, Jon Anderson, Adrian Belew, Ellen...
label (WOU 4039) adds a bonus track: "Walk Like An Egyptian" (Extended Dance Mix).
Track listing
| # | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Manic Monday Manic Monday "Manic Monday" is a song by the American pop rock band The Bangles, and the first single released from their second studio album Different Light . It was written by Prince, using the pseudonym "Christopher". Originally intended for the group Apollonia 6 in 1984, he offered the song to The Bangles... " |
"Christopher" (Prince Prince (musician) Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of... ) |
3:06 |
| 2. | "In A Different Light" | Susanna Hoffs Susanna Hoffs Susanna Lee Hoffs is an American vocalist, guitarist and actress. She is best known as a member of the all-female pop band The Bangles.-Early life:... , Vicki Peterson Vicki Peterson Vicki Peterson is an American rock musician .... |
2:52 |
| 3. | "Walking Down Your Street Walking Down Your Street "Walking Down Your Street" is the name of a song by The Bangles. It is the fourth and final single from their album Different Light. It was released as a single in 1987 and charted at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #16 on the UK Singles Chart, top 40 hits in both charts... " |
Louis Gutierrez, Hoffs, David Kahne David Kahne David Kahne is an American record producer. Kahne started his musical career as a working musician and then became notable for his role as in-house producer and engineer at 415 Records, the first American new wave music label, and for his subsequent roles as Vice President of A&R at Columbia... |
3:04 |
| 4. | "Walk Like an Egyptian Walk Like an Egyptian "Walk Like an Egyptian" is a number-one hit from the album Different Light by The Bangles in 1986.-Origin:Liam Sternberg wrote the song after seeing people on a ferry walking awkwardly to keep their balance, which reminded him of figures in Ancient Egyptian reliefs. The opening lyrics state, "All... " |
Liam Sternberg Liam Sternberg Liam Sternberg is an American songwriter and producer best known for writing the Bangles hit "Walk Like an Egyptian". Sternberg first got noticed as part of the late '70s "Akron scene" which launched Devo and The Waitresses... |
3:24 |
| 5. | "Standing in the Hallway" | Hoffs, Kahne, Debbi Peterson Debbi Peterson Deborah Mary 'Debbi' Peterson is the younger sister of Vicki Peterson, and the drummer of the all-girl group, The Bangles... , V. Peterson |
2:56 |
| 6. | "Return Post" | Hoffs, V. Peterson | 4:22 |
| 7. | "If She Knew What She Wants If She Knew What She Wants "If She Knew What She Wants" is a song by Jules Shear released on his 1985 album The Eternal Return. The song was later and famously covered by The Bangles on their 1986 album Different Light.-Variations:... " |
Jules Shear Jules Shear Jules Mark Shear is a US singer, songwriter, and guitarist born in Pittsburgh in 1952. Although he has had only one minor hit as a performer , he has recorded almost 20 albums to date... |
3:49 |
| 8. | "Let It Go" | Hoffs, D. Peterson, V. Peterson, Michael Steele Michael Steele (musician) Michael Steele is an American bassist, guitarist, songwriter, and singer. She performed with The Bangles and numerous other bands.-Career:Steele began her professional career as Micki Steele in the teen-girl band The Runaways, among the first all-female rock groups.Steele's stay in the Runaways was... |
2:32 |
| 9. | "September Gurls September Gurls "September Gurls" is a song written by Alex Chilton for Big Star's second album Radio City, released in 1974. The song was also released as a single... " |
Alex Chilton Alex Chilton William Alexander "Alex" Chilton was an American songwriter, guitarist, singer and producer, best known as the lead singer of the Box Tops and Big Star... |
2:45 |
| 10. | "Angels Don't Fall in Love" | Hoffs, V. Peterson | 3:23 |
| 11. | "Following Following (The Bangles song) "Following" is a song by female band The Bangles. It was the fifth and last single released off their album Different Light.-Background:... " |
Steele | 3:21 |
| 12. | "Not Like You" | Hoffs, Kahne, D. Peterson | 3:06 |
Manic Monday
If She Knew What She Wants
Walk Like an Egyptian
Walking Down Your Street
The Bangles
- Susanna Hoffs: Vocals, guitars
- Vicki Peterson: Vocals, guitars
- Michael Steele: Vocals, guitars, bass
- Debbi Peterson: Vocals, drums, percussion
Additional musicians
- Rusty AndersonRusty AndersonRusty Anderson is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter and music producer. He is best known as lead guitarist with Paul McCartney, though he has worked with an extensive list of artists in addition to his own solo career.-Early life:Rusty Anderson grew up in La Habra, California...
: Additional guitars - Barbara Chapman: Harp, Additional guitars
- Mitchell FroomMitchell Froom-Career:Froom began his career as a keyboard player in Sonoma County, California. The band Crossfire featured two keyboards players; Mitchell on one side of the stage and brother David on the other with Gary Pihl on guitar...
, David KahneDavid KahneDavid Kahne is an American record producer. Kahne started his musical career as a working musician and then became notable for his role as in-house producer and engineer at 415 Records, the first American new wave music label, and for his subsequent roles as Vice President of A&R at Columbia...
: Keyboards, synthesizers - Carlos Vega: Additional drums
Production
- Produced by David Kahne
- Engineers: Tchad BlakeTchad BlakeTchad Blake is an American record producer, audio engineer, mixer and musician.He has worked with numerous artists and musicians, including State Radio, Apartment 26, Elvis Costello, Peter Gabriel, Pearl Jam, Tom Waits, Richard Thompson, Brazilian Girls, Sheryl Crow, November 2nd, Travis, Marike...
, David Leonard, Peggy McLeonard - Assistant engineers: Dave Glover, Mike Kloster
- Mixing: David Leonard
Charts
| Country | Date | Peak position | Certification | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
1986 | #2 | 3x Platinum | |
| United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
October 1986 | #3 | Platinum | Originally peaked at 30 on March 1986 |
| Norway Norway Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million... |
March 1986 | #4 | ||
| Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... |
May 4, 1986 | #16 | ||
| Netherlands Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
1986 | #24 |
Album cover variations
The covers of the most of the album's U.S. cassette pressings and the sheet musicSheet music
Sheet music is a hand-written or printed form of music notation that uses modern musical symbols; like its analogs—books, pamphlets, etc.—the medium of sheet music typically is paper , although the access to musical notation in recent years includes also presentation on computer screens...
songbook only show 12 (out of 16) of the "different" snapshots, eliminating the third column to best fit the rectanglular layout of cassette cases and book.
The back cover of European-made CDs replicates the back cover of the vinyl LP edition, with all 16 snapshots and the track index at the top. The back cover of the U.S. version, however, only shows the first column of 4 snapshots, with the track index list occupying the rest of the space - a rare deviation for Columbia's CD issues during the 1980s.