Humanity: Hour I
Encyclopedia
Humanity: Hour I is a concept album
(and sixteenth studio recording) by the German
heavy metal
band Scorpions
, which was released in Europe on May 14, 2007 and in the United States
and Canada
on August 28, 2007. The leading song "Humanity" was performed by Scorpions on March 24, 2007 at Brussels, Belgium.
The album was produced by James Michael
and Desmond Child
, who also provide backing vocals
. The first single was "Humanity
".
Also of note is the band's logo on the album's cover (Concept by Desmond Child
and Concept /Design by Futurist Liam Carl): the text font is similar to their first two albums, as opposed to the band's more famous logo. This marks only the third time in the band's career (and the first time in 33 years) the less familiar font has been used. However, if one looks closely, their more familiar logo can be seen on the back of the neck of the female android.
The opening track "Hour I" has been used as the intro of the NHL's Minnesota Wild
since the 2007-08 season.
* Bonus tracks available on Limited Edition, LP
, and Japan releases.
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
(and sixteenth studio recording) by the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Scorpions
Scorpions (band)
Scorpions are a heavy metal/hard rock band from Hannover, Germany, formed in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who is the band's only constant member. They are known for their 1980s rock anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and many singles, such as "No One Like You", "Send Me an Angel", "Still...
, which was released in Europe on May 14, 2007 and in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
on August 28, 2007. The leading song "Humanity" was performed by Scorpions on March 24, 2007 at Brussels, Belgium.
The album was produced by James Michael
James Michael
James Andrew Michael is an American record producer, songwriter, engineer, mixer, vocalist and musician. He is currently the lead singer of the rock band Sixx:A.M.-Early life:...
and Desmond Child
Desmond Child
Desmond Child is an American musician, songwriter, and producer. He is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.-Career:...
, who also provide backing vocals
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
. The first single was "Humanity
Humanity (Scorpions song)
"Humanity" is a song by Scorpions. It is the first single from their album, Humanity - Hour 1. Scorpions performed their new single, on March 24, 2007 at a special concert to celebrate the 50th anniversary of signing the Roman treaty, which became the basis for foundation of the European Union.Its...
".
Also of note is the band's logo on the album's cover (Concept by Desmond Child
Desmond Child
Desmond Child is an American musician, songwriter, and producer. He is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.-Career:...
and Concept /Design by Futurist Liam Carl): the text font is similar to their first two albums, as opposed to the band's more famous logo. This marks only the third time in the band's career (and the first time in 33 years) the less familiar font has been used. However, if one looks closely, their more familiar logo can be seen on the back of the neck of the female android.
The opening track "Hour I" has been used as the intro of the NHL's Minnesota Wild
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
since the 2007-08 season.
Track listing
- "Hour I" – 3:26 (Rudolf Schenker/James Michael/Desmond Child/John Lowery)
- "The Game of Life" – 4:04 (Klaus Meine/Child/Mikael Nord Andersson/Martin Hansen)
- "We Were Born to Fly" – 3:59 (Matthias Jabs/Eric Bazilian/Marti Frederiksen)
- "The Future Never Dies" – 4:03 (Meine/Child/Bazilian/Jason Paige/Russ IrwinRuss IrwinRuss Irwin is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Melville, New York. He was signed by Charles Koppelman to SBK Records in 1991, and a self-titled album, produced by Phil Ramone, followed later that year...
) - "You're Lovin' Me to Death" – 3:15 (Schenker/Child/Andreas CarlssonAndreas CarlssonAndreas Carlsson is a Swedish music producer, composer, and pop songwriter.-Biography:Carlsson was part of the Cheiron Studios team until the studio was closed down in 2001....
/Bazilian) - "321" – 3:53 (Schenker/Child/Frederiksen/Paige)
- "Love Will Keep Us Alive" – 4:32 (Meine/Child/Bazilian/Frederiksen)
- "We Will Rise Again" – 3:49 (Jabs/Michael/Paige/Child)
- "Your Last Song" – 3:44 (Schenker/Child/Bazilian)
- "Love Is War" – 4:20 (Jabs/Michael/Child/Frederiksen)
- "The Cross" – 4:28 (Jabs/Michael/Child/Frederiksen)
- "HumanityHumanity (Scorpions song)"Humanity" is a song by Scorpions. It is the first single from their album, Humanity - Hour 1. Scorpions performed their new single, on March 24, 2007 at a special concert to celebrate the 50th anniversary of signing the Roman treaty, which became the basis for foundation of the European Union.Its...
" – 5:26 (Meine/Child/Bazilian) - "Cold"* – 3:52 (Jabs/Child/Bazilian/Frederiksen)
- "Humanity" (Radio Edit)* – 4:06 (Meine/Child/Bazilian)
- "Love Will Keep Us Alive" (Radio Edit)* – 4:06 (Meine/Child/Bazilian/Frederiksen)
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
, and Japan releases.
Band
- Klaus MeineKlaus MeineKlaus Meine is a German singer, best known as the lead vocalist and occasional rhythm guitarist of the heavy metal band Scorpions...
– Lead Vocals - Matthias JabsMatthias JabsMatthias Jabs is a German guitarist and songwriter. He is a member of the heavy metal band Scorpions. Before joining the Scorpions, Jabs had played for the bands Lady, Fargo and Deadlock....
– Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals - Rudolf SchenkerRudolf SchenkerRudolf Schenker is a German guitarist and founding member of heavy metal band Scorpions, being the rhythm/lead guitarist and one of the main song-writers of the band...
– Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals - Paweł Mąciwoda – Bass, Backing Vocals
- James KottakJames KottakJames Kottak is an American drummer for the heavy metal band Scorpions, which he joined in 1996....
– Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Guests
- Billy CorganBilly CorganWilliam Patrick "Billy" Corgan, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional poet best known as the frontman and sole permanent member of The Smashing Pumpkins. Formed by Corgan and guitarist James Iha in Chicago, Illinois in 1987, the band quickly gained steam with the...
– Featured vocals on "The Cross" - Eric BazilianEric BazilianEric M. Bazilian , is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer, best known for being a founding member of the rock band The Hooters.-Early life:...
– Guitar, "Love Will Keep Us Alive" - John 5John LoweryJohn William Lowery , best known by the stage name John 5, is an American guitarist. His stage name was bestowed on him in 1998 when he left David Lee Roth and joined the industrial metal group Marilyn Manson as their guitarist, taking over from Zim Zum...
– Guitar, "Hour I" - Russ IrwinRuss IrwinRuss Irwin is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Melville, New York. He was signed by Charles Koppelman to SBK Records in 1991, and a self-titled album, produced by Phil Ramone, followed later that year...
– Piano, "The Future Never Dies" - Jason Paige – Background vocals
Release history
| Region | Date |
|---|---|
| Europe | |
| Canada | |
| United States |
Album
| Year | Chart | Peak Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Greece Album Charts | 1 |
| Russian Album Charts | 5 | |
| Argentina Album Charts | 8 | |
| German Album Charts | 9 | |
| French Album Charts | 16 | |
| Japanese Album Charts | 16 | |
| Switzerland Album Charts | 27 | |
| Finland Album Charts | 29 | |
| Canada Album Chart | 40 | |
| Austrian Album Charts | 41 | |
| Italian Album Charts | 44 | |
| Czech Republic Album Charts | 47 | |
| Spain Album Charts | 59 | |
| The Billboard 200 | 63 | |
| Holland Album Charts | 91 | |
| Mexico Album Charts | 97 |