Heaven on Earth (Belinda Carlisle album)


Heaven on Earth is the second solo studio album by American singer Belinda Carlisle. It was released on October 5, 1987, by MCA Records. Three singles reached the top 10 of the US Billboard Hot 100, including the number-one single and Carlisle's signature song "Heaven Is a Place on Earth". The album has been certified triple Platinum in the United Kingdom and Platinum in many countries, including the United States.

Singles

The first single released, "Heaven Is a Place on Earth", reached the number one position throughout the world. The second single released was "I Get Weak", written by Diane Warren. "I Get Weak" reached the number two spot in the US and garnered a top 10 placing in Canada and the UK. The third single, "Circle in the Sand", reached the top 10 in many countries, among them the UK, the US and Canada. From the fourth single on, the singles released from the album varied in different territories. The Cream cover "I Feel Free" was released only in the US, reaching number 88 on the Billboard Hot 100. This was the final US single from the album. In Europe, "World Without You", another Diane Warren composition, was released, where it reached the top 40. A fifth and final single in the UK was the ballad "Love Never Dies", which reached number 54.

Reissues

In May 2009, Heaven on Earth was re-released as a remastered two-disc special edition. This special edition includes several bonus remixes and a live DVD. The inclusion of the live DVD marked the first time the concert footage filmed in Philadelphia during the 1988 "Good Heavens" world tour was made available in DVD format. It had previously only been available on VHS.
Heaven on Earth was again re-released on August 26, 2013, in a 2CD+DVD casebook edition from Edsel Records featuring the original album remastered, along with single versions, remixes and B-sides. The DVD features the videos from the album and the concert footage filmed in Philadelphia during the 1988 "Good Heavens" world tour as well as an exclusive interview with Carlisle, discussing the album.

Critical reception

Reviewing Heaven on Earth, Cashbox commented, "Carlisle bursts out of the box with her second solo LP. Here she attacks a variety of styles, from the haunting 'Circle in the Sand' to an appropriately psychedelic remake of Cream's 'I Feel Free' to the prime pop of 'Should I Let You In?' Established name should fly at retail, while slick grooves are radio-ready." Billboard, however, was unimpressed: "The transmogrification from Go-Go to no-no is complete. 'Heaven Is a Place on Earth' has caught the public's ear, but only 'Circle in the Sand' has any of the exuberant character that propelled 'Mad About You,' the saving grace of Carlisle's solo debut. New, big-time label affiliation will help."
Retrospectively, Steve Harnell of Classic Pop wrote, "Everything about Heaven on Earth oozes confidence. The album is front-loaded with killer tracks but even lesser cuts mark Carlisle out as a force to be reckoned with... Key to the success of the new album were the songwriting chops of Rick Nowels whose gutsy pop-rockers wrung every last drop of emotion out of Carlisle, who was now making the most of her sexy vibrato." AllMusic's Alex Henderson found that "while nothing here packs quite the punch that 'How Much More,' 'We Got the Beat,' and 'Turn to You' did, such memorable songs as 'Heaven Is a Place on Earth,' 'Should I Let You In?', and 'I Get Weak' show that the Angeleno still had plenty of spirit."

Track listing

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Heaven on Earth in 1987 and 2013.

Musicians

Weekly charts

Year-end chart

Certifications