PRISM
''SMALL CHANGE''
1981
34:10
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1 Don’t Let Him Know 03:07 (James Vallance)
2 Turn On Your Radar 03:12 (Morgan Walker)
3 Hole In Paradise 03:22 (Lindsay Mitchell, Henry Small)
4 Rain 04:02 (N. Albright, D. Sigerson, O. Springer)
5 When Will I See You Again 03:29 (Henry Small)
6 Heart And Soul 03:20 (Bruce Turgon)
7 Stay 03:29 (James Vallance)
8 When Love Goes Wrong (You're Not Alone) 03:26 (Henry Small)
9 In The Jailhouse Now 03:02 (Jimmy Rodgers)
10 Wings Of Your Love 03:38 (Henry Small)
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Allen Harlow/Bass Guitar, Guitar
Lindsay Mitchell/Vocals, Lead Guitar
Rocket Norton/Drums, Percussion
Henry Small/Keyboards, Vocals
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ABOUT THE ALBUM
WIKIPEDIA
Small Change is the sixth studio album by the Canadian rock band Prism. It was originally released worldwide in 1981 on the label Capitol. It was the first of two Prism studio albums with vocalist Henry Small, who had replaced Ron Tabak after his forced departure, and the last album to feature guitarist Lindsay Mitchell. The album is generally regarded as the genesis of the smoother, more adult-oriented sound of the band's later work. The album peaked at number 53 on the Billboard 200.
On release, the album was received favorably by the majority of music critics, although it was criticized for being too commercial. This was a departure from the band's early arena rock roots, and opinions became much more negative in subsequent decades. Regardless of the criticism, Small Change became Prism's most commercially successful studio album on the Billboard 200, and it was their first and only album to the make the top 100. The lead single, "Don't Let Him Know", inspired by the Kim Carnes song "Bette Davis Eyes", was written by Jim Vallance, using his real name instead of the pseudonym Rodney Higgs that he used on previous Prism albums, and Bryan Adams. It became Prism's first and only Top 40 hit in the US and went on to peak at Number 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 1982. It stayed in the charts for just over four months. The follow-up retail single, "Turn On Your Radar", was their fifth and final single to chart, peaking at 64 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Cover artwork
The album cover depicts a pubescent girl contemplating her looks in a mirror while looking forlorn, with a magazine on her lap. Additionally, the single releases of the songs "Don't Let Him Know", and "Turn on Your Radar" used the same image of the girl.
Background
As the band were preparing to record their follow-up to the poorly received commercial disappointment Young and Restless during the summer of 1981, Ron Tabak was fired. Various reasons have been cited, including his conflicts with other band members, several run-ins with the law, and/or a lack of songwriting ability. Around the same time, keyboardist John Hall left the band. A new lead vocalist Henry Small was brought in, and the new four-piece line-up (Small/Mitchell/Harlow/Norton) recorded the album Small Change, which was released later in 1981.
By the end of the tour for Small Change, Mitchell, Harlow and Norton had individually left Prism. With Mitchell's departure, Prism now had no original members left.
Critical reception
Reviewing for AllMusic, critic Mike DeGagne wrote of the album "Prism substituted its vigorous rock & roll sound for a more refined blend of soft rock amiability, which paid off to some extent." He added that "The vocals are toned down, the extravagance of the horns and synthesizers are absent, and the songs reflect a more adult-oriented feel."
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REVIEW/AMG
Mike DeGagne
Small Change was the last album that Prism recorded before the band's demise (reorganizing with weaker personnel in 1988 and without the late Ron Tabak). Prism substituted its vigorous rock & roll sound for a more refined blend of soft rock amiability, which paid off to some extent. The vocals are toned down, the extravagance of the horns and synthesizers are absent, and the songs reflect a more adult-oriented feel. Written by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, "Don't Let Him Know" is the album's best guitar-driven track, and represents Prism's late-'70s rock & roll sound better than any other. But "Turn on Your Radar" and "Rain," especially, are two of the group's best semi-ballads, containing some of the sharpest songwriting and use of melody that Prism has ever employed. Efforts such as "When Will I See You Again," "When Love Goes Wrong," and "Wings of Love" have the band taking the prettiness of the love song a little too far, and even the delicate piano and keyboard parts sound overly luscious. On the whole, Small Change was a sturdy farewell from one of Canada's most successful bands.
********************
BIOGRAPHY/AMG
John Bush
See Forever Eyes
The Canadian soft rock group Prism were formed in 1976 by vocalist Ron Tabak, guitarist Lindsay Mitchell, bassist Allan Harlow, drummer Rocket Norton, and keyboard player John Hall. Originally known as Stanley Screamer, the Vancouver group signed to GRT Records and released a self-titled debut album in 1977, See Forever Eyes the following year, and Armageddon in 1979. After Hall and Tabak left (Tabak was replaced by Henry Small), Prism signed with Capitol, releasing Young and Restless in 1980, Small Change in 1981, and -- after the band split up in 1982 -- Beat Street (1983). The greatest-hits album Over 60 Minutes with...Prism was released in 1988.
