Natural Force

Natural Force is the second studio album by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler, released in May 1978 by RCA Records. In the United States, the album was titled It's a Heartache. As with her debut, Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe wrote most of the tracks on the album. David Mackay again produced the album, with Scott and Wolfe. Other songs include covers of American artists Stevie Wonder and Carole King.

This article is about the album by Bonnie Tyler. For nature phenomena in general, see Natural environment.

Natural Force
Studio album by
Bonnie Tyler
Released19 May 1978
Recorded1977
StudioThe Factory in Woldingham; Morgan Studios and IBC Studios in London
GenreCountry rock
Length38:18
LabelRCA
Producer
Bonnie Tyler chronology
The World Starts Tonight
(1977)		 Natural Force
(1978)		 Diamond Cut
(1979)
It's a Heartache
US edition cover
Singles from Natural Force
  1. "Heaven"
    Released: July 1977
  2. "It's a Heartache"
    Released: November 1977
  3. "Here Am I"
    Released: 7 April 1978
  4. "Hey Love (It's a Feelin')"
    Released: June 1978
  5. "If I Sing You a Love Song"
    Released: August 1978
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Christgau's Record GuideC[2]

Five singles were released from Natural Force. The second single, "It's a Heartache", is among the best-selling singles of all time, with sales of over 6 million copies. It became Tyler's first charting single in the United States, where it was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Many other singles from Natural Force also fared well in Europe.

Natural Force became Tyler's most successful album for RCA. In the United States, it reached number 2 on the Top Country Albums chart, and number 16 on the Billboard 200. The album was also a success in Europe, but like its predecessor, it failed to chart in the United Kingdom.

Background

Tyler began recording songs for Natural Force in 1977, which resulted in the release of "Heaven" following her debut album The World Starts Tonight in February of the same year. Natural Force sustained the style of its predecessor, with pop rock songs composed by Tyler's producers and managers, Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe, and the addition of a small number of covers. Natural Force became the best-selling of her four albums with RCA Records, with over 500,000 copies sold in the United States.

Singles

"Heaven" was released as the album's lead single in July 1977. The song was criticised for having "less impact" than her previous singles.[3] It was only a hit in Germany, where it reached number 24.[4] Phil Hendricks of Cherry Red Records suggested that the death of Elvis Presley on 16 August 1977 may have been a contributing factor to the song's lack of success, due to the diversion of RCA's promotional capabilities.[3]

"It's a Heartache" became the second single from Natural Force in November 1977. Tyler's raspy vocal quality had her compared to Rod Stewart,[5] with critics viewing the song as superior to "Lost in France".[6] "It's a Heartache" was a commercial success, selling over 6 million copies worldwide, establishing itself among of the best-selling singles of all time.[7] The song became Tyler's first hit in the United States, reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached number four in the United Kingdom,[8] and number one hit in countries such as Canada,[9] France[10] and Norway.[11]

"Here Am I" was released as the third single from Natural Force on 7 April 1978. The song was not as commercially successful as "It's a Heartache", only charting in Germany and Norway. Record Mirror stated that the song lacked the "irresistible hook of "It's a Heartache"."[3]

"Hey Love (It's a Feelin')" was released as the fourth single in June 1978, and failed to chart worldwide.

"If I Sing You a Love Song" was released as the fifth and final single from Natural Force in August 1978, and only reached number 103 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe, except where noted

Natural Force — Standard edition
No.TitleLength
1."It's a Heartache"3:31
2."Blame Me"4:02
3."Living for the City" (Stevie Wonder)4:45
4."If I Sing You a Love Song"4:45
5."Heaven"3:04
6."Yesterday Dreams" (Brian Cadd)4:08
7."Hey Love (It's A Feelin')"3:55
8."(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Jerry Wexler)3:02
9."Here Am I"3:47
10."Baby Goodnight" (Mike Heron)4:15
Total length:38:18

Personnel
  • Bonnie Tyler - vocals
  • Ray Taff Williams — guitar, background vocals
  • Taff Williams — acoustic guitar, electric guitar, background vocals
  • Steve Wolfe — acoustic guitar, electric guitar, background vocals
  • Kevin Dunn — bass
  • Roger Bara — keyboards
  • Mike Gibbins — drums, percussion
  • Peter King — background vocals
  • David MacKay — engineer

Charts
Chart (1978) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[12] 60
Canada RPM (magazine)[13] 5
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[14] 1
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[15] 3
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[16] 2
US Billboard 200[17] 16
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[18] 2

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[19] Platinum 100,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[20] Gold 25,000[20]
United States (RIAA)[21] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Country Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Europe 1978 Vinyl RCA
United States Chrysalis
Europe 1991 CD Castle Classics
United Kingdom 2009
7T's
United States 17 April 2012 Digital download Rdeg

References
  1. Allmusic review
  2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: T". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 17 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  3. Hendriks, Phil (2009). "Natural Force". In ''Natural Force'' (pp. 3–9) [CD booklet]. London: Cherry Red Records.
  4. "Officialcharts.de – Bonnie Tyler – Heaven". GfK Entertainment. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  5. van Matre, Lynn (29 July 1978). "Bonnie Tyler's Career Took Years to Build". Evening Independent. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  6. Wetzel, Carol (1 June 1978). "DISCritique". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Cowles Publishing Company. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  7. "Bonnie Tyler". People. 45 (24). 17 June 1996. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  8. "It's a Heartache – Bonnie Tyler". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  9. "Volume 29, No. 15, 8 July 1978". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  10. "Lescharts.com – Bonnie Tyler – It's a Heartache". Les classement single (in French). Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  11. "It's a Heartache – Bonnie Tyler". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  12. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 316. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  13. "Canada RPM Albums". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  14. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Bonnie Tyler". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 267. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  15. "Norwegiancharts.com – Bonnie Tyler – Natural Force". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  16. "Swedishcharts.com – Bonnie Tyler – Natural Force". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  17. "Bonnie Tyler Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  18. "Bonnie Tyler Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  19. "Canadian album certifications – Bonnie Tyler – It's a Heartache". Music Canada. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  20. "Bonnie Tyler" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  21. "American album certifications – Bonnie Tyler – It's a Heartache". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
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