Total Control is the first solo album by John Norum

John Norum

John Norum is a rock music guitarist and founder of the Swedish band Europe . Concurrent to his role with Europe, he also maintains a side solo project...

, the guitarist in the Swedish hard rock

Hard rock

Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...

 band Europe

Europe (band)

Europe is a Swedish rock band formed in Upplands Väsby in 1979 under the name Force by vocalist Joey Tempest, guitarist John Norum and drummer Tony Reno. Although widely associated with glam metal, the band's sound incorporates heavy metal and hard rock elements...

. It was released in 1987.

The album features two cover songs, "Back on the Streets" originally recorded by Vinnie Vincent Invasion

Vinnie Vincent Invasion

Vinnie Vincent Invasion was an American heavy metal/glam metal band formed in 1984 by former KISS guitarist Vinnie Vincent.-Biography:Initially forming the band in the mid-80's, Vincent recruited bassist Dana Strum, who had also served as a talent scout of sorts in L.A., recruiting band members for...

 and "Wild One" by Thin Lizzy

Thin Lizzy

Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...

.

Total Control is dedicated to Tommy Östervik, one of John's friends and heroes, who died in a drowning accident the same night as Europe played a concert that later was broadcast on Swedish television.

Track listing

All songs were written by John Norum and Marcel Jacob

Marcel Jacob

Marcel Karl Jacob was a Swedish musician, best known as the bassist in the hard rock bands Talisman and Last Autumn's Dream.-Biography:In 1978, Jacob formed the band Rising Force together with guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen...

, except where noted.

1. "Let Me Love You" – 3:23
2. "Love Is Meant to Last Forever" – 3:40
3. "Too Many Hearts" – 3:12
4. "Someone Else Here" – 4:13 (Norum, Jacob, Peter Hermansson)
5. "Eternal Flame" – 3:14
6. "Back on the Streets" – 4:11 (Vinnie Vincent
   Vinnie Vincent
   Vincent John Cusano, better known as Vinnie Vincent, is an American guitarist from Bridgeport, Connecticut and songwriter known for his brief membership in the band Kiss.-Replacing Ace Frehley in Kiss:...
   
   , Richard Freedman)
7. "Blind" – 3:53
8. "Law of Life" – 4:22 (Norum, Max Lorentz
   Max Lorentz
   Max Lorentz is a Swedish musician, songwriter and producer.He has also worked as a session-musician with artists including Ulf Lundell, Sanne Salomonsen, E-Type, Eldkvarn, Grymlings, Pugh Rogefeldt and Magnus Lindberg, and has hosted the Swedish TV shows Max, Live Show and Musikmatchen, and...
   
   )
9. "We'll Do What It Takes Together" – 3:25
10. "In Chase of the Wind" – 3:02
11. "Wild One" (bonus track) – 4:20 (Phil Lynott)

Personnel

• John Norum – Guitars, lead and backing vocals
• Göran Edman
  Göran Edman
  Göran Edman is a Swedish vocalist. He is noted for his session work with many artists through the years but mainly for his early work with guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen...
  
  – Lead vocals on "Love Is Meant to Last Forever," "Eternal Flame" and "Back on the Streets", backing vocals
• Marcel Jacob – Bass guitar

Guest Musicians:

• Per Blom – Keyboards
• Peter Hermansson – Drums
• Micke Larsson – Fretless bass on "Too Many Hearts"
• Mats Lindfors – Backing vocals on "Law of Life"
• Max Lorentz – Hammond organ on "Law of Life"

Album credits

• John Norum - Producer
• Thomas Witt - Producer
• Per Blom - Co-producer, engineer, mixing
• Mats Lindfors - Assistant engineer
• Peter Dahl - Mastering