The Hunger is the fifth studio album by American recording artist Michael Bolton. It was released in 1987 by Columbia Records, his third for the label. It became Bolton's breakthrough album, producing his first two Top 40 hits in the United States, the ballad "That's What Love Is All About" and the Otis Redding cover "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay".
Zelma Redding, the widow of Otis Redding, said Bolton's performance of "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" moved her so much "that it brought tears to my eyes. It reminded me so much of my husband that I know if he heard it, he would feel the same." In a framed letter that hangs on the wall of Bolton's office, she called the record "my all-time favorite version of my husband's classic."
The album marks a slight transition from the hard rock and arena rock stylings of his previous work into a softer more pop oriented direction, a transition which would be continued and furthered on his subsequent studio albums (although some songs on the album like "Hot Love" retain the sound from his previous albums).
Several songs from this album feature Journey members Jonathan Cain on keyboards, Neal Schon on guitar, and previous member from their Raised on Radio 1986-87 tour Randy Jackson (of American Idol fame) on bass, with Cain also producing several tracks. During this time, there were rumors that Bolton might have been in the running as Journey's new lead singer after Steve Perry's initial departure from the band in early 1987. Also featured on certain tracks is Bolton's former band-mate and then-current Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick.
Despite only reaching No. 46 on the US Billboard 200, the album achieved stability in the charts. After two years, it was certified Gold in the US (Bolton's first certification of his career), and would subsequently be certified Double Platinum there. In 1990, three years after its initial release, the album entered the UK Albums Chart for the first time and reached its peak of No. 44, following the success of the album Soul Provider.
Contents
Contemporary reviews
In the May 1988 issue of Circus magazine, music critic Paul Gallotta noted that while the musician was recognized primarily for his songwriting contributions to other artists, his powerful blues-influenced vocal delivery proved too formidable to keep him exclusively in a behind-the-scenes role. The reviewer observed that the vocalist showcased his finest artistic capabilities on tracks such as "That's What Love Is All About," the title track, and a highly commended cover version of Otis Redding's "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay". Gallotta enthusiastically praised the technical proficiency and emotional impact of the performance, metaphorically concluding that the singer possessed a voice captivating enough to elevate even the most mundane material into a compelling listening experience.
Production
Christopher Austopchuk – art direction
Harris Savides – front cover photography
Hans Neleman – back cover photography
Contemporary Communications Corp. – management
Louis Levin – direction
Technical
Bob Ludwig – mastering at Masterdisk (New York, NY)
Acar S. Key – engineer (1, 4, 5)
Peter Robbins – engineer (1, 5)
Bob Rosa – engineer (1, 4, 8), mixing (1, 4, 5, 8)
Keith Diamond – mixing (1, 4, 5, 8)
Tom Anderson – engineer (2, 3, 6, 7)
Jamie Bridges – engineer (2, 3, 6, 7)
Wally Buck – engineer (2, 3, 6, 7)
Jonathan Cain – engineer (2, 3, 6, 7)
Larry Hines – engineer (2, 3, 6, 7)
Paul Lani – engineer (2, 3, 6, 7)
Robert Missbach – engineer (2, 3, 6, 7)
Jeffrey Norman – engineer (2, 3, 6, 7)
Michael Rosen – engineer (2, 3, 6, 7)
Ron St. Germain – mixing (2, 9), engineer (9)
Chart positions
Cover versions
Marc Anthony would later cover "Walk Away" with Little Louie Vega for their 1991 album When the Night is Over.
Sunstorm, who are fronted by Joe Lynn Turner (who sang backing vocals on "Hot Love" and "Gina"), covered "Gina" for their 2012 album Emotional Fire.
Dutch singer Gordon recorded "Walk Away" for his 1994 album Now Is the Time.
Venezuelan rock band Gillman covered "You're All That I Need" under the name "Necesito de ti" for their 1990 album El Regreso del Guerrero.