Taking On the World

Taking On the World is the debut album from Scottish rock band Gun, released on 5 July 1989.

Taking On the World
Studio album by
Gun
Released5 July 1989
GenreHard rock
Length43:50
LabelA&M
ProducerKenny MacDonald
Gun chronology
Taking On the World
(1989)		 Gallus
(1992)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
ARTISTdirect[1]
Hi-Fi News & Record ReviewB:2[2]

The album peaked at number 44 in the UK charts, and produced two UK Top 40 singles, "Better Days" and "Shame on You". Three other singles were released, "Money (Everybody Loves Her)", "Inside Out" and the title track "Taking On the World". All three made the UK Top 100.[3]

The album received positive reviews upon release, including a five-star review from Kerrang! magazine, and sold over 60,000 copies. In September 2010 the album was included in Classic Rock magazine's list of the 150 Greatest Debut Albums of All Time.[4]

To celebrate the album's 25th anniversary, it was reissued in October 2014 as a three-disc Deluxe Edition comprising the original album, B-sides, rarities, covers and BBC Sessions recordings.[4]

In 2019, Gun celebrated the 30th anniversary of the album by embarking on "The Big 3-0 Tour", where they played the album in its entirety.[5][6]

Track listing
Taking On the World — original 1989 release, titled "Disc One: Taking On the World" on the 2014 deluxe edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Better Days"Giuliano Gizzi, Mark Rankin4:33
2."The Feeling Within"Gizzi, Rankin4:41
3."Inside Out"Gizzi, Rankin4:11
4."Money (Everybody Loves Her)"Gizzi, Rankin4:34
5."Taking On the World"Gizzi, Rankin4:50
6."Shame on You"Gizzi, Rankin4:34
7."Can't Get Any Lower"Gizzi, Rankin4:22
8."Something to Believe In"Gizzi, Rankin4:38
9."Girls in Love"Gizzi, Rankin3:16
10."I Will Be Waiting"Gizzi, Rankin4:50
Total length:43:50
2014 Deluxe Edition – "Disc Two: The B-Sides"
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Prime Time" ("Money" B-side)Gizzi, Rankin3:50
2."Dance" ("Money" B-side)Gizzi, Rankin3:48
3."When You Love Somebody" ("Better Days" B-side)Gizzi, Rankin3:22
4."Coming Home" ("Better Days" B-side)Gizzi, Rankin4:00
5."Better Days" (Live, promo single)Gizzi, Rankin5:29
6."Back to Where We Started" ("Inside Out" B-side)Gizzi, Rankin3:58
7."Where Do We Go?" ("Inside Out" B-side)Gizzi, Rankin3:25
8."Don't Believe a Word" (Thin Lizzy cover, "Taking On the World" B-side)Phil Lynott2:23
9."Better Days (12" Mix)" ("Taking On the World" B-side)Gizzi, Rankin6:56
10."Shame on You" (Andy Taylor remix)Gizzi, Rankin6:05
11."Money (Everybody Loves Her)" (Extended Version)Gizzi, Rankin7:16
Total length:50:24
2014 Deluxe Edition – "Disc Three: BBC Sessions"
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Shame on You" (Friday Rock Show, 26 May 1989)Gizzi, Rankin4:27
2."Better Days" (Friday Rock Show, 26 May 1989)Gizzi, Rankin3:40
3."Coming Home" (Friday Rock Show, 26 May 1989)Gizzi, Rankin3:46
4."Taking On the World" (Friday Rock Show, 26 May 1989)Gizzi, Rankin5:07
5."Shame on You" (Nicky Campbell Session, 26 June 1989)Gizzi, Rankin4:18
6."I Will Be Waiting" (Nicky Campbell Session, 26 June 1989)Gizzi, Rankin5:01
7."Something to Believe In" (Nicky Campbell Session, 26 June 1989)Gizzi, Rankin4:23
8."Taking On the World" (Nicky Campbell Session, 26 June 1989)Gizzi, Rankin5:01
9."Something to Believe In" (Mark Goodier Session, 12–15 February 1990)Gizzi, Rankin4:25
10."Can't Get Any Lower" (Mark Goodier Session, 12–15 February 1990)Gizzi, Rankin4:09
11."Coming Home" (Mark Goodier Session, 12–15 February 1990)Gizzi, Rankin3:55
12."Taking On the World" (Mark Goodier Session, 12–15 February 1990)Gizzi, Rankin5:24
Total length:53:29

Personnel

Adapted credits from the media notes of the 2014 reissue of Taking On the World.[7]

  • Mark Rankin – Vocals
  • Giuliano Gizzi – Guitar
  • Baby Stafford – Guitar
  • Dante Gizzi – Bass
  • Scott Shields – Drums
Additional musicians
  • Sharleen Spiteri – Backing vocals (tracks 2, 10)
  • Scott Fraser – Bass (tracks 7, 9)
  • Alan Thornton – Backing vocals
  • David Aitken – Guitar
  • Jim McDermott – Drums

Charts
Chart (1989) Peak
position
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[8] 26
UK Albums (OCC)[9] 44

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[10] Silver 60,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "Taking On the World by Gun @ARTISTdirect". Artistdirect.com. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  2. Clark, Pete (August 1989). "Review: Gun — Taking On the World" (PDF). Hi-Fi News & Record Review (magazine). Vol. 34, no. 8. Croydon: Link House Magazines Ltd. p. 108. ISSN 0142-6230. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021 – via World Radio History.
  3. "Official Charts Company: Gun". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  4. "Gun To Reissue Debut Album 'Taking On The World'". Press Party. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2020. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. "GUN, FM, and Dan Reed Network announce The Big 3-0 Tour". Planet Rock. 12 April 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2020. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. Karen Edmond (23 December 2019). "CONCERT REVIEW: The Big 3-0 Tour". Scottish Music Network. Retrieved 5 January 2020. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. Taking On the World (media notes). Gun. Caroline Records. 2014. 600753549285.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. "Charts.nz – Gun – Taking On the World". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  9. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  10. "British album certifications – Gun – Taking On the World". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 February 2021.


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