Rover's Return (album)

Rover's Return is the last and most recent solo studio album released by Waite to chart on the Billboard Hot 200 Albums chart, where it peaked at #77.[1] When compared to the incredible success experienced by Waite just a few years earlier, this album was considered a commercial failure with creativity missing in most parts. It lasted 12 weeks in the chart.[2] Two singles were released from the album, "These Times Are Hard for Lovers", co-written with Desmond Child, and "Don't Lose Any Sleep", written by Diane Warren. "These Times Are Hard for Lovers" peaked at #53 on the Billboard Hot 100, #6 on the Mainstream Rock chart and #77 in the UK,[3] whilst "Don't Lose Any Sleep" peaked at #81 on the Billboard Hot 100.[4]

All nine tracks were produced by Waite and Frank Filipetti, although American songwriter and producer Desmond Child received a production credit for "These Times are Hard for Lovers" which Child also co-wrote, whilst American Grammy/Ivor Novello award-winning songwriter/producer Rick Nowels received production credit for "Don't Lose Any Sleep" and "Sometimes". He also co-wrote "Big Time for Love". "Sometimes" was written by Dan Hartman and Charlie Midnight.[5]

The album was largely recorded and mixed at Right Track Studios in New York City, with additional recording at The Hit Factory, The Power Station and Carriage House Studios.[6]

While recording tracks for Rover's Return during 1987, Waite recorded a version of the Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly song "I Drove All Night". but decided not to release it. The song was also recorded by Roy Orbison in 1987 but not released until 1992, which by that point, Cyndi Lauper had released her Top Ten hit version in 1989.[7] In 2001, Waite's version of the song was released on the One Way Records release Live & Rare Tracks.[8]

The album was released via EMI America on vinyl, cassette and CD. It was released in the US, UK, Europe and Canada.[9] On 25 June 2012, the British label BGO Records digitally remastered the album and re-issued it in the UK.[10]

• Lead vocals – John Waite
• Keyboards and synthesizer – Chuck Kentis, Tommy Mandel, Greg Mangiafico and Arthur Stead
• Acoustic and electric guitars – John McCurry
• Guitar on "Big Time for Love" – Gary Myrick
• Bass guitar – John Kumnick and John Regan
• Drums – Mike Braun, Anton Fig and Thommy Price
• Drum programming – Jimmy Bralower
• Backing vocals – Elaine Caswell, Desmond Child, Patty Forbes, Diana Grasselli, Louie Marlino, Ellen Shipley, Joe Lynn Turner, Myriam Valle, Maria Vidal and Diane Warren

• Producers – John Waite and Frank Filipetti (all tracks); Desmond Child (track 1); Rick Nowels (tracks 6 & 7).
• Production Coordination – Paul D. Spriggs
• Recorded and Mixed by Frank Filipetti
• Additional Engineers – Dave Dale, Mike Frondelli, Bradshaw Leigh, Tom Lord-Alge, Phil Matnotti, Billy Miranda and Arthur Payson.
• Assistant Engineers – Mark Cobrin, Debi Cornish, Jay Healy, Peter Hefter, Tim Leitner, Tim Kramer, Scott Mabuchi, Billy Miranda, Dan Mormando, Don Rodenbach and Craig Vogel.
• Remastered by Andrew Thompson at Sound Performance (Greenwich, London).
• Original Art Direction – Henry Marquez and Norman Moore
• Artwork – Richard Duardo
• Phorography – Trevor Key
• Liner Notes – Michael Heatley

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[11]
New Straits Times	unfavourable[12]
The Midlands Rocks	favourable[13]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic's retrospective review gave the album two out of five stars and stated "Rover's Return is an attempt to bring Waite back to the top of the charts that just doesn't work. That's not to say that the record is a complete failure, because there are portions that work quite well - the surging opener "These Times Are Hard for Lovers" is good radio rock, and Waite's voice always sounds good in this polished setting. Still, it's a little stiff and predictable, never quite reaching a level that's interesting, either as a period artifact or a piece of professional craft."[11]

On "The Sound Page" of the New Straits Times of September 13, 1987, a review of the album stated "Rover's Return offers songs in the "Missing You" mould. Which is a shame because his voice is quite good. It is rather thin but it has a passionate edge to it. The most listenable track is "These Times are Hard for Lovers". It may make it to the charts if he comes up with a good video..."[12]

In the Billboard magazine issue of December 26, 1987, under the section of "1987 The Year in Music & Video", various critics published a list of their favourite music from the year. Steve Gett, under "Essential Albums - on CD, as always", listed Rover's Return along with 10 other albums.[14]

• Lead Vocals, Producer - John Waite
• Backing Vocals – Desmond Child, Diana Grasselli, Diane Warren, Elaine Caswell, Ellen Shipley, Joe Lynn Turner, Louie Marlino, Maria Vidal, Myriam Valle, Patty Forbes
• Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – John McCurry
• Guest Guitar on "Big Time for Love" - Gary Myrick
• Keyboards, Synthesizer – Arthur Stead, Chuck Kentis, Greg Mangiafico, Tommy Mandel
• Bass – John K., John Regan
• Drums – Anton Fig, Mike Braun, Thommy Price
• Drum Programming – Jimmy Bralower
• Producer, Recorded By, Mixing – Frank Filipetti
• Producer on "These Times are Hard for Lovers" - Desmond Child
• Producer on "Don't Lose Any Sleep" and "Sometimes" - Rick Nowels
• Coordinator Producer – Paul D. Spriggs
• Additional Engineer – Arthur Payson, Billy Miranda, Bradshaw Leigh, Dave Dale, Mike Frondelli, Phil Magnotti, Tom Lord Alge
• Assistant Engineer – Billy Miranda, Craig Vogel, Dan Mormando, Debi Cornish, Don Rodenbach, Jay Healy, Mark Cobrin, Peter Hefter, Scott Mabuchi, Tim Kramer, Tim Leitner
• Photography – Trevor Key
• Art Direction – Henry Marquez, Norman Moore
• Artwork (Silkscreen Print) – Richard Duardo