The Final Countdown (album)
| The Final Countdown | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by Europe | ||||
| Released | 26 May 1986 | |||
| Recorded | September 1985 – March 1986 | |||
| Studio | Powerplay Studios, Zürich, Switzerland; Soundtrade Studios, , Sweden; Mastersound Studios, Atlanta; Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California | |||
| Genre | Glam metal | |||
| Length | 39:58 | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Producer | Kevin Elson | |||
| Europe chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Final Countdown | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 6/10 |
| Kerrang! |  |
The Final Countdown is the third studio album by the Swedish rock band Europe. Released on 26 May 1986 through Epic Records, the album was a huge commercial success selling over 15 million copies worldwide (album and single), peaking at number 8 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and reaching high positions in charts worldwide. It was recorded at Powerplay Studios in Zürich, Soundtrade Studios in , Mastersound Studios in Atlanta and Fantasy Studios in Berkeley.
Five singles were released from the album: "The Final Countdown", "Love Chaser", "Rock the Night", "Carrie", and "Cherokee." The first single was responsible for launching Europe into mainstream popularity.
"Rock the Night" and "Ninja" were the first songs written for the album, and were premiered on the band's Wings of Tomorrow tour in 1984. "Rock the Night" was released as a single in Sweden in 1985, peaking at number 4 on the chart, and was also featured on the soundtrack EP for the Swedish film On the Loose the same year, together with the songs "On the Loose" and "Broken Dreams." "Rock the Night" and "On the Loose" would be re-recorded for inclusion on The Final Countdown along with "Ninja", all with slightly different lyrics.
Due to the national success of On the Loose and "Rock the Night", Europe went on a new tour around Sweden in 1985, with new songs "Danger on the Track", "Love Chaser" and the power ballad "Carrie" included in the setlist and ready to be recorded for the album. "Carrie" was co-written by Tempest and keyboardist Mic Michaeli during a jam session. The early version of the song consisted of only keyboards and vocals, and was performed that way on the 1985 tour, but the album version would feature the whole band.
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