Different Light is the second studio album by American pop rock band the Bangles, released on January 13, 1986, by Columbia Records. The band recorded the album in 1985 with producer David Kahne. Its Top 40 sound was a departure from the Bangles' earlier 1960s-style rock and roll sound. It is their most successful album, reaching number two on the Billboard 200 and producing five charting singles, including the Billboard Hot 100 top two hits "Manic Monday" and "Walk Like an Egyptian". It is also the first album in which bassist Michael Steele sings lead vocals on some tracks.

The 2008 CD reissue on the Wounded Bird Records label (WOU 4039) adds a bonus track: "Walk Like an Egyptian (Extended Dance Mix)".

Singles Different Light produced five singles, the first three of which were written by someone other than the Bangles. Lead single "Manic Monday", written by Prince under the pseudonym "Christopher" in 1984 as a duet for Apollonia 6's self-titled album, peaked at number two in the United Kingdom and the United States in 1986. "If She Knew What She Wants", the second single from Different Light, was recorded by Jules Shear on his 1985 album The Eternal Return. The song was written in the first person, however the Bangles rewrote the lyrics in the third person as they considered it more appropriate; their version charted at number 29 in the United States and number 31 in the United Kingdom. "Walk Like an Egyptian" was written by Liam Sternberg after seeing people on a ferry walking awkwardly to keep their balance as figures do in ancient Egyptian reliefs; it became one of the most successful singles by the Bangles, hitting number one in the United States, Denmark,Infinity charts German Top 20 - The Chart Of December 1986 Accessed: November 2, 2006 and the Netherlands,Top4000.nl Chart week 49, 1986 Accessed: November 2, 2006 as well as peaking at number three in the United Kingdom. "Walking Down Your Street" hit number 11 in the United States and number 16 in the United Kingdom, and a fifth single, "Following", was released exclusively in the latter country, where it reached number 55.

Album cover variations The covers of most of the album's cassette pressings and the sheet music songbook only show 12 (out of 16) of the "different" snapshots, eliminating the third column to best fit the rectangular layout of cassette cases and book.

The back cover of European-made CDs replicates the back cover of the vinyl LP edition, with all 16 snapshots and the track index at the top. The back cover of the US version, however, only shows the first column of four snapshots, with the track index list occupying the rest of the space – a rare deviation for Columbia's CD issues during the 1980s.

Critical reception

Billboard commented that "the Californian quartet's spare '60s-influenced pop/rock gets a facelift from producer Kahne, who shepherds the band's shift toward a more emphatic pop sensibility by focusing on a lusher, more layered vocal sound." "Old fans will be divided over whether the change represents new subtlety or simply a softer edge," the review continued, "but the polish should help broaden their radio profile." Cashbox said that the band had "taken its ragged L.A. street image and polished it for what looks like a national campaign", noting that the album's "American sound, repleat with guitar-laden nascent psychedelia," makes it "right in line with current musical taste."

Rolling Stone critic Laura Fissinger observed that Different Light uses "less hook-happy song structure and more modernized production" than the Bangles' 1984 debut All Over the Place, "covering their roots without burying them ten feet under." She disagreed with objections to its more "deliberate, sophisticated and airwaves ready" production and felt that the album "puts then and now in significantly better balance", while also finding that the band had advanced "past the fan-apes-idol phase" in their musicianship.

In a retrospective review for Slant Magazine, Sal Cinquemani wrote that while Different Light was perceived as "a slicker, more commercial move for the Bangles at the time of its release", it "sounds surprisingly fresh in hindsight", adding that the band's "'60s-style pop melodies and classic rock references... were deftly matched with the then-current new wave and rock rhythms of the early '80s." Classic Pops Will Simpson said that with its mix of hit singles and other songs recalling the band's Paisley Underground origins, "the grit and gloss balance nicely." Slant Magazine ranked Different Light at number 78 on its 2012 list of the best albums of the 1980s. Slant also included it on their 2003 list of 50 Essential Pop Albums.

Track listing

Personnel The Bangles Susanna Hoffs – vocals, guitars Vicki Peterson – vocals, lead guitar Michael Steele – vocals, bass Debbi Peterson – vocals, drums

Additional musicians Mitchell Froom – keyboards David Kahne – keyboards, LinnDrum programming Rusty Anderson – additional guitars Barbara Chapman – additional guitars, harp William Jones – electric sitar (uncredited) Carlos Vega – additional drums

Production Producer – David Kahne Engineers – Tchad Blake and Peggy McLeonard Assistant engineers – David Glover and Mike Kloster Mixing – David Leonard Art direction – Nancy Donald and Tony Lane Photography – Raul Vega Wardrobe – Genny Schorr and Tony Riviera

Charts

Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for Different Light Chart (1986–1987) Peakposition Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) 2 European Albums (Music & Media) 19 Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) 30 Italian Albums (Musica e dischi) Select "Album" in the "Tipo" field, type "Different Light" in the "Titolo" field and press "cerca". 15 US Billboard 200 2 US Cash Box Top 200 Albums 2

Year-end charts + 1986 year-end chart performance for Different Light Chart (1986) Position Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) 66 European Albums (Music & Media) 51 UK Albums (Gallup) 36 US Billboard 200 27

+ 1987 year-end chart performance for Different Light Chart (1987) Position Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) 10 Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) 39 European Albums (Music & Media) 78 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) 45 UK Albums (Gallup) 82 US Billboard 200 25

Certifications

References

Bibliography

External links The Bangles official website