Faster Than the Speed of Night
Faster Than the Speed of Night is the fifth studio album by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler. It was released first in Europe on 8 April 1983 and later that year in the US through Columbia Records. Tyler had changed musical direction from country music in 1981, and began working with Jim Steinman soon after. Steinman produced the album and wrote its most successful single "Total Eclipse of the Heart".
The album reached number one on the UK Albums Chart. It was certified Silver in the UK, Platinum in the US, and Double Platinum in Canada.
Content
The album consists of dramatically re-worked cover songs, including the Creedence Clearwater Revival hit "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?". "Goin' Through the Motions" is a Blue Öyster Cult cover from their 1977 album Spectres, and the cover version of "Straight from the Heart" was the breakout Top 10 hit for Canadian rock singer/songwriter Bryan Adams from his Platinum album Cuts Like a Knife. It also includes the song "Take Me Back", written by Billy Cross, a former Bob Dylan guitarist. Only two of the tracks were written by Jim Steinman himself: the title track and the international number one hit "Total Eclipse of the Heart".Track listing
Personnel
Musicians
- Bonnie Tyler – vocals
- Roy Bittan – piano, organ on track 8
- Larry Fast – synthesizers
- Rick Derringer – guitars
- Steve Buslowe – bass
- Max Weinberg – drums
- Jimmy Maelen – percussion
- Eric Troyer – backing vocals
- Rory Dodd – backing vocals, vocal on track 4
"It's a Jungle Out There"
- Paul Shaffer – organ
- Hiram Bullock – guitars
- Will Lee – bass
- Steve Jordan – drums
- Jimmy Maelen – percussion
Additional musicians
- Dave LeBolt – additional synthesizer on track 1
- Steve Margoshes – all keyboards on track 2
- Holly Sherwood – backing vocals & wailing on track 2
- Martin Briley – additional guitars on track 2
- Stephanie Black, Erika Katz, Brian Pew, Edward Skylar, Tristine Skylar, David Varga – children's chorus on track 6
- Frankie Miller – male vocal on track 7
Production
- Produced & directed by Jim Steinman; associate producer: John Jansen
- Arranged by Roy Bittan & Jim Steinman, except track 2
- Recording engineers: Neil Dorfsman, Rod Hui; chief recording engineer: John Jansen
- Additional recording by Frank Filipetti & Scott Litt
- *Recorded at The Power Station, Greene Street Studio, Right Track Studios
- Mixed by Neil Dorfsman, John Jansen & Jim Steinman, except track 2
- *Mixed at The Power Station
- Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound
Charts
| Chart | Peak position |
| Australian Albums | 3 |
| Canada RPM Top Albums | 6 |
| Year End Chart | Peak position |
| US Billboard Top Pop Albums Female Artists | 23 |
| UK Billboard Top UK Albums Artists | 20 |
| US Cashbox Top 100 Albums Artists | 23 |