Out of This World is the fourth studio album by the Swedish rock band Europe. Released on 9 August 1988 through Epic Records, the album was a commercial success selling over 3 million units worldwide, peaking at number 19 on the US Billboard 200 chart and reaching high positions in charts worldwide. It was recorded at Olympic Studios and Townhouse Studios, London, England. Out of This World is the first Europe album to feature former Easy Action and Noice guitarist Kee Marcello on lead guitar, replacing outgoing lead guitarist John Norum.
Four singles were released worldwide from the album: "Superstitious", "Open Your Heart", "Let the Good Times Rock", "More Than Meets the Eye".
Music
Songs
"Superstitious" is the first song on the album, written by Joey Tempest. It was the first single released from the album and is arguably one of Europe's most recognizable and popular songs. The song was released in Europe, Australia and New Zealand in July 1988. The song reached number one in Norway and their homeland Sweden and peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks. The single charted in many other European charts as well.
"Open Your Heart" and "Let the Good Times Rock" would become minor hits in the UK. Three more singles would be released, yet none of them charted. "Sign of the Times" was released as single only in Argentina in 1988 and "Tomorrow" only in Brazil in 1989.
Release and Reception
Out of This World was the band's follow up album to the successful album The Final Countdown, but it did not match the success of its predecessor. Upon its release in August 1988, Out of This World peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard 200 album chart. platinum status in Switzerland and gold in Canada.
Out of This World included the hit singles "Superstitious", "Open Your Heart" and "Let the Good Times Rock", all of which had accompanying music videos. "Superstitious" was released in the fall of 1988 and became arguably the band's most recognizable song from the album. Its music video received heavy airplay on music television.
Reviewing the album, AllMusic contributor Andy Hinds writes that "Europe produces made-to-order lite metal with admirable craftsmanship and occasionally memorable hooks. "Superstitious" even has a disarming gospel quality. This is hard rock with all the edges sanded off. Capable lead singer Joey Tempest carries the tunes with nonthreatening panache, while Kee Marcello (who proved his virtuosity on Europe's previous by performing "Flight of the Bumblebee") provides plenty of nice guitar solos." Marcello also clarifies that the "cover song" was in fact a Diane Warren demo called "Look Away", a Billboard No. 1 hit for the band Chicago in December 1988.
Personnel
Europe
- Joey Tempest – lead vocals, piano on "Tomorrow"
- Kee Marcello – guitar, backing vocals
- John Levén – bass guitar
- Mic Michaeli – keyboards, backing vocals
- Ian Haugland – drums, backing vocals
Additional musicians
- Keith Murrell – backing vocals on "Coast to Coast" and "Just the Beginning"
- Mike Moran – conductor, string arrangements
Production
- Ron Nevison – producer, engineer, mixing
- Paul Hume – engineer, string engineer
- Rob Bozas, Andy Bradfield, Heidi Cannavo – assistant engineers
- Mats Grahn – multitechnician (bass, guitar, and keyboard technician)
- Paul Jamieson – drum technician
- Bernard Maisner – hand lettering
- Lynn Goldsmith – photography
- Joel Zimmerman – art direction
Charts
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
! Chart (1988)
! Peak<br/>position
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! scope="row"| Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)
| align="center"| 5
|-
!scope="row"| French Albums (SNEP)
| align="center"| 19
|-
|-
! scope="row"|Italian Albums (Musica e Dischi)
|align="center"|8
|-
!scope="row"|Japanese Albums (Oricon)
| align="center"| 4
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|}