Rock the Nations

The eighth album was released by EMI in September 1986. Steve Dawson, the bassist since 1975, had been dismissed earlier that year, so Biff Byford played the bass parts himself; Paul Johnson is credited but does not play on the record. It was recorded at Wisseloord Studios in Hilversum in 1986 and produced by Gary Lyons. It reached twenty-six in Sweden, thirty-four in Britain, forty-four in Germany and 149 on the US Billboard 200. Elton John plays piano on "Party 'til You Puke". Three singles followed: "Waiting for the Night" in August 1986, the title track in October and "Northern Lady" in January 1987. AllMusic gave it two stars out of five, hearing a rougher sound closer to the band's early years but finding it less heavy than the album before. The running order given here is the original pressing's.