Prisoners in Paradise

Prisoners in Paradise
Studio album by Europe
Released September 23, 1991
Recorded Enterprise Studios, Burbank, USA 1990-1991
Genre Glam metal, hard rock
Length 54:57
Label Epic
Producer Beau Hill
Europe chronology

Out of This World
(1988)		 Prisoners in Paradise
(1991)		 1982–1992
(1993)
Singles from Prisoners in Paradise
  1. "Prisoners in Paradise"
    Released: September 1991
  2. "I'll Cry for You"
    Released: December 1991
  3. "Halfway to Heaven"
    Released: March 1992
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]

Prisoners in Paradise is the fifth studio album by the Swedish rock band Europe. It was released on September 23, 1991, by Epic Records and spawned hits such as the title track, "Prisoners in Paradise" and "I'll Cry for You". Kee Marcello states in his 2011 biography that Bob Rock was the first choice for producer for this album, and agreed initially but pulled out to work on Metallica´s Black Album instead. The large number of finished bonus tracks is also explained in this book: the first version of this album, called "Seventh Sign" was rejected by the label in 1990 and the band had to write and record new songs. Five more tracks were demoed in addition to the 25 listed below; two of them were rewritten and became "New Love in Town" on Last Look at Eden and "Bring it All Home" on Bag of Bones. Most of the unreleased songs down below can be found on YouTube as demo recordings.

Track listing

  1. "All or Nothing" (Eric Martin, Andre Pessis,[2] Joey Tempest) – 3:54
  2. "Halfway to Heaven" (Tempest, Jim Vallance) – 4:06
  3. "I'll Cry for You" (Tempest, Nick Graham) – 5:21
  4. "Little Bit of Lovin'" (Tempest, Kee Marcello) – 4:48
  5. "Talk to Me" (Mic Michaeli, Tempest) – 4:06
  6. "Seventh Sign" (Tempest, Marcello, Michaeli) – 4:42
  7. "Prisoners in Paradise" (Tempest) – 5:36
  8. "Bad Blood" (Tempest, Michaeli, Marcello) – 4:19
  9. "Homeland" (Tempest, Michaeli, Marcello) – 4:51
  10. "Got Your Mind in the Gutter" (Tempest, Beau Hill, Marcello) – 4:59
  11. "'Til My Heart Beats Down Your Door" (Brian McDonald, Fiona, Tempest, Michaeli) – 3:47
  12. "Girl from Lebanon" (Tempest) – 4:20
Japanese Bonus Tracks
No. Title Length
13. "Break Free"   4:05
14. "Yesterday's News (Tempest, Marcello, Levén, Haugland, Michaeli)" (Also on the compilation albums Rock the Night: The Very Best of Europe,1982–1992 and 1982–2000) 5:27
Spitfire Records 2001 remaster bonus tracks
No. Title Length
15. "Mr. Government Man (Tempest, Hill)" (Also on the compilation album Rock the Night: The Very Best of Europe)  
16. "A Long Time Comin' (Tempest)" (Also on the compilation album Rock the Night: The Very Best of Europe) 4:09
Only available on various compilations
No. Title Length
17. "Sweet Love Child (Tempest, Marcello, Michaeli)" (released on the 1982–1992 and 1982–2000 compilations) 4:57
18. "Rainbow Warrior (Tempest)" (released on CD with Encyclopedia Of Swedish Hard Rock And Heavy Metal 1970-1996) 6:35
19. "Blame It On Me" (released on CD with Encyclopedia Of Swedish Hard Rock And Heavy Metal vol II (2002)[3]) 4:45
20. "Here Comes the Night (Tempest)" (released on the compilation album Rock the Night: The Very Best of Europe)  
Demo tracks that remain unreleased
No. Title Length
21. "Wild Child" (Has not been released)  
22. "Don't Know How To Love No More" (Has not been released)  
23. "Wanted Man" (Has not been released)  
24. "Little Sinner" (Has not been released)  
25. "Never Gonna Say Goodbye" (Has not been released)  

Personnel

Chart positions

Year List Peak Week
1991 Swedish Album Chart 9 6
Swiss Album Chart 17 9
Norwegian Album Chart 18 1
Austrian Album Chart 32 2
Dutch Album Chart 60 6
UK Album Chart 61 1

The album did not chart in the USA, which is unusual for a major label follow-up to two recent (multi)platinum albums.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/r6890
  2. ↑ http://ccdexpo.com/2011/andre-pessis-grammy-award-winning-songwriter/#.UWXbtqJqje8
  3. ↑ http://www.bokus.com/bok/9789189136137/encyclopedia-of-swedish-hard-rock-and-heavy-metal/