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 | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from For the Working Class Man | ||||
| ||||
| 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 track listing 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".
In 2010 the album was remastered and reissued under the title "For the Working Class Man 25" under license to Liberation Music for Australia and New Zealand. This reissue has the same songs in the same order as the original release, however, four of the tracks ("I'd Die to Be With You Tonight", "Ride the Night Away", "Working Class Man" and "No Second Prize") were extensively remixed in 2009 by David Nicholas (for DNA Productions) resulting in significantly different track lengths. The album cover of the reissue is derived from the original Australian version; the most significant differences being the addition of an outer black square framing border, a bold black number "25" in the lower left hand corner while the main photograph has an (apparently) deeper red saturation.[3]
In October 2010, For the Working Class Man, was listed in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums.[4]
As of 2012, For the Working Class Man has sold more than 500,000 copies (7 x Platinum) in Barnes' native Australia.
Track listing
For the Working Class Man
| Side one | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(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. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
| 1. | "Working Class Man" | Cain | 3:33 |
| 2. | "Without Your Love" | Jimmy Barnes, Tony Carey | 4:28 |
| Side three | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(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. | Title | Writer(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. | Title | Writer(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. | Title | Writer(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
- Lead vocals: Jimmy Barnes
- Guitars: Tommy Thayer, Chas Sandford, Mal Eastick, Waddy Wachtel, Dave Amato, Charlie Sexton, Billy Burnette, Chris Stockley, Johnny Lee
- Bass: Randy Jackson, Kenny Gradney, Bruce Howe
- Drums: Tony Braunagel, Mick Fleetwood, Tony Brock, Ray Arnott
- Keyboards: Jonathan Cain, William Smith, Bill Payne
- Percussion: Arno Lewis
- Backing vocals: Kim Carnes, Maxine Willard, Julia Tillman, Dave Amato, Jonathan Cain, Renée Geyer, Venetta Fields, Shauna Jenson
- Mandolin: Chris Stockley
- Bagpipes: Viv Riley
References
- ↑ Ruhlmann, William. "Jimmy Barnes". Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
- ↑ Dickson, Dave (26 June 1986). "Jimmy Barnes 'A Week Away from Paradise'". Kerrang!. 123. London, UK: United Magazines ltd. p. 10.
- ↑ "Jimmy Barnes – For The Working Class Man 25". www.discogs.com. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
Liberation Music – LMCD0076
- ↑ 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 |