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''SMALL CHANGE''
1981
34:10
********************
1 Don’t Let Him Know 03:07 (James Vallance)
2 Turn On Your Radar 03:12 (Morgan Walker)
3 Hole In Paradise 03:22 (Lindsay Mitchell, Henry Small)
4 Rain 04:02 (N. Albright, D. Sigerson, O. Springer)
5 When Will I See You Again 03:29 (Henry Small)
6 Heart And Soul 03:20 (Bruce Turgon)
7 Stay 03:29 (James Vallance)
8 When Love Goes Wrong (You're Not Alone) 03:26 (Henry Small)
9 In The Jailhouse Now 03:02 (Jimmy Rodgers)
10 Wings Of Your Love 03:38 (Henry Small)
********************
Allen Harlow/Bass Guitar, Guitar
Lindsay Mitchell/Vocals, Lead Guitar
Rocket Norton/Drums, Percussion
Henry Small/Keyboards, Vocals
********************
ABOUT THE ALBUM
WIKIPEDIA
Small Change is the sixth studio album by the Canadian rock band Prism. It was originally released worldwide in 1981 on the label Capitol. It was the first of two Prism studio albums with vocalist Henry Small, who had replaced Ron Tabak after his forced departure, and the last album to feature guitarist Lindsay Mitchell. The album is generally regarded as the genesis of the smoother, more adult-oriented sound of the band's later work. The album peaked at number 53 on the Billboard 200.
On release, the album was received favorably by the majority of music critics, although it was criticized for being too commercial. This was a departure from the band's early arena rock roots, and opinions became much more negative in subsequent decades. Regardless of the criticism, Small Change became Prism's most commercially successful studio album on the Billboard 200, and it was their first and only album to the make the top 100. The lead single, "Don't Let Him Know", inspired by the Kim Carnes song "Bette Davis Eyes", was written by Jim Vallance, using his real name instead of the pseudonym Rodney Higgs that he used on previous Prism albums, and Bryan Adams. It became Prism's first and only Top 40 hit in the US and went on to peak at Number 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 1982. It stayed in the charts for just over four months. The follow-up retail single, "Turn On Your Radar", was their fifth and final single to chart, peaking at 64 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Cover artwork
The album cover depicts a pubescent girl contemplating her looks in a mirror while looking forlorn, with a magazine on her lap. Additionally, the single releases of the songs "Don't Let Him Know", and "Turn on Your Radar" used the same image of the girl.
Background
As the band were preparing to record their follow-up to the poorly received commercial disappointment Young and Restless during the summer of 1981, Ron Tabak was fired. Various reasons have been cited, including his conflicts with other band members, several run-ins with the law, and/or a lack of songwriting ability. Around the same time, keyboardist John Hall left the band. A new lead vocalist Henry Small was brought in, and the new four-piece line-up (Small/Mitchell/Harlow/Norton) recorded the album Small Change, which was released later in 1981.
By the end of the tour for Small Change, Mitchell, Harlow and Norton had individually left Prism. With Mitchell's departure, Prism now had no original members left.
Critical reception
Reviewing for AllMusic, critic Mike DeGagne wrote of the album "Prism substituted its vigorous rock & roll sound for a more refined blend of soft rock amiability, which paid off to some extent." He added that "The vocals are toned down, the extravagance of the horns and synthesizers are absent, and the songs reflect a more adult-oriented feel."
********************
REVIEW/AMG
Mike DeGagne
Small Change was the last album that Prism recorded before the band's demise (reorganizing with weaker personnel in 1988 and without the late Ron Tabak). Prism substituted its vigorous rock & roll sound for a more refined blend of soft rock amiability, which paid off to some extent. The vocals are toned down, the extravagance of the horns and synthesizers are absent, and the songs reflect a more adult-oriented feel. Written by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, "Don't Let Him Know" is the album's best guitar-driven track, and represents Prism's late-'70s rock & roll sound better than any other. But "Turn on Your Radar" and "Rain," especially, are two of the group's best semi-ballads, containing some of the sharpest songwriting and use of melody that Prism has ever employed. Efforts such as "When Will I See You Again," "When Love Goes Wrong," and "Wings of Love" have the band taking the prettiness of the love song a little too far, and even the delicate piano and keyboard parts sound overly luscious. On the whole, Small Change was a sturdy farewell from one of Canada's most successful bands.
********************
BIOGRAPHY/AMG
John Bush
See Forever Eyes
The Canadian soft rock group Prism were formed in 1976 by vocalist Ron Tabak, guitarist Lindsay Mitchell, bassist Allan Harlow, drummer Rocket Norton, and keyboard player John Hall. Originally known as Stanley Screamer, the Vancouver group signed to GRT Records and released a self-titled debut album in 1977, See Forever Eyes the following year, and Armageddon in 1979. After Hall and Tabak left (Tabak was replaced by Henry Small), Prism signed with Capitol, releasing Young and Restless in 1980, Small Change in 1981, and -- after the band split up in 1982 -- Beat Street (1983). The greatest-hits album Over 60 Minutes with...Prism was released in 1988.
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