For the Working Class Man

For the Working Class Man

Australian version
Studio album by Jimmy Barnes
Released May 22 1985
Genre Hard rock
Label Mushroom
Producer Mark Opitz, Jonathan Cain, Gary Gersh, Chas Sanford
Jimmy Barnes chronology

Bodyswerve (1984) For the Working Class Man
(1985)		 Freight Train Heart
(1987)
Singles from For the Working Class Man
  1. "I'd Die to Be with You Tonight"
    Released: September 1985
  2. "Working Class Man"
    Released: November 1985
  3. "Ride the Night Away"
    Released: February 1986
Jimmy Barnes / A Week Away from Paradise
International version
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]
Kerrang! [2]

For the Working Class Man is the second studio album by former Cold Chisel frontman Jimmy Barnes, released in 1985. The album consists of five original tracks and seven remixed tracks that had previously been released on Barnes' 1984 debut album Bodyswerve.

For the Working Class Man (re-titled Jimmy Barnes for the international market - after the original title of A Week Away from Paradise was scrapped - with a slightly altered tracklisting and different cover artwork) was specifically geared toward securing Barnes a break into the American music market by Geffen. The new material found on the album was recorded in New York and Los Angeles with a variety of high-profile producers, session musicians, and outside songwriters. Journey's Jonathan Cain contributed, produced and performed on two tracks, "Working Class Man" (which has since become Barnes' signature song as a solo artist after being featured in the Ron Howard film Gung Ho) and "American Heartbeat"; Steven Van Zandt of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band co-wrote "Ride the Night Away"; and Chas Sanford penned "I'd Die to be with You Tonight".

As of 2012, For the Working Class Man has sold more than 500,000 copies (7 x Platinum) in Barnes' native Australia.

In October 2010, For the Working Class Man, was listed in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums.[3]

Track listing

For the Working Class Man

Side one
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "I'd Die to Be with You Tonight"  Chas Sanford 4:02
2. "Ride the Night Away"  Steven Van Zandt, Steve Jordan 4:26
3. "American Heartbeat"  Jonathan Cain 4:10
Side two
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Working Class Man"  Cain 3:33
2. "Without Your Love"  Jimmy Barnes, Tony Carey 4:28
Side three
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "No Second Prize"  Barnes 3:42
2. "Vision"  Barnes 3:08
3. "Promise Me You'll Call"  Barnes 3:33
4. "Boys Cry Out for War"  Barnes 3:58
Side four
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Daylight"  Barnes 3:21
2. "Thickskinned"  Barnes, Ray Arnott 3:30
3. "Paradise"  Barnes 2:45

Jimmy Barnes / A Week Away from Paradise

Side one
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "No Second Prize"  Barnes 3:42
2. "I'd Die to Be with You Tonight"  Sanford 4:02
3. "Working Class Man"  Cain 3:33
4. "Promise Me You'll Call"  Barnes 3:33
5. "Boys Cry Out for War"  Barnes 3:58
Side two
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Paradise"  Barnes 2:45
2. "Without Your Love"  Barnes, Carey 4:28
3. "American Heartbeat"  Cain 4:10
4. "Thickskinned"  Barnes, Arnott 3:30
5. "Ride the Night Away"  Van Zandt, Jordan 4:26
6. "Daylight"  Barnes 3:21

Chart positions

Year Chart Position
1985 Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart 1
1986

Recording personnel

References

  1. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. "Jimmy Barnes". Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  2. ↑ Dickson, Dave (26 June 1986). "Jimmy Barnes 'A Week Away from Paradise'". Kerrang! 123. London, UK: United Magazines ltd. p. 10.
  3. ↑ O'Donnell, John; Creswell, Toby; Mathieson, Craig (October 2010). 100 Best Australian Albums. Prahran, Vic: Hardie Grant Books. ISBN 978-1-74066-955-9.
Preceded by
Listen Like Thieves by INXS		 Australian Kent Music Report number-one album
16 December 1985 – 2 February 1986 		Succeeded by
The Dream of the Blue Turtles by Sting