Johnny Hallyday - Rough Town (1994)

Rough Town is a 1994 album recorded by French singer Johnny Hallyday. 

It is entirely written in English to win over the anglophone countries, with the title track written by Bryan Adams. 

It was released in September 1994 and achieved success in France, where it debuted at the top of the charts on 2 October 1994, but dropped just after and stayed for nine weeks on the top 50 chart. 

It provided two singles in France, "I Wanna Make Love To You" (#18) and "Love Affair" (#35), a duet with Kathy Mattea. 

The album was also released in Germany, but was unsuccessful in this country. The video for "Love Affair" was directed by Dani Jacobs, filmed in Nashville and features Johnny and Kathy Mattea who duets on this track. 

Very directed towards blues-rock, Johnny Hallyday delivers a homogeneous and convincing album of a man who looks calm, at least at this time. 

He avoids dubious collaborations; there is still the presence for the title song of Bryan Adams, a notorious fake Springsteen and Jim Vallance, who was the fmiser (gravedigger!) for Aerosmith, Joe Cocker, Tina Turner... but good. 

We are happy to notice the company of half the musicians of Little Feat: Richard Hayward on drums, the piano of Bill Payne and Sam Clayton on percussion... and especially the second Star on the record guitarist Robin Le Mesurier - we wonder if he doesn't steal the star from our Jojo - whose spicy and lively roots play does good to his ears.

Rough Town is Johnny Hallyday's ever last album in foreign language. 

 Track listing

1. Fool for the Blues - 4:34

    Written-By – Paul Rafferty, Robin Le Mesurier

2. (I Wanna) Make Love to You - 4:30

    Written-By – Jerry Lynn Williams

3. Love Affair - 5:12

    Featuring – Kathy Mattea

    Written-By – Jerry Lynn Williams

4. Hurricane - 5:14

    Written-By – Steve Diamond

5. Can't Stop Wanting You - 4:31

    Written-By – Paul Brady

6. Are the Chances Gone - 5:10

    Written-By – Robin Le Mesurier, Sheppard Solomon

7. Rough Town - 4:26

    Written-By – Brian Adams, Jim Vallance

8. Lightnin' - 5:06

    Written-By – Richard Guy Bailey, Simon Carman

9. Dry Spell - 7:56

    Written-By – Colin James, Daryl Burgess

10. You're Mine - 4:53

      Written-By – Kevin Dukes, Paul Rafferty 

11. Before You Change Your Mind - 4:07

      Written-By – Daryl Burgess

12. It's a Long Way Home - 4:08

      Written-By – Franke Miller, Will Jennings

Companies, etc.

• Distributed By – Phonogram
• Produced For – Chris Kimsey Productions Ltd.
• Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Laura Hallyday Productions
• Copyright © – Phonogram
• Made By – PMDC, France
• Published By – Besponce Music
• Published By – Dawdy Man Songs
• Published By – Red Brazos Music, Inc.
• Published By – Two Speed Music
• Published By – Howlin' Hits Music, Inc.
• Published By – Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
• Published By – Warner Chappell Music Publishing
• Published By – Rondor Music Publishing
• Published By – 1/2 Music
• Published By – Sony Tunes Inc.
• Published By – Almo Music Corp.
• Published By – Testatyme Music
• Published By – Irving Music, Inc.
• Published By – Adams Communications, Inc.
• Published By – PolyGram Music
• Published By – EMI Blackwood Music (Canada) Ltd.
• Published By – Burg-Isle Music Ltd.
• Published By – EMI April Music (Canada) Ltd.
• Published By – Instead Publishing Ltd
• Published By – Virgin
• Published By – BMG Publishing
• Published By – Blue Sky Rider Songs
• Published By – Willin' David Music
• Recorded At – Ocean Way Recording
• Mixed At – Metropolis Studios

Credits

• Arranged By – Ian Wilson
• Co-producer – Dee Perryman
• Design – Michael Nash Associates
• Engineer – Steve Holroyd
• Engineer [Assistant] – Alan Sanderson
• Executive Producer – Caroline Molko
• Mixed By [Assistant] – Kevin Jacobs
• Photography By – Anton Corbijn
• Producer, Arranged By, Mixed By – Chris Kimsey

Notes

Released:  September 1994

Recorded: 1994

Genre:  Pop, rock

Length:  59:35

Producer:  Chris Kimsey

Label - Universal Music