World Falling Down

Great album! Peter cetera's voice still amazing like always

Cetera's World Falling Down 1992 release was the musical and lyrical culmination of the singer's marital struggles over the previous few years. Building off songs such as You Never Listen to Me and Heaven Help This Lonely Man from his 1988 One More Story album, the former lead singer of Chicago could only contribute four songwriting credits this time around, but those four songs drive the entire album's feel and message. The opening two tracks, Restless Heart and Even a Fool Can See, pair well together, showing both sides of the familial love coin. The former (released as the first single), is all about Cetera's love for his (then 12-year-old) daughter Claire. The singer is afraid of losing his daughter with lyrics such as "I'll be damned if I'm living without you" and "the hardest part is being alone," etc. the song's music video (still in vogue at the time), showed Cetera hitching rides from various well-wishers, making it seem as if he is on his way to finally reunite with a long-lost love. In the end though, the road well traveled leads him back home to his loving daughter as they play in the back yard. Even a Fool Can See is Cetera's heartbreaking realization that his marriage is over. Lyrically, this song is Cetera's most genuine, impactful songwriting of his career. Always known much more for his uniquely tenor voice and melodies than for any lyrical depth, Cetera let his real emotions rise to the surface with sad resignation and acceptance of lost dreams. From the opening verse of "One big happy family together the rest of our lives" to soul crushing words as "and now I can't go home, she wants to be alone," Cetera's personal life is finally out there for everyone to see. The title track finds the singer dealing with and accepting life after marriage ("you can take it from me, it's not easy when you're living it on your own") and the trust that is lost after a divorce ("I used to believe in you, now I need someone else to turn to"). Every verse is poignant and the chorus offers the understanding that others are struggling through the same pain ("you hear the sound of another world that's falling down"). As mentioned, due to the stress in his life at the time, other writers make up the bulk of the songwriting, and some of those tracks offer more highlights. Joseph Williams (of Toto fame), co-wrote Man in Me and Cetera makes it fit right in with a muted horn chart similar to the one found on Even a Fool Can See. Wild Ways showcases the blended harmonies of Cetera and his erstwhile Chicago band mate Bill Champlin, the first time they recorded together since Chicago 17 in 1984. Chaka Khan offers her tremendous vocal talents in the duet Feels Like Heaven, supported by a beautiful saxophone thread throughout the song. Cetera gets a little too schmaltzy towards the end of the set with songs such as The Last Place God Made and Dip Your Wings, an outside writing contribution from long-time Elton John song partner Bernie Taupin. And the closing track, Have You Ever Been in Love, co-written by Andy Hill, co-producer, is actually much better live than what"s found here. Overall, I consider this Cetera's most authentic lyrical album even though it did not have the commercial success I'm sure the singer and record label expected. Warner Brothers and Cetera went their separate ways after this release. World Falling Down is also a musical departure from what Cetera had offered his previous three solo releases. This album had much more of a stripped down, muted acoustic sound than what his fans were used to. And the results, at least to this listener, still resonate to this day.

Did you like Chicago? Do you love his voice? Do you like the rhythm of a great love song, and songs with meaning? Buy this whole CD and let it play!! Turn it up and just get lost in the melodies!! You may even start to dance a bit too!!! Love Peter Cetera in Chicago and on this CD.

I do have this on CD before I had to download tracks from iTunes here, and its indeed his best album following his 2nd solo album: Solitude/Solitaire. Do listen every track and you will find no bad song on it. My personal top favorite songs are the first two tracks back-to-back: Resteless Heart & Even A Fool Can See. In short..... Do go ahead Buy this awesome Cetera album!

world falling down , alone, the title song, is one of the best things I 've ever heard. This whole album is amazingly powerful. I play drums and while the parts aren't hard on this, they are a joy to play. the groove is just right there. in the pocket. I love this album.

Without question his best album. Just love it.

This is by far the best Peter cetera solo album he has recorded. Every song is catchy, heartbreaking and melodic. You really get the sense that cetera was in a sad place when making this album, not that the album is depressing but the lyrics are very moving and sung with great emotion. If you buy just one cetera album this is the one!

As only Peter Cetera can with his unique and amazing voice, he expresses such emotion with the songs in this album. If a person has ever experienced true heartbreak, World Falling Down is spot on. This is a true gem for any Cetera fan - not to be missed.

Great album, classic Peter Cetera!

It bugs me that they don't list all the players on the album. Or do they and I just don't know how to find it? I'm sure Jerry Hey played on at least one song, "Even A Fool Can See." What a great studio (and live) musician Jerry Hey is. Trumpet.