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Back to England (continued)
At the same time, Waite is topping the U.S. TV ratings, playing the part of himself ("well, not really me, a TV version of me") in 'Paper Dolls,' a soap opera starring Morgan Fairchild. He appears on 'Top of the Pops' in England. "That was great," he recalls, "It was really good to feel wanted in my home country."
His first solo album 'Ignition; is re-released by Chrysalis, complete with a new photo sleeve. A track from it, 'Change,' is included in the soundtrack of the film 'Vision Quest' and becomes a frequent feature on MTV. Meanwhile, Waite tours extensively with his 'No Brakes Band,' opening for the group Scandal. The 'No Brakes Band' features drummer Alan Childs, ex-Dire Straits keyboardist Tommy Mandell, Bowie bassist Carmine Rojas and Earl Slick (ex Bowie, Ian Hunter) on guitar. The video release of this tour is proof of the high musical standard of the band.
MASK OF SMILES
Waite's third solo album, the lushly produced 'Mask of Smiles,' follows in September 1985, containing (what Waite called the "ultimate down song") "Welcome to Paradise." The single pulled from the album "Every step of the way,' receives considerable airplay. To promote the album, Waite embarks on a lengthy US tour in September 1985. Early in October, 1985 he leaves the US for a promotion tour in Europe and sings (playback though) on Dutch TV. He crosses the Atlantic again for UK concerts and performs 3 shows, with the 'No Brakes Band,' at the Marquee London in January 1986. A non-album song 'If Anybody Had A Heart' is included in the soundtrack of the film 'About Last Night.' The song is released as a single in June 1986 and reaches #76 on the US charts. Shortly after, in August 1986, Waite is billed at the famous 'Reading Rock Festival' in England and he plays at London's Marquee again.
ROVER'S RETURN
Work on a new album begins in August 1986, when Waite goes into 'Right Track' studios New Work with
co-producer Frank Fillipetti (Foreigner). He spends eleven months in the studio and records 22 songs but is unpleased with the results. Waite: "I hated it, I scrapped it and started again." The outcome: 'Rover's Return' (US release: August 1987), named after the famous pub in Britain's long-running soap opera Coronation Street (one of John's favourite programs) is the result. Working with top musicians and some of his strongest material - 'These Times Are Hard for Lovers,' 'Act of Love' - Waite returns to his English rock/blues roots. The album is a fine, strong set. Waite: "This is the kind of album that I wanted to make since I started out at 15 years of age. I think I've done it."
He promotes his new single 'These Times Are Hard for Lovers' on UK TV shows in June 1987. A planned tour however - opening for Bryan Adams - never happens, probably caused by the fact that promotion for the album folds due to internal changes at the record company.
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