Natural Force

Natural Force
Studio album by Bonnie Tyler
Released May 1978
Recorded The Factory, Woldingham,
Morgan Studios and IBC Studios, London, 1977–1978
Genre Country, rock
Length 38:18
Label RCA Records
Producer Ronnie Scott, Steve Wolfe
Bonnie Tyler chronology

The World Starts Tonight
(1977)		 Natural Force
(1978)		 Diamond Cut
(1979)
Alternative cover
US version,
titled It's a Heartache
Singles from Natural Force
  1. "Heaven"
    Released: July 1977
  2. "It's a Heartache"
    Released: November 1977
  3. "Here Am I"
    Released: 7 April 1978
  4. "Hey Love (It's a Feelin')"
    Released: June 1978
  5. "If I Sing You a Love Song"
    Released: August 1978
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]

Natural Force is the second studio album by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler. The album was released in May 1978 by RCA Records. As with her debut, Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe wrote most of the tracks on Natural Force. David Mackay returned again to produce the album with Scott and Wolfe. Other songs include covers of American artists Stevie Wonder and Carole King.

Five singles were released from Natural Force. The second single, "It's a Heartache", is among the best-selling singles of all time, with sales of over 6 million copies. It became Tyler's first charting single in the United States, where it was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Many other singles from Natural Force also fared well in Europe.

Natural Force was a huge commercial success for Tyler. In the United States (where it was released under the title It's a Heartache), it reached number 2 on the Top Country Albums chart, and number 16 on the Billboard 200. The album was also a success in Europe, but like it's predecessor, it failed to chart in the United Kingdom.

Singles

"Heaven" was released as the album's lead single in July 1977. The song was criticised for having "less impact" than her previous singles.[2] It was only a hit in Germany, where it reached number 24.[3] Phil Hendricks of Cherry Red Records suggested that the death of Elvis Presley on 16 August 1977 may have been a contributing factor to the song's lack of success, due to the diversion of RCA's promotional capabilities.[2]

"It's a Heartache" became the second single from Natural Force in November 1977. Tyler's raspy vocal quality had her compared to Rod Stewart,[4] with critics viewing the song as superior to "Lost in France".[5] "It's a Heartache" was a commercial success, selling over 6 million copies worldwide, establishing itself among of the best-selling singles of all time.[6] The song became Tyler's first hit in the United States, reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached number four in the United Kingdom,[7] and number one hit in countries such as Canada,[8] France[9] and Norway.[10]

"Here Am I" was released as the third single from Natural Force on 7 April 1978. The song was not as commercially successful as "It's a Heartache", only charting in Germany and Norway. Record Mirror stated that the song lacked the "irresistible hook of "It's a Heartache"."[2]

"Hey Love (It's a Feelin')" was released as the fourth single in June 1978, and failed to chart worldwide.

"If I Sing You a Love Song" was released as the fifth and final single from Natural Force in August 1978, and only reached number 103 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Track listing

Natural Force — Standard edition
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "It's a Heartache"  
 3:28
2. "Blame Me"  
  • Scott
  • Wolfe
 4:02
3. "Living for the City"  Stevie Wonder 4:45
4. "If I Sing You a Love Song"  
  • Scott
  • Wolfe
 4:45
5. "Heaven"  
  • Scott
  • Wolfe
 3:04
6. "Yesterday Dreams"  Brian Cadd 4:08
7. "Hey Love (It's a Feeling)"  
  • Scott
  • Wolfe
 3:55
8. "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"  
 3:02
9. "Here Am I"  
  • Scott
  • Wolfe
 3:47
10. "Baby Goodnight"  Mike Heron 4:15
Total length:
 38:18

Production credits

Charts

Chart (1978) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[12] 60
French Albums (SNEP)[13] 23
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[14] 3
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[15] 2
US Billboard 200[16] 16
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[17] 2

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[18] Gold 25,000[18]
United States (RIAA)[19] Gold 500,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

References

  1. ↑ Allmusic review
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Hendriks, Phil (2009). "Natural Force". In ''Natural Force'' (pp. 3–9) [CD booklet]. London: Cherry Red Records.
  3. ↑ "Officialcharts.de – Bonnie Tyler – Heaven". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  4. ↑ van Matre, Lynn (29 July 1978). "Bonnie Tyler's Career Took Years to Build". Evening Independent. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  5. ↑ Wetzel, Carol (1 June 1978). "DISCritique". Spokane Daily Chronicle (Cowles Publishing Company). Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  6. ↑ "Bonnie Tyler". People 45 (24). 17 June 1996. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  7. ↑ "It's a Heartache – Bonnie Tyler". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  8. ↑ "Volume 29, No. 15, 8 July 1978". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  9. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Bonnie Tyler – It's a Heartache". Les classement single (in French). Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  10. ↑ "It's a Heartache – Bonnie Tyler". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  11. ↑ "Natural Force by Bonnie Tyler". iTunes Store. Apple. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  12. ↑ "Bonnie Tyler – Natural Force". Australiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  13. ↑ "Bonnie Tyler – Natural Force". Lescharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  14. ↑ "Bonnie Tyler – Natural Force". Norwegiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  15. ↑ "Bonnie Tyler – Natural Force". Swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  16. ↑ "Bonnie Tyler Album & Song Chart History" Billboard 200 for Bonnie Tyler. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  17. ↑ "Bonnie Tyler Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top Country Albums for Bonnie Tyler. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 The first web page presents the sales figures, the second presents the certification limits:
  19. ↑ "American album certifications – Bonnie Tyler – It's a Heartache". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 3 April 2015. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